Laura Bailey
A versatile vocal chameleon who gave life to anime heroines, video game warriors, and beloved Dungeons & Dragons characters with equal passion.
Born 1981 (age 45)·American voice actress·Birthday: May 28·Millennials
Biography
Laura Bailey's voice is a gateway to a hundred different worlds, from the gentle resolve of an anime heroine to the sly mischief of a fantasy gnome. She began her career in the anime dubbing boom of the early 2000s, quickly becoming a fan favorite for roles that blended strength and vulnerability, like Tohru Honda in 'Fruits Basket.' Her talents seamlessly expanded into video games, where she embodied iconic characters such as the superhuman Spartan Nina in 'Gears of War' and the morally complex vampire hunter Serana in 'Skyrim.' But a seismic shift in her career and in entertainment itself came with 'Critical Role,' the live-streamed Dungeons & Dragons show. There, unfiltered and in real-time, she created unforgettable characters like the whimsical tiefling Jester Lavorre, showcasing improv skills and emotional depth that won a new global audience and helped redefine tabletop role-playing as mainstream performance.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Laura was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Laura Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Laura's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the BAFTA Games Award for Best Performer in a Leading Role for her work as Kait Diaz in 'Gears 5.'
- Voiced major characters in landmark video games including 'The Last of Us Part II,' 'World of Warcraft,' and 'Marvel's Spider-Man.'
- Is a founding cast member of Critical Role, a production that revolutionized live-play tabletop gaming and spawned a multi-media company.
Did You Know?
She is married to fellow voice actor and Critical Role cast member Travis Willingham.
Bailey provided the voice for the female version of the player character 'The Boss' in 'Saints Row: The Third' and its sequel.
She originally studied to be a forensic pathologist before pursuing voice acting.
Her performance as Jester Lavorre on Critical Role popularized the phrase 'The Traveler' and a love for pastries.
“I think the best characters are the ones that are flawed.”
