Veteran video game voice actor Jane Perry speaks to us about what it was like joining the Resident Evil universe, whether she'd return, and how it feels to reunite with Housemarque for Saros.
Jane Perry is having one heck of a 2026. Having just been nominated for a BAFTA most recently for her role as Lia Cain in last year’s indie horror Dead Take, already she’s wowing players all over again with her performance this year as Alyssa Ashcroft in Resident Evil Requiem and an upcoming standout performance in Saros as Sheridan Bouchard. The latter being a key figure alongside Rahal Kohli’s Arjun in the PS5 exclusive shooter.
Most players will likely recognise the timbre of her voice, however, as Diana Burnwood, Agent 47’s long-time handler as featured in IO Interactive’s acclaimed Hitman series. But as you can probably tell, if not a total guarantee for success, in whatever game you hear her voice, you’re always guaranteed to at the very least stay intrigued.
With video game credits dating as far back as 2010, Perry has become a bit of a voice acting stalwart in the field then, working alongside other veteran and up-and-coming performers to help elevate the medium. It’s with this in mind that I recently took the opportunity to sit down with Perry.
On Collaborating with Other Actors
You were recently BAFTA-nominated for your performance in Dead Take, which is a game full of voice acting icons, including yourself. How much fun was it to hang out with them on set given that a lot of voice acting is often done separately?
It makes a huge, huge difference, and it's really palpable. I'm working on a game right now where we had an ensemble recording [with] me and the other actor who is in the scene. Then, because of scheduling stuff, he couldn't make the next session and I was by myself. And I just think we could all feel the difference. Of course, acting is reacting. It's working in conjunction with what the other actor and what the character is feeding you. That is where the magic happens in acting.
Even though our work in Dead Take is composed completely of monologues, we were still in the room together and we were really having fun and we were watching each other's work and supporting each other and in between takes sort of collaborating and trying new things. This is what it's all about and that is a true, true pleasure.
Joining the Resident Evil Universe
You recently took on the role of Alyssa Ashcroft in Resident Evil Requiem. What was it like stepping into that world and becoming part of such an iconic franchise?
Great! I mean, it's obviously intimidating to step into a game that has such love from the fans and then to play an existing role. It's also really exciting because you know the recipe for that game [is] a recipe for success. What they do, what they've created, and what they continue to create just goes from strength to strength. So jumping on board with that and that massive, huge title, I just really loved every second of it.
Of course, we performance-captured that. So circling back to what we were saying before about being in the room with the other actors and the director and everybody on the team… We call it the magic space when you step on stage or into that rehearsal area or in the volume, as the case was with Resident Evil, and interesting, exciting things start to happen. And I just adored it.
A Short but Impactful Role
Alyssa meets an untimely end relatively early on. Was Capcom honest with you about this short tenure from the beginning?
Well, I mean, they didn't put it in so many words, but it’s really sudden isn’t it? We had a wonderful stunt director, Nathaniel Martin, and he just gave us all these great ways to die and also to make others die, because all that stuff, that has to ring true.
I'm not in the habit of shooting people or being stabbed, so it's so great to have somebody who's really studied this stuff. Neither is Martin, by the way, but he studied it and he understands what happens to the human body when these things occur. And it's just super fun to tell that part of the story as well. Even though you and I watch it, I'm still horrified. I'm like, ‘oh my God’. But to do it, there’s just nothing like it.
Would She Return?
If ever there was the opportunity to reprise Alyssa, perhaps in a prequel story or an Outbreak remake, is that something you’d be interested in?
No, Aaron, absolutely not [sarcastically]. Of course it is, are you crazy? Yes, absolutely, I'd love it. I think, you're right, we don't get to see her for that long, but in the section that we do see her, right at the beginning of the game, you get to a lot of different elements of this character. She's a really well-drawn character in the sense that she's got complexity. She's got this whole backstory and history, a real strong interest in her professional life and her career.
Then you see this lovely, beautiful relationship that she has with her daughter. And it is imbued with so much love and affection and deep, deep care. And that's such a pleasure when you get to play a character who has lots of different aspects to them that you can sort of dive into. And I would adore the opportunity to explore all of those elements of that character a little bit more. So yeah, the short answer… that was a long answer. The short answer is yes.
The Enduring Appeal of Diana Burnwood
Okay, now we’ve reached the Hitman portion of the interview. I feel like in most games Diana Burnwood would be treated as a ‘non-entity’ but your performance allowed her to become so much more. Are you still surprised about how much love the fans have for her?
I think there's this huge affection for Agent 47. And I think that is probably part of the love for Diana, because she is always there for him. She's always looking out for him. Granted, she puts him in some tricky situations as well, undeniably. But I think there is this real sense of platonic love between them. This love that comes from being and having experiences with each other over the years. This is deep, profound respect.
I think it's so wonderful how their relationship has grown to the point where she becomes a bit more involved in what's going on. And I've really enjoyed that evolution of Diana, her graduation into, again, a more fully fledged character. She's got a backstory, too, that is, in many ways, quite painful and is deeply connected to Agent 47, as luck would have it. So her complexity is something I enjoy. And I really enjoy her intelligence and her elegance. And she's so damn smart. And I'm like, ‘ah, I wish I could be that smart’.
Favourite Lines
Is there a particular line of Diana’s you enjoy performing or has always stuck with you?
A line I think people really love is, ‘I shall leave you to prepare’, which is sort of the button on every mission, or most of them anyway. And I do love saying that line, or ‘good afternoon, agent’, because there's a sort of standard pattern, I guess, that the mission briefings follow. I just love that whole routine, even though I've done it so many times. Every time I get to do it, I'm like, ‘oh goody, here's another one’.
Returnal's BAFTA Win and Legacy
You’re obviously already familiar with BAFTA after winning in 2022 for your performance as Selene. What do you remember most from the moment you won, and are you still impressed at Returnal’s continued staying power?
I mean, I'm not surprised. I think it's an exquisite game and it's a challenging game and I think Housemarque, who is the developer of that game, they were so clever in what they created because I think the themes and the struggle of that character are things that many, many people can relate to. But it's also open to interpretation and somewhat unresolved in a way. So I think that really keeps people engaged you're not spoon-fed. And When it ends, you're still grappling with it.
Because it touches us on a more psychological level, I think we grapple with it, perhaps on a deeper level than we might otherwise. And I think across the board story-wise, technically, everything about that game is awesome, which is why it won so many awards and Best Game of the Year at The Game Awards too. And I'm really looking forward to seeing Saros, which is coming out soon. I think that's going to be even better.
Teasing Saros and Sheridan Bouchard
Speaking of which, Saros is set to release extremely soon. Is there anything you can tease us regarding Sheridan Bouchard and the role she’ll play in the story?
I think she's another strong character, as you could probably tell from the trailers that are out. She's another person who's a leader and she's got a lot of responsibility. And I think that like anybody in that position, there's the sort of outward kind of public persona that's very strident and strong and confident and has to be. And then sometimes there's more internal things that are going on more privately that we get a little bit of insight into. And again, it's that wonderful complexity of those characters that we got to enjoy. So yeah, that's all I'm going to tell you.
Saros is set to launch exclusively on PS5 this Thursday, April 30.
