Elisa Giorgio, the Italian voice actor for the latest League of Legends champion, Smolder, is creating a lot of excitement in the Summoner’s Rift. Our interview with her, translated from the original Italian, gives insight into her experience working with Riot Games and voicing a character in a globally popular game.
Hi Elisa, could you tell us about your career path and how you became a voice actress?
Elisa: I started my journey as an actress at the age of 14, primarily in theater. After completing my university studies, I ventured into the world of dubbing and voice acting to channel my acting skills into something that focuses on voice work and the microphone.
Elisa mentioned, “When it comes to TV series, characters from ‘Vis a Vis’ and ‘The Crown,’ and in anime, roles in ‘Jujutsu Kaisen,’ ‘One Piece,’ and ‘Spy X Family,’ and voicing characters in movies have been some of her most cherished roles.
How does it feel to lend your voice to a character in a globally popular and beloved game like League of Legends?
Elisa: Lending my voice to Smolder feels absolutely amazing! The appreciation from gamers worldwide, especially from women who find Smolder cute and endearing, is heartwarming. Even though I’ve never played LoL myself, being part of such a globally famous game is incredible.
Elisa also shared that she has voiced characters in other popular video games such as Mortal Kombat, Spiderman 2, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Final Fantasy XVI, and that voicing the main character in Hogwarts Legacy has been a standout role for her.
Can you talk us through the interview/audition process for getting your role as Smolder? How hard was it to land a voice job with Riot Games, one of the biggest game developers in the world?
Elisa: For Smolder, there wasn’t a traditional casting process. Instead, I submitted a vocal sample as an audition, tailored to meet the specific vocal and emotional requirements outlined by the production team. The process took several years to land a role in a Riot Games video game, but it was definitely worth it!
What have been the major challenges in voicing Smolder, or any character for a video game, and what did you enjoy most about voicing Smolder?
Elisa: For Smolder, the challenge was maintaining a “childlike” voice without letting my adult side interfere. Generally, the challenge in video game dubbing is sustaining vocal energy for hours and staying true to the character. Despite the challenges, it was incredibly rewarding to embody a real child’s mindset.
Elisa also shared her views on the role of voice acting in gaming and offered advice to aspiring voice actors interested in entering the gaming industry.
Now that you’ve given your voice to a character in the game, would you ever like to try playing League of Legends?
Elisa: Absolutely! The fiery spirit of Smolder definitely ignites a desire to immerse myself in the world of LOL as Smolder. The allure of playing as the character is irresistible!
Elisa’s journey as a voice actress, her experience voicing Smolder, and her insights into the world of gaming voice acting provide a fascinating look at the work behind the scenes of popular video games.
