Charles Martinet – Mario (Mario Kart)
Charles Martinet is a bona fide voice-acting legend. Across the many decades he’s been working, he has voiced Mario in a whopping 104 different projects, and that’s not counting all the times he’s lent his voice to Wario, Waluigi, Luigi and other minor characters from the franchise. However, even though the plucky Italian plumber is what Martinet is best known for, he’s not exactly Mario’s spitting image.
Carlos Ferro – Dominic Santiago (Gears of War)
Carlos Ferro has had a lot of jobs since he made his entertainment debut: from club DJ to television actor to music video producer. However, he’s also a prolific voice actor, most famously lending his voice to Dominic Santiago in the Gears of War franchise. Ferro isn’t as bearded, shredded or constantly furrowed as Santiago, but he could achieve the look with gym classes and stress.
Ashley Johnson – Ellie Williams (The Last of Us)
Ellie Williams from The Last of Us is a scrappy, feisty brunette teenager who is never afraid to say exactly what she thinks. By contrast, her voice actor, Ashley Johnson, is a famously kind, bubbly blonde who has often talked about her struggles with shyness and anxiety. The lack of similarities between Johnson and Ellie didn’t stop her from winning two BAFTA Games Awards for Performer for her portrayal though.
Cristina Valenzuela – Xingqiu (Genshin Impact)
Xingqiu from Genshin Impact is a solitary and mischievous preteen boy with blue hair who, when he is not learning swordplay, is constantly trying to expand his mind and avoid taking over his family business. His English-language voice actor, Cristina Valenzuela, is a 25-year-old woman who loves attending festivals and hitting the gym. In other words: they couldn’t be more different!
Darin De Paul – Reinhardt (Overwatch)
Basically, none of the characters from Overwatch and Overwatch 2 look anything like their voice actors, but the difference between Darin De Paul and his character Reinhardt are especially dramatic. Reinhardt has two visual forms: that of a buff man with snow-white hair and a giant moustache outside of combat, and his full-body Crusader power armour. Neither one looks much like De Paul.
Cissy Jones – Fury (Darksiders III)
As a hybrid angel-demon known as a Nephilim and one of the actual Horsemen of The Apocalypse, Fury from Darksiders III is about as cool as it’s possible for a character to be. Her voice actor, Cissy Jones, is also pretty awesome, but the similarities end there. While Fury is statuesque and has long, flaming red hair, Jones is shorter, sports silver hair and actually has pupils.
Christopher Judge – Kratos (God of War)
Kratos, the actual god of war from God of War, is one of the most fearsome video game characters in the history of the medium. Even once you take away the red markings, the furs, the battle axe and the rippling muscles, you’re still left with a pretty scary figure. Despite the fact that Christopher Judge was a college football player, he still isn’t quite that intimidating.
Lori Alan – The Boss (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater)
The Boss is Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater’s most infamous antagonist. Her likeness was based on arthouse actress Charlotte Rampling, and her physicality was designed to be as intimidating as possible. Her voice actor Lori Alan isn’t bottle blonde, nearing six-foot tall or as terrifying, but she is just as accomplished, having won a Voice Arts Award (VAA) for an outstanding body of work.
Matthew Mercer – Ganondorf (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom)
Ganondorf Dragmire is one of the main villains of the Zelda franchise, showing up again and again with various different voice actors since his first outing. Understandably though, none of them sport his green skin, pointed nose and red hair. The subdued and placid Matthew Mercer, who voiced Ganondorf in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, doesn’t match him in looks or temperament.
Ellen McLain – GLaDOS (Portal)
GLaDOS is a Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System, so she appears as a giant robot hanging from the ceiling who is sometimes forced to possess a potato. Due to this, finding a voice actor who looks just like her is a big ask. Nevertheless, given how calculating and cruel GLaDOS is, you might be surprised to know she was voiced by the then 55-year-old Ellen McLain.
