Specials // Interviews // Interview with Alisha Ruiss
As the wife of Nobunaga Oda, Nouhime is one of the most beautiful and villainous women in the Samurai Warriors series and who better to portray her than the lovely Canadian Singer/Actress Alisha Ruiss!
KOEI Warriors was very anxious to hear from this young woman and she more than happily agreed to share her experiences with us! The KOEI Warriors member, Zhu Rong was able to set up an interview with her, using questions asked by the members at KOEI Warriors. Alisha voiced Nouhime in Samurai Warriors 2, Empires, and Xtreme Legends. So, without further ado, we present to you, Alisha Ruiss!
THE INTERVIEW
KW: How many voices have you done, do you appear in musicals?
Alisha: Aside from Lady Noh, I've voiced about 5 other characters in various games. Yes, I have appeared in musicals and musical theatre related productions.
KW: Did you personally volunteer for the role of Noh in SW2 or was it thrust upon you?
Alisha: I got to do the voice of Lady Noh as a result voicing another character for the same company. I read for a few parts and that was the one they felt I was best suited for.
KW: Did you get to meet, and if so, enjoy your time greeting the other voice actors during the production of SW2?
Alisha: Our recording sessions are all at different times, so unfortunately, I did not get to meet the other voice actors who worked on SW2, though I do know a few of them.
KW: Would you voice for them again if there was a sequel?
Alisha: Absolutely!
KW: Want to join KOEI Warriors? (Hm...maybe the users wish you could join! It'd be great!)
Alisha: I'm not really a video game player so I'm not sure I'd be a very helpful contributor to the forum!
KW: What advice do you have for young aspiring voice actors?
Alisha: Learn everything you can about vocal health and do your best to take care of your voice and keep it in shape (get rest, stay hydrated, avoid overuse or misuse of the voice, etc).
Listen to how people speak and tell stories. Remember things that you can use in your work.
Read aloud often - telling stories to young children is a great time to try things on an audience that is going to give you an honest but usually generous response. (I wish I could do this more!)
When you're practising dialogue, always remember who you're speaking to, rather than what you're saying or how you're saying it. Even though you may receive direction in terms of inflection or emphasis, keeping that in mind will infuse the lines with the correct energy and intention, especially since you don't often know what the response of your fellow actors will sound like.
Get as much experience in a studio as you can.
When in the studio, be respectful and do as you're directed, but don't be afraid to offer a different interpretation and use your instincts.
Realize that because you are doing recorded work, a lot of things are out of your control: the other actors, the final choices made by those editing, or even the development of the character etc. Do your best and when it's done, let it go.
KW: What's your dream roles , who do you want your voice to be attached to or do you have series or films that you wish to enroll in?
Alisha: My dream roles would be to play Eva Peron in the musical Evita, and Anne in Anne of Green Gables. I also wouldn't mind doing musicals based on Disney movies, like The Little Mermaid or voicing some new kind of fantasy or fairy tale character.
KW: Did you enjoy voicing Lady No in SW2? Also why did you change how she sounds in SW2XL? Because she sounded very evil and it was very good!
Alisha: I loved all the work I did voicing Lady No, and I had a great team to work with. In SW2XL, the team coaching in studio wanted to move the voice in a different direction so we found a "vocal spot" that seemed to fit, and moved around within that framework, while at the same time trying not to stray too far from the previous choices we'd made.
Samurai Warriors 2 Voicing Experience
Winback 2: PP Voicing Experience
KW: If a sequel to WinBack 2 Project Poseidon was developed in the future, would you voice Mia Cabrera again if asked?
Alisha: Absolutely. I had a lot of fun playing her, because it is the type of character that I would probably not be cast as on stage or in film because I don't think I have that type of look - but in voice acting, looks are irrelevant!
KW: Did you know about Lady Noh before you entered this project?
Alisha: If you mean about the real person she's based on, no. I did some research to give myself an idea of the context, but the games aren't entirely historically accurate, so thankfully I didn't have to remember all the complexities and relationships between the different characters: there are a lot of them!
KW: Did you audition for any other character other than Noh?
Alisha: I auditioned in general for the project, and they had me read for a few parts though I don't really remember the others - I believe one of the other voices was Ina.
KW: Can you describe an average days work of a VA?
Alisha: The time that you are recording depends entirely upon the schedule of the studio and how the other actors are scheduled. Generally most of the recording sessions lasted for 3-4 hours.
KW: Any struggles with voice acting?
Alisha: I'd say that the biggest challenge with the actual work, is that you work in a bit of a vacuum: you don't necessarily get to hear what the other actors sound like, so you are choosing your reactions to other lines according to how you imagine they are being said or according to who is directing you. Alone the lines may sound great but in context it can end up being a bit disconnected. In an another way, it gives you the freedom to try a bunch of different ways of saying the lines.
The other challenge is being compared to other voices. People may also not be aware that some of choices are guided by the limited time you have, or another factor beyond your control. Sometimes you'll read that someone didn't like your work it's frustrating because what they are criticizing is a matter over which you didn't have much say. Sometimes it's frustrating because you did have a say in the matter and you like a choice you made but others don't. You have to accept that you can't please everyone.
Alisha Ruiss - Son of a Preacher Man
Alisha Ruiss - Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You
KW: Yay! Also, Alisha, if you wish to say anything to the fans at KOEI Warriors, what do you wish to say?
Alisha: I think it's truly amazing to see how involved and attached people get to the characters; it gives actors a lot to try to live up to. I hope you enjoy playing the games and thanks for your interest!
