Interview with Voice Actor Penelope Rawlins

Voice Actor, Penelope Rawlins

One of the great things about writing audio dramas is hearing how the production team have interpreted my script, to bring the story to life. A major part of that is obviously the voice actors themselves – they bring personality and emotion to the characters, much more than words on a page can.

Voice Actor Penelope Rawlins, who plays Farseer Shar-telion in my new audio drama Asurmen: The Darker Road, was kind enough to answer a few questions about her work.

You have appeared in an impressive number of Black Library audio dramas, and narrated a fair few stories too. How much of the universe of the Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 do you think you have absorbed along the way?

I’ve been very lucky to play so many varied roles along the way, it’s been a great treat as an actress and voice artist, and without fail you can’t help but get absorbed in the world because they are so well written, my days recording these projects are some of my favourites. Saying that, I do find I have to switch off and back into the roles in quite a concentrated way as each character tells a very different story in what they are saying – each journey is different and thus the experience of voicing each is different.

You have played a wide variety of parts, but do you have a favourite role, or type of role?

I’m very lucky as I get cast in a wide range of roles from small children, to old ladies, and of course monsters and aliens too along the way! What I love about the voice world is that it allows more variety and versatility in ones casting range. One’s physical look doesn’t restrict your casting in the same way in vision work does. I have to say that’s why I love the work I do so much, it’s always varied, and every day and week is different. Baddies are always fun because we don’t tend to behave like that in real life – so I suppose characters further from me are enjoyable in a different way to emotionally fragile and fraught characters. If it’s written well, it’s a joy whatever the character!

Your acting CV is very broad, from stage to cartoons to video games. Do you have to think differently for voice acting for audio dramas, knowing that there will be nothing visual at all to accompany your words?

Yes you do, very much. You only have your voice to paint the pictures in peoples head as they listen, so you need to imagine and convey the emotion, the stakes and circumstances, the setting, the costume, the atmosphere – all with just your voice. I work as a voice mentor and I always say to those I’m coaching, if you can’t see it in your head, your listeners won’t see it either. You’re painting the story with your voice.

How many takes does it need to get a full audio completed? How long for those seventy minutes of seemingly perfect delivery? Especially with all of those strange, unpronounceable names…

Ha ha, well the strange unpronounceable names are always decided upon from the outset with collaboration with the producer/director/writer. The trick is to remember them and remain consistent!! It all depends on how long the piece is and whether there is a lot of narration or dialogue. Also the tone of the piece, what sort of pace does it require to set the right atmosphere and tell the story the best way we can. Some can take 2 hours, some can take 3, it really depends on the piece.

How much do you need to familiarise yourself with a script before you hit the sound booth, to make sure that you are getting the tone right for a specific scene? Do you read it through once and then go for it, or do you need to study the lines in detail before each recording?

I definitely read it through more than once! Several times in fact. It takes time to consider the characters, the scenario, the pronunciations! I also practice out loud to make sure I understand what levels need to be reached and make my mouth familiar with the words. I will also talk with the producer beforehand to discuss with them their thoughts on interpretation so that we’re all singing from the same hymn sheet!! Anything I feel uncertain about I clarify before recording, as anything that’s unclear in my head will come across in my delivery – and I want to be able to absorb myself completely in the storytelling as I tell it!

Huge thanks to Penelope for taking the time to answer my questions. If you want to find more about Penelope’s work, you can visit her website at www.peneloperawlins.co.uk

Buy Asurmen: The Darker Road

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