Nadia Marshall (Zenless Zone Zero, Bye Sweet Carole & More)

Award Winning Voice Actor, Nadia Marshall joins Gone Gold as we delve into the fascinating career and titles she has leant her voice to. From Zenless Zone Zero to a game Nadia discovered mid interview that both her and host Simon Hill worked on together. 

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Transcript

Simon Hill (Host): 0:03

Hello, and welcome to another episode of Gone Gold with me, Simon Hill, esports host, industry presenter, and TV personality. Yes, welcome, welcome. How are we all doing as we build up to the holiday season? I have not done a single ounce of Christmas shopping yet, and we're a little into our second week of December. Always being a last minute kind of guy. Lots going on in the gaming world before Christmas. The game awards are coming up. A huge congratulations to our friends and former guests of the show, Warhorse Studios, on the nominations, including Game of the Year for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. Well deserved, well earned. Very excited to see if they managed to land that. It is an incredible title. If you haven't played it, I'd definitely recommend you go and check it out. Should be a great event, and we're looking forward to seeing all the new reveals on the night as well. Thanks to everyone who has tuned into last week's episode with Anshar Studios and creative director Damien Fispansky, who delved into their reimagining of the classic arena shooter painkiller. Some fascinating insights into the development choices with that one and what makes this new version stand out in the modern era. If you haven't checked it out already, make sure you do after this episode, of course. Before we get into this episode, make sure you're subscribed to this podcast across your chosen platform. And one thing you can do to help grow the show even further is to continue to leave a rating and join the conversation and leave a comment on your favourite episodes. We'd like to thank everyone who's been checking us out on social media too recently, at Gone Gold Show Cheap Plug, where you can find video footage of these interviews alongside new information on future guests. Okay, so you're all here for the latest episode. Shall we do it? I'm joined by award-winning voice actor and multifaceted talent Nadia Marshall, who has established herself as a true artist within the industry. She's worked on such titles as Brawlhalla, Fire Emblem Heroes, Zenless Zone Zero, and many, many more. I also reveal a game we worked on together in different capacities during this interview, which took her by complete surprise, so you don't want to miss out on that. It's all here. It's gone gold with Nadia Marshall. She's an award-winning voice actor with multiple credits across a variety of global IPs. Alongside that, she's trained in opera, a musical theatre, which is all wrapped up in a multicultural, dynamic, and bubbly individual. Her name is Nadia Marshall and she's on Gone Gold. Nadia, welcome to the show. Thank you for having me. It's so great to have you here. And for anyone who's tuned into the incredible episode we had with Elena Vis, um, we spoke after the interview. And Elena's wonderfully generous personality went one step further and she offered to reach out to some friends in the business that she would love to see on the show. And Nadia was the first name she sent over to me, and now you're here.

Nadia Marshall: 3:21

Yes. All thanks to Elena. All thanks to Elena. Yeah. No, she truly is. I mean, I it was interesting, we were both in the same game, but I had never met her before. And by happenstance, we we were both at a conference in in Dallas. She was there for an awards, and I was there, and we saw each other in the hallway, and I said, Something about this woman, like I I feel like I know her. Why do I know her? And she called me by my character's name, and I called her by her character statement, and we were like, you know, just immediate warmth and just such she's she is a golden individual. She truly is. Yeah.

Simon Hill (Host): 3:56

She is and an unbelievable talent that's doing incredible things.

Nadia Marshall: 4:01

Truly.

Simon Hill (Host): 4:02

I think 2026, she's going to certainly be one of the names on everybody's lips. But this episode is about Nadia Marshall. So, firstly, how is the world of Nadia right now? You've had a busy 2025, including a few video game projects that recently launched, including the beautifully hand-drawn narrative horror by Sweet Carol and Digimon Storytime Stranger. Now that we're coming to an end of the year, how's 2025 been for you?

Nadia Marshall: 4:28

It's been a wonderful year, and especially in games in particular. That's been actually the biggest growth of the entire year compared to in previous years. So I've been in more video game, uh more video games this year collectively than all of my other years combined, which is wonderful. There's other ones that are coming out in 2026, but I can't say any more. So you will you will find out sort of soon. But uh no, it's been really wonderful and yeah, work's picked up in a great way. And yeah, just feeling very, very thankful to be able to meet even fans at conventions and everything, too. It's just been it's just been a lovely way to kick off what was a leap of faith of moving here to Atlanta. Um it's been over a year now and it was it paid off. So wow.

Simon Hill (Host): 5:15

And we're gonna delve into all of that that you've just touched upon. Those darn NDAs are already setting us up for a part two of this interview, clearly. One of your most notable credits in video games is Zenless Zone Zero, which we'll get into in a moment. Also, a little shock for the listeners, and I haven't told Nadia this either, is we both worked on the same video game, a little indie title in different capacities, many years ago, which is going to make for a really fun talking point later on. Let's kick things off with one of your newest projects, By Sweet Carol, developed by Little Sewing Machine. It's a character-driven narrative horror adventure game set in 20th century England. Talk to us about what attracted you to this project.

Nadia Marshall: 5:58

The creator of the game found me on a casting site, believe it or not. And uh when he reached out to me, I I didn't really know much about what this because it was still in development, so I didn't know like the artwork or anything necessarily. He but eventually he came back to me with more lines for my particular character. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm gonna keep it spoiler-free. But I got to see her uh interact in like a cutscene, and I thought, wow, this artwork is truly stunning. It's gorgeous. And when he first gave me the lines when he reached out initially, and then the second time, I didn't actually put the two and two together. Like I didn't realize the relationship. And again, I'm gonna keep it spoiler-free. Uh but it's kind of this big twist when you if you don't realize it that you're like, oh wow, I didn't realize that she was this person. So I did end up watching a playthrough of it, and it really is just you can see the love and the appreciation and the the true just this is not what AI can do. I mean, it's just it's just a great example of human artistry at its finest. So I I very much was thankful to be involved in something like that. I didn't realize to the extent of how sort of how much horror was going to be in there, because in my lines I didn't really get to see it. Um, but it really is a spectacular game.

Simon Hill (Host): 7:20

Aaron Ross Powell We'll touch up on that. The game is heavily inspired by the classic animations and early Disney animations. It has this stunning visual art design. And a whole host of characters that you are involved with throughout this story. You played Miss Josephine. Yes. What were your initial impressions when you received the script? And of course, we will keep this spoiler-free. One thing that it did really well this game is writing.

Nadia Marshall: 7:44

Oh, uh absolutely. And the fact that there is both an Italian version of the game and an English version of the game is just beautiful. You know, people who enjoy both languages, like myself, you know, you're able to get through that. But it was written so much so that as a young woman, like the main character, Lana, not Carol, actually. Um you do get so engrossed in that world and you do feel like, oh, this is what a young girl at a school this is exactly what she would have to deal with. This is exactly the things that a young girl of her age would worry about at that time period. Um, it was just absolutely splendid. And I thought I thought of Miss Josephine as I wanted her to be warm. I wanted her to be maternal in the sense, but I also thought that there's more to her than I think people realized. And even initially when I got it when I didn't realize the twist, I thought she's more important to her than she realizes. So it was kind of funny when it again, no spoilers. Um you realize, oh, she really is quite an important character in in the story of Lana.

Simon Hill (Host): 8:55

The studio have created this wonderfully crafted, fantastical world filled with mystery, uh, which we kind of alluded to just there. Was this a genre of game you're already familiar with?

Nadia Marshall: 9:06

Aaron Ross Powell My first game, actually, was kind of a dungeon crawler horror game anyway, but I hadn't been in a horror game uh since then. So it was kind of nice to return to that. Obviously, it's very, very different uh flavor of horror, but no, I I didn't think initially I would be involved. And considering what I saw the character description as, I didn't realize that was what it was until later. But I think she is that bright beacon in a dark place.

Simon Hill (Host): 9:36

Aaron Ross Powell What was the audition process like for this game? Because again, they're looking for something very niche, very specific to fit this really imaginative world that they've created.

Nadia Marshall: 9:47

Aaron Ross Powell I mean, it was a casting site. So he just posted a brief description of the character, a brief description of sort of the background of what it was. And I initially saw the lines and I submitted to it. At first they were going to have a different name for the character. They changed it. And then he sent me some cutscenes, and then he sent me sort of towards the end of the game and sort of towards the beginning of the game. So it was two different timelines. And I didn't put two and two together until we were recording, and I did it on my own. We didn't have a directed session, actually. But I which was different. Usually I'm used to directed sessions, but with this one, I was like, oh, okay. You know, he trusts me enough to do it on my own. But then I saw like one one section of the game at the beginning and versus the end, and I'm like, oh wait, whoa, these are related, you know, but you don't initially think that. So it was it was different. Again, I'm used to directed sessions, but that one was more of a do it on your own kind of thing.

Simon Hill (Host): 10:41

Aaron Powell So you're also a self-director as well.

Nadia Marshall: 10:45

I I dabble. I dabble.

Simon Hill (Host): 10:49

Where did your gaming journey begin outside of voice acting and what are some of your earliest memories?

Nadia Marshall: 10:55

Ooh, so actually that's kind of interesting you bring up Bisweet Carol because I grew up playing mostly PC games as a start. My my parents were a little bit strict onto, you know, you can only play these kind of games more of the educational side, or like I was a big Harry Potter fan, so a lot of Harry Potter games. And then Nancy Drew games was like my big thing. And actually, the an the first actress for the voice of Nancy Drew from like games one to I think like 23 is also in BySweet Carol. So when I found out she was also in the cast Lanny Manella, it it really touched my heart because I thought, wow, you were my childhood. You made my experience and love games, and we're and we happen to be in the same game and we didn't even know. Like it's just it's remarkable. Yeah.

Simon Hill (Host): 11:42

A full circle moment.

Nadia Marshall: 11:44

Very full circle.

Simon Hill (Host): 11:45

It's a small industry, isn't it, when you think about it. It really is. And I'm gonna ask me nice. I'm gonna ask. I'll ask you this a little bit later to give me your top five games of all time. So there's your pre-warning. Okay, who's gonna be? I know. Something something to think about. Now I mentioned earlier about a game we both worked on, and before I reveal what game it is, I'll give some additional context here for our listeners. Before I was an esports host travelling the world on various tournaments, I was a community manager and worked on multiple games, such as Shenmue, Dead Island, Metro Exodus, and then I went into freelance game marketing after that. In 2022, an indie company reached out wanting help to market their upcoming debut title. It was a noir interactive graphic novel developed by Senam Games called Homer. Do you remember working on this, Nadia?

Nadia Marshall: 12:37

Yes, yes I do. Yes, I do.

Simon Hill (Host): 12:40

So all that content that got put together and produced and put out was by me. Wow, oh my goodness. Congratulations. Thank you very much. That was actually the last game as a marketing freelancer I worked on as well. Really? Um yeah. So you played Nassim in this game, and you got to play around with accents as well, explore a more dynamic range for this role. What are the highlights from working with Senam games?

Nadia Marshall: 13:08

That was also another self-directed versus uh to direction. It's interesting. You're you're you're picking all the self-directed stuff.

Simon Hill (Host): 13:18

Um but with Nassim.

Nadia Marshall: 13:22

Such a good host. Such a good host. No, with Nassim, I mean because she obviously she's supposed to be this character that represents this older again, I don't want to really spoil it for people, but she represents this kind of older, more divine, I guess you can say, being that I've was a little bit struggling to figure out, like, well, do you want my British accent? Do you want my Indian accent? Like what what do you want? Like what's gonna fit here? Because I feel like seeing the character art, I was like, I'm leaning more towards Indian. I don't really know. And so we kind of, you know, did like a pseudo pseudo-one, which I do uh, you know, all the time for work anyway. So um when I saw the character art too, I thought, oh wow, we look we even look the same. That's kind of interesting. But no, I just thought she was such a wise kind of you know, but not your stereotypical older wise woman, but like a this being that holds so much wisdom and so much guidance, but in a sense that you if you cross her, like, ooh, you better watch out, kind of thing.

Simon Hill (Host): 14:27

Yeah, and there was certainly quite a few instances with the main protagonist in that game where it was almost like Nassim was holding the cards close to a chest. And, you know, if you really want something out of me, then then I need something from you. What was it like to explore that dynamic as an actor?

Nadia Marshall: 14:45

Uh I I always enjoy, I mean, every opportunity to explore these different kinds of characters. I mean, even just being on stage and on here, I it's always just an acting exercise for me. It's always just a way to explore the different side of yourself, or like if I were in their shoes, this is how I would react, or you know, how would I feel if someone was trying to guide me like this? What would I want them to do? Sort of thing. So I always just enjoy it. And especially I've noticed when it's more of these kind of like oracle characters, or like these divine beings. I'm like, I'm seeing a pattern here. Like people are putting me in these boxes. I'm either like the divine oracle or I get possessed by an evil spirit and I go crazy, or I'm like, what does this say about me? Like, what are people trying to tell me? Like, okay, Nadia, you're you're kind of crazy, but you're also we can also feel comfortable and calm with you until you piss people off. Like, I I don't I don't fully know, but you know, it's interesting you see patterns emerge with characters.

Simon Hill (Host): 15:45

Talking of patterns and pissing people off, Zenless Zone Zero is an act. Look at that for a smooth seg. It's an action RPG, free-to-play game with a huge cult following. This was one of your first major playable protagonist roles in video game voiceover. You played Nicole Damara, the leader of a criminal organization. Let's start with the audition process and where you found out about the part and ended up landing Nicole.

Nadia Marshall: 16:13

So that one is actually thanks to a wonderful group of people that I I guess I was on their roster. I forgot how I got on their roster. I think I submitted. Um, and then they held auditions for this game. I knew nothing about it. I knew nothing about the Hoyo verse world. And when they initially sent it over to me, supposedly, you know, now I know the story. I sent the audition for that character and I've listened back to it. And it's not quite the same, obviously, as the end product, but there was something there. And I think that when I auditioned for a smaller role, they were m so impressed with the way that I auditioned for that smaller role that they say, we actually want to give you this one. We think that the way you auditioned for this little is is actually the way we want Nicole to sound. So I a lesson in of itself of just don't don't negate the smaller roles, because that might get you in the door for something bigger, or that might be the way to get you into that medium. And the casting director, he really, really pushed for me, which I'm so thankful for, and I thank him all the time. We we do work with each other frequently. So that was wonderful. It was a great directed session. Um then we switched to a different recording studio, same thing. There are always wonderful directed sessions. But it we would joke around a lot that um first of all, Nadia and Nicole do sound a bit similar, so sometimes the directors would accidentally call me Nicole. But I I took that as a compliment, actually, because there were moments where I wasn't even in this booth anymore. Like she just took over. She it was her. And I was able to just have so much fun and put my own little spin on things. And you know, I'm sure people can hear the moments where I was having fun or where I just let her go free. And no, she's she's such a we're we're peas in a pod, is what I'll say. It I'm I'm not quite as bratty as she is, of course, but I mean she's tough, but she's she has that tough exterior for a reason, and she's truly a softy. She's truly the kindest, most generous person, but she has she has a reputation to uphold, of course.

Simon Hill (Host): 18:22

Aaron Ross Powell For our listeners out there, I just want to describe the smile on your face whilst describing Nicole. Aaron Ross Powell You can tell how much she means to you and how close you hold her to your heart.

Nadia Marshall: 18:35

Aaron Powell Very much so. I mean, every time I meet fans, that's I know that was the main reason for gaining some sort of status of of I mean, like D-list celebrity at best. But you know, I know that fans love her. And because they love her so much. Um I I mean I I loved her, but even when I just knew it was just me. But n getting to interact with people who say, oh, you make the game for me, or I love using Nicole all the time. Like, you know, we don't do this necessarily for that kind of praise, but it means a great, great deal. I mean, to the point where I have way too many stickers. She's on my water bottle, like I just she's everywhere. So I've accepted it.

Simon Hill (Host): 19:16

Aaron Ross Powell And as a playable character, you're able to delve into many more emotions as an actor and also help build the character arc. Were you able to bring some of your own creative ideas to the table with this role and even add lib?

Nadia Marshall: 19:29

Oh yes. I think in the early stages, we were still trying to figure her out. And as we were fed more of the scripts, we sort of realized, oh, this is her backstory, or oh, this is this. But I it's funny, kind of in later times, we would be in a session. We would have the end client and we would have the director in session. And there would be instances where, for example, we're going over this line and we're like, oh, there's something tripping us up over the line. Like, I don't know. Like we're trying to keep in line with the Japanese or the Chinese translation, but also kind of To make it our own. And I would say something that I was like, you know what? I I think Nicole would say this. I mean, I would do that, I do that sparingly, because obviously the writers are the writers and I don't want to step on anyone's toes. But if we are trying to write in real time, I will say, like, what do what do we think of this? Or I think Nicole would say this: that there was one line that I s we collectively agreed that it would be so funny that I think she said something like, Your sibling would have yeeted my butt into the hollow or something. And that was because we all just collectively were like, she would say yeet. They're like, yeah, she would say yeet. Let's put it in there, guys. Like So we do, we do at times.

Simon Hill (Host): 20:39

That's incredible. And her overall story is very nuanced. She's the founder of this organization that go by the name of Cunning Hairs. She's been on the streets hustling for years. She's also been blacklisted due to her all or nothing approach. She loves money, but she's also constantly in debt. So there's a lot of things to work with here, a lot of things to explore. How do you start to break that down as an actor before then finding her voice?

Nadia Marshall: 21:05

It comes down a little bit to my acting training, and I'm very thankful for all of the years I had with that of improv and, you know, even in some acting workshops and things. But I had already mapped out internally for me things that probably would never be explored, as in what's her favorite flavor of ice cream? To the fans, they might think it's something, but to me, I have my idea of what her favorite flavor of ice cream is. Or if she was asked to sing a song at karaoke, what would be her choice? You know, or just random things like that. I would just think about if I was like, if I was hanging out with Nicole, what would she do? What would be her order, or just even if it's miscellaneous items, it would just really help me get into the zone of her. And knowing these parts of like he were just describing, yeah, she's tough, she's on the streets, she's always in debt, but you later find out through the story that she gives away most of her money to orphans because she was an orphan herself. So I I knew even with her voice, I was like, she needs to have that bratty quality. She needs to be a bit forward, a little bit like in your face. But at the same time, she still has that warmth, she still has that this. So that kind of helped me think of like, okay, well, I want to make sure that her voice has these qualities and these qualities to reflect those things. So and I think, you know, with time and as you s sit more with the character, yeah, of course it'll it'll come too. But yeah, it was an easy kind of hand-in-glove situation, like peas in a pod. We really we found each other. So yeah.

Simon Hill (Host): 22:36

Aaron Ross Powell As a professional, as an actor, as a voice actor, what did you take away from working on Zenless Zone Zero the most?

Nadia Marshall: 22:44

Aaron Ross Powell Besides the earlier thing of, you know, don't necessarily negate the smaller thing and because it might lead to something bigger. I think it was just this idea of before I I had worked on video games before, but it would be in smaller capacities, right? It wouldn't be this chance to be a bigger protagonist or bigger playable character, not as much time to really show off my acting chops, even though I tried in previous ones. No, no, no, we want you to be smaller, we want you to do this. I just was able to have fun, be unapologetically involved, but also I think it was just this idea of you you have to put yourself, you have to put a little like dash of yourself in it. Because if you don't that that loses the humanity. You know, that loses the that when people are like, oh, there's just something about the way that he or she has done that character that I just love so much. That's what it is. That's what it is. It's because they are involved. That I finally thought I was like, well, I can put so much more of me into this and do my little funny quirks. And then people were like, oh, I love when Nicole did that little squeak, or I love when she did that little effort. Then I was like, well, yeah, that's like that's me. But you just don't see me saying these kinds of words because this is not how I live in society, but you know, because Nicole does. So it was just that idea of I can put more of me in here, and that's totally fine. And that's what people want to hear.

Simon Hill (Host): 24:10

I think Craig Lee Thomas said something similar in our interview that although this character he had created was so over the top and so boisterous and so resounding within that world, he also compared it to himself because he can be over the top. He can be quite loud and in your face. And adding that slight layer of personality really brings a character to life. And it's clear that that's exactly what happened with you with Zen the Stone Zero. 100%. Another thing that's worth touching on is Chloe Elmore and Samantha Bayart also have said similar things. They both auditioned for smaller roles, Samantha Bayart in Baldur's Gate, Chloe Elmore in Path of Exile, and ended up getting lead characters. So it's it you're absolutely right. You can't neglect those small roles, even if it's just that little step, that little foot in the door, because it could lead to bigger things. Knowing that that happened to you within the first few years of you taking on this journey, did it fuel a fire within you afterwards?

Nadia Marshall: 25:09

Very much so. Very much so. I think it was just this I this waiting game of like, when am I gonna get a chance to prove I can do these bigger video game roles, like just give them to me. I don't wanna be these smaller NPCs, or I don't want to just do this. Like I So I think it did open the door. Aaron Ross Powell It did. And maybe not so much in terms of of fans, but since we're now we're talking about casting, I think it did give a little bit of like a a check mark or like a little gold star of like, oh, okay, they can handle that. Let's give them more. Or oh, we're seeing why people are loving them for this. Maybe we can add them to this. I'm not saying that's the reasoning, but I guess in internally in my mind, it gave me that sense of like, well, I have this check mark. Yeah, let's just go, let's go for it. Instead of just being hungry for it, I'm like, no, I I deserve a place here. Because clearly we're seeing evidence that people are enjoying the performance.

Simon Hill (Host): 26:05

Aaron Powell Yeah, absolutely. And we've already heard the yeet line. Do you have any favorite lines other than that that have stuck with you ever since?

Nadia Marshall: 26:13

Aaron Powell Oh, so many. I mean, even just getting back into her voice print. Yes, I have a few. She has she has a couple when she's chosen from like the character menu. She has the um, you know, nothing nothing to fear, the cunning hairs are here, she has that, she has um, you know, need something, my services are expensive. You know, she has she has a few that are very cute. Uh I like her little giggles too. She does a little tee, you know, kind of moment. And you know, I just I just love those.

Simon Hill (Host): 26:42

It was in the introduction, and I would be remiss if we didn't talk about it. You're an award-winning voice actor. Talk us through the moment you were first nominated for a One Voice Award and eventually then winning.

Nadia Marshall: 26:55

Yes. Um, well, I won that award in 2023, and that was actually for my documentary demo. And I was very proud of it because yes, of all the coaching I had done prior to that, but it was one of my first demos that showcased all of my accents in one demo and not just separately. And um very, very thankful for that. And actually with Nicole too, I submitted um one of her character trailers for an award, for a Sovus Award, and that actually ended up winning last year. So I was very proud of that, too. It was her backstory of the oh thank you. Backstory of her orphanage beginnings and why she loves Denny's. And you know, of course, the the one time I thought to myself, like, oh, I should really go this year in LA, and I'm like, no, I really shouldn't. And then of course, like, I end up winning an award.

Simon Hill (Host): 27:43

And I'm like, oh, why wasn't that I should have gone. I should have gone.

Nadia Marshall: 27:47

I should have listened to myself. Anyway, but um no, I mean it's just like I was saying earlier, we don't do it necessarily for the awards or the praise, right? We do this because we're passionate about a project, because we align with this, because we're tickled by the script, whatever it is. But the moments where we do get to show recognition and celebrate each other's successes, um, it's a big deal. Actually, with Elena, she won finally her first award this past year. And so we were we were gushing about that too. Um but yeah, it's it's a chance for us all to celebrate this unconventional career that we have. Um so any excuse to do that, we'll take it.

Simon Hill (Host): 28:26

Aaron Powell You answered my next question there. I guess we can also tie it in a little bit. Awards aren't the everything of this industry, right? You're very lucky to even be nominated these days, and it's a privilege to do so. How important do you feel these ceremonies and recognitions are for the business and for people like yourself?

Nadia Marshall: 28:45

Aaron Powell I think it does a few things. One, obviously it's a great marketing tool to be able to say you're an award-winning so-and-so. I mean, obviously we wanna pat ourselves on the back and let us know. And you know, when you send out stuff or when you're marketing to someone, oh, they're award-winning. Wow. You know, so it does help with that, one. But I think also, too, because this is such an isolating career, we are stuck in these padded booths, right? We're kind of by ourselves most of the time. Yes, we do connect via internet, but it's not quite the same as being in person. And so when we do have these award ceremonies, I think it's a chance, yes, not only to finally get dressed up and leave our leave our houses, but it's this chance to celebrate each other and to celebrate what the power of the human voice and what it can do. The fact that the general public doesn't even think about the voice for a political campaign or the voice for a documentary or the voice for uh a nonprofit video. But that voice could make someone decide to donate to that nonprofit organization, or decide to get involved in that, or decide to watch that show or whatever it is, that I think it is a marvelous opportunity to celebrate the fact that there is enough work out there for everyone, and everyone's voice is unique. And that's to be celebrated because we're not the same people, and therefore we don't have the same voice print, and therefore we should, you know, listen to each other.

Simon Hill (Host): 30:19

What a beautiful answer and a beautiful perspective there on the industry as a whole and being able to be recognized as an individual who can deliver something and connect with others. I think that's what voice acting, acting, anything within the entertainment industry is all about. It's about connecting, isn't it? Very interesting. Clearly, you're doing that in booklet loads. I was checking out your website, doing my research. I watched a ton of videos and I was like, how is Nadia not everywhere? You're so dynamic.

Nadia Marshall: 30:48

Thank you. We're working on it. We're working on it. Like I made I made some joke uh Instagram thing or whatever, because there was a fan who said the same thing. And I know they meant it in a very nice way, but the way they said it kind of came across as like, oh, I'm sorry. Like I didn't realize I was supposed to knock on, hello, Broadway, can you let me on stage, please? You know, I'm trying, but some part of it I think too is you know, we don't see we only see the tip of the iceberg. We don't see the entire structure that happened. Or when people are like, wow, you're an overnight success, they're like, Yeah, it took me nine years to get here. Like, you know, you don't see the incremental steps that it took to lead to that. But it's just it's perseverance, it's you know, not being shy anymore, it's sort of being, okay, let's just go for it. I don't have any Fs left to give. Like, let's just go for it, you know. Um I think it's a bit of that. It's tenacity, determination, perseverance, and dedication to the, okay, we'll just try. You never know.

Simon Hill (Host): 31:49

We're clearly on the same page here, Nadia, because another great segue is you have been in this industry nine years. 2016 is when you kicked off your career as a voice actor within two months. You had your first gig. Sitting here at the end of 2025, did you ever imagine the journey you'd have would look anything like it does today?

Nadia Marshall: 32:08

Aaron Powell No. I mean, you touched upon the opera and um singing portion of my life, which I still do. I'm still involved in that. Granted, it's in a much more precise manner compared to, you know, because voice acting I can actually help pay the bills instead of, you know, just everything else. But uh I did not expect because 2016 I had just finished my first degree. And I thought, okay, we're gonna we're gonna just pursue opera, and that's how it's gonna be. And um a kind individual suggested voice acting to me and and then just opened the door. So no, I had no inclination of the exact journey it would take. But I knew going in that I would have fun with character roles. I knew, but I just like, I was like, I don't know how to even get that. I don't know where to go. So I knew it was on the horizon, I just didn't know how I would get there.

Simon Hill (Host): 33:02

Aaron Ross Powell And we've still got your favorite video games of all time to come. Before we get to that, what does an ideal role look like for you within video games? What's the dream job?

Nadia Marshall: 33:12

Aaron Powell I mean, there's dream franchises, but I I don't want to say I have an ideal like character in mind because I have no idea if an audition I've already submitted for is going to lead me to that, or if there's a role that's gonna be created for me. I mean, maybe a role created for me would be great, but probably more I've it's been a dream to do like performance capture, motion capture, something like that. But maybe I'll go really niche. And I'll say like a a really dream role would be if I could incorporate some of my other skills into it. So if there could be like a boxing element, or if like one of my roles, like tango dances, I could be like, oh hell yeah, my 12 years of tango dancing is gonna come into play. So something like that, really niche would be would be fantastic. But I think at the same time, like I'm already so thankful that I'm even involved with some of the projects I've been involved with and some that are uh to come. But it's you know, just this idea that you never know, like something that you submitted two years ago could be your in. You just they're still in production, they're still in development. You don't know. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

Simon Hill (Host): 34:17

Maybe we hit up Ubisoft for Just Dance 2027, you know.

Nadia Marshall: 34:20

Aaron Powell I'm just saying. I'm just saying. You know, I got moves, I got shoes, we're ready. We're ready.

Simon Hill (Host): 34:28

One aspect that I've also noticed about your career is that you love to give back to the industry and help others. Tell us about lead generation and why that's so important for yourself and for others.

Nadia Marshall: 34:39

Aaron Ross Powell We were talking about this earlier of there's so much work that is out there and available, and each one of us has a unique voice print that I think with the voice acting industry, there are different avenues to find work, right? We have casting sites, we have representation, and then we can do our own marketing. And I think with the way the industry has changed in the last, I guess, 20 years. I mean, I only have been here for 10 years, but since then marketing has taken a forefront in terms of being able to find more work. So I noticed that people would keep asking the same questions of like, well, how do I find that work? Or like, what do I do in order to find those people? That I'm like, why isn't anybody talking about this? That I was in a mastermind group of women, and we were trying to find uh someone to generate those leads for us, that I created this like very, very basic like PowerPoint thing with like little videos of how to do it. And these women in my mastermind group were like, Nadia, this is a course. You need to sell this. Like, this is something that you need to be teaching and you need to be providing as a service. I'm like, pfft. No, I don't think so. And lo and behold, I mean, now I'm speaking at conferences about it, and it's it's such an important I mean, uh obviously it's not only related to voice acting, lead generation is a universal marketing necessity, but I think it for voice actors in particular, because we're freelancers, people think, well, uh how do I how do I reach out to those people? You never know. I mean, if I had never reached out to the initial people who casted Zenless Zone Zero, I wouldn't be here. You know, and it's so it's you have to think that yes, it's a long game, and I think that's unfortunately the annoying part of it is that it's not a now thing. You have might not hear from people for two years, three years, four years, but it's people are still going to have that email in their inbox, and you never know when they're gonna need it. So better to just be there in the back than to not even have have have uh put your foot in the door.

Simon Hill (Host): 36:45

Aaron Ross Powell To touch upon a previous question as well, you talk about franchises that have been a little bit of a dream for you. Are there any in particular that you are just itching to get into?

Nadia Marshall: 36:57

Ooh. Absolutely. Assassin's Creed Um definitely a big one for me. I would also say, I mean, like, yeah, sure Zelda. Um I would also say Oh, Tomb Raider, Lara Croft. Yeah. That's a that's a dream role. I don't know if that'll ever happen, but that would be a major dream role.

Simon Hill (Host): 37:22

Um I mean, given your British heritage, I think you'd be perfect for it.

Nadia Marshall: 37:26

I I I think so too. And um but anyway, we'll you know, never say never and never say, oh, I don't think that'll happen, because you never know. I mean, you you have no idea. They're still in development, people are still making those games, they're making TV shows. It's just the IP's not going anywhere.

Simon Hill (Host): 37:46

Definitely not. And I think you'd be great as Lara Croft as well. Of course, I I don't think we're too far away from hearing about the next instalments to those games. And again, with the TV show coming around the corner, that's being announced, lots of exciting stuff. And I think you'd be perfect in an Assassin's Creed game, especially with where the the future of the IP is going. Uh, one of my favorite franchises of all time as well. Before we start to close out the show, another game that I mentioned earlier, Digimon. Did you know about the Digimon universe prior to going into this role? And we do love some fun stories on this show, Nadia. So talk to us about the process of recording for Digimon.

Nadia Marshall: 38:23

Okay, great, great, great, great questions. So uh, full transparency. I knew of the Digimon universe, but I wasn't as familiar. I knew more of the Pokemon universe, but even then I hadn't watched the shows or anything. So when I heard that they were auditioning for this, I thought, okay, this is cool. But I'm like, I think I'm actually at a slight advantage for myself that I'm not overthinking this because I don't know enough about this that I thought, okay, let's just go for it. And so um we had so much fun in these sessions, and I got to work with a wonderful, wonderful director, Joe Moeller. And um he was fantastic in this that this was one of the characters, I don't want to spoil it for anyone who's watching it, but something happens to my main character that she goes a little crazy. Okay. And this was the this was the moment where I'm like, I'm seeing a pattern here of like I'm getting possessed by a crazy spirit, and I get like, I go a little nuts. And I'm like, okay, what's going on here? Why does this keep happening? Why are people giving this to me? And so when we were in session, um we we were we would do the kind of like, you know, very ethereal oracle kind of very nice things. And then it'd be like, okay, you're possessed now. I'd be like, okay, give me a second. Like I have to reset. Um but I remember after like our second session, um they reached out to me and they say, actually, can you do a few more characters, a few more like NPCs? And I say, Yeah, absolutely. They're like, Oh, can you do a Teenage Boy? I'm like, Yeah, of course. So um people don't know this, but I'm actually he's he's also in the game as well. Um, but they didn't list me for credits, but I was like, oh that's a shame they didn't do that. But I'm also the voice of Chumon in Digimon Storytime Stranger. No one would have guessed. Like when the game came out and I finally saw like my friend playing a live stream of it, I finally got to see the scenes with Chumon. And so I like saved it, or I remembered what it was. I actually played it for my parents this past uh Thanksgiving holiday. And I said, okay, guess which one's me? And they're like, I don't which one's you? I'm like, on that one, on the weird looking rat character. That's me.

Simon Hill (Host): 40:30

Oh, that's awesome.

Nadia Marshall: 40:32

So he just he threw like a couple more P NPCs at me and we had so much fun. He's like, I need to work with you again on another game, actually. And he says, I'll send you the audition. But you know, if you have these great relationships with people and you just have fun and you bring yourself 100% to the session, you know, they could lead to more things truly. And I love working with him. But with Digimon, it was really fun because I finally got this chance to just like let it go and be really crazy and scream. And it was very cathartic. But I I already worry about my neighbors anyway. When I move in, I always write them a note and I said, Hi, I'm an opera singer and a voice actor. So if you hear screaming or if you hear very high notes, like, I'm alive, do not call the police. You know, if I'm disturbing you, please let me know. I will keep it between the hours of this to this. And so far, no complaints, you know, touch wood. But um yeah, it's a very, very cathartic. I like I like screaming in cursive with opera, but there's something about screaming primally in a video game. You know, it's just you just get that out.

Simon Hill (Host): 41:37

So therapeutic. Okay. Here we go. We've teased it all through the episode. Your top five video games of all time are Oh my goodness.

Nadia Marshall: 41:50

How could I possibly choose? I did do like my ten video games that made me me, that little trend that was going on on Twitter a couple of months ago. So I did that. So I think this kind of is helping me. Um I don't know if I could put it in terms of like one to five, so I'll just name five. Uh Breath of the Wild. I played that game way too much, especially during COVID. Um, so that's a beautiful game, open world game. I would also say um Assassin's Creed 2. I love Etio Story. I love uh you know, in Firenze, like I I actually lived in Florence for a month, and so when I actually got to play the game, I was like, oh, I was here, oh, I was here, oh I was here, and then the Italian too, like give or take, some of the main lines are not well pronounced, but you know, speaking Italian, it was really just beautiful. Um I would also say I have to probably mention a Nancy Drew game, but I don't know which one I would pick. Um okay, okay.

Simon Hill (Host): 42:49

There's a few to pick from, huh? Yeah, quite a few.

Nadia Marshall: 42:51

Um I would probably say though, one of my favorites I would love to play over and over again would probably be. Ooh. I well, I haven't played it myself, but I watched the playthrough of it. Would probably be Sea of Darkness. I think that's beautiful. I met the I I know the composer now who composed it, the game, and I think he did the soundtrack so beautifully. So probably one of the Nancy Drew games. And then Eek 4 and 5. Eek Eek Eek Eek Geek. Um Hades. I do love Hades. I'm replaying it right now, actually. Um and then I would probably say Uncharted Four. Yeah, yeah. Simon's cheering. So happy.

Simon Hill (Host): 43:38

Uncharted four is for me one of the greatest polished games of all time.

Nadia Marshall: 43:45

Oh, actually, you know what? I'm gonna change I'm gonna change one of my answers. Go for it. Not in In Place of Hades, I lied. I love Hades, but in place of Hades. I'm gonna say Siberia.

Simon Hill (Host): 43:54

Wow. I love that game.

Nadia Marshall: 43:56

No one talks about it. And I love it so much. It's beautiful.

Simon Hill (Host): 44:00

It is an incredible game. And it doesn't get enough love, I don't feel.

Nadia Marshall: 44:03

No. The soundtrack is spectacular. Kate Walker, I would cosplay her in a heartbeat. If they ever want to redo it, I would love to play Kate Walker. Like it's just it's you know, and Oscar has my heart and soul. Like, I just I I love that game. Yeah. And two, too, but one more so.

Simon Hill (Host): 44:18

Yeah, yeah.

Nadia Marshall: 44:19

Yeah, but no, but you were saying about Uncharted, 100% agree with you. It is gorgeous.

Simon Hill (Host): 44:23

Yeah, I think you know, it was a great note to end on the franchise. Because I know Naughty Dog and Neil had expressed they didn't really want to continue the story past that. But I think what their problem was it was also the best game out of all of them. So everyone was like, okay, now we need another one because this was too good to end on. So yeah, it was uh it was uh that they were between a rock and hard place. Yeah, what a what a great game. Great list as well, really good list, solid list. Nadia, this has been so much fun, and I absolutely hope there's a part two down the road after those NDAs lift and we can get you back on. You're a real talent in your own right, and the funniest thing about being a host and getting guests on is you almost have to stalk profiles and websites and content. So whilst I was stalking your profiles and content to gather research for the interview, I just kept thinking to myself, I can see Nadia in every AAA game that I'm playing right now. And I really hope that's a reality for you in 2026. It's been a privilege to have you on Gone Gold. What I love to do is end the show with my guest, having the final word. Obviously, you can choose to do with that what you will. But Nadia from myself and Gone Gold, thank you for joining us today.

Nadia Marshall: 45:41

Thank you so much. Let's manifest that for 2026, definitely. But I think all in all, just I I what I love about even the title of your show as well. I think there is something about we have to go for the gold, but we already have the gold. We've gone gold, and there's still more to discover. So, you know, keep keep striving even past the gold.

Simon Hill (Host): 46:06

Well, what can I say? What a great way to end it, by the way, from Nadia. Fantastic. Gotta say a big shout out to Elena this as well, who is an incredible talent within her own right, but she managed to help facilitate this and put myself and Nadia in touch. And what an incredible interview. So very grateful to Elena, but even more so to Nadia Marshall for giving her time and such a really open, fun interview. I absolutely love those kind of interviews where you're able to connect and just have fun and engage in the other person's interests. And I think that's what makes this show so fascinating and so much fun to host. Another great episode in the bag. Really excited to see what Nadia's working on next year. And no doubt that does set us up for a part two in the future. Thank you to everyone who's tuned in and stayed with us. Make sure you do give this podcast a rating. Hit those stars, whether it's on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pod Chase, or whichever one it may be. Make sure you're leaving us a little rating and even a comment as well that pushes us up into the charts and again helps us be seen by more people. And that's what we want to do because I want to bring you more guests, bigger guests, more exciting guests, just like Nadia and all the other people that we've managed to interview on this show thus far. We're still rolling through the Christmas holidays, we're not going anywhere. I've got a fantastic guest lined up for you next week. A new studio working on some brand new titles. You don't want to miss it. It's going to be an incredible, insightful, packed episode. But until then, you know what to do. Keep it gone gold.