Laura Bailey on Critical Role, The Last of Us & Finding Your Voice

Laura Bailey on Critical Role, The Last of Us & Finding Your Voice

From Simpsons Declassified with Nancy Cartwright by Audacy & CRE84U Entertainment

May 8, 2026 · 56 min

About this episode

Laura Bailey discusses her career in voice acting, gaming, and storytelling.

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode, acclaimed voice actor Laura Bailey joins the show for an unforgettable conversation about gaming, animation, creativity, and the emotional power of storytelling. Best known for her work in Critical Role, The Last of Us Part II, Dragon Ball Z, Fruits Basket, and countless major video games, Laura brings warmth, honesty, and humor as she reflects on the journey that shaped her career. The episode kicks off with stories about childhood impressions and fake British accents at shopping malls and wineries, immediately showcasing Laura’s playful personality and improvisational spirit. Those early experiments with characters eventually became the foundation for one of the most recognizable voices in gaming and animation. Laura opens up about her lifelong love of video games and how surreal it can feel to play a game featuring her own voice. Sometimes she instantly recognizes herself, while other times she becomes so immersed in the story that she forgets she was even part of it. That immersion, she explains, is the ultimate compliment to the work. One of the episode’s standout moments is her discussion of The Last of Us Part II. Laura describes…

People in this episode

Host: Nancy Cartwright

Guest: Laura Bailey

Topics covered

  • voice acting
  • gaming
  • animation
  • storytelling
  • creativity

Keywords

  • voice actor
  • gaming
  • animation
  • The Last of Us
  • Critical Role

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Critical Role, The Last of Us Part II, Dragon Ball Z, Fruits Basket

More episodes of Simpsons Declassified with Nancy Cartwright

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Simpsons Declassified with Nancy Cartwright podcast page.