If there is one cheat code for winning Game of the Year right now, it appears to be hiring Jennifer English. The British actress took home the trophy for Best Performance at The Game Awards 2025, solidifying her status as industry royalty and proving that she is much more than just the voice of everyone’s favorite cleric.
It was a massive night for the RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which absolutely cleaned up house with nine awards. However, the highlight for many fans was seeing Jennifer English take the stage. She won the category against some incredibly stiff competition, including her own co-stars Ben Starr and Charlie Cox. While seeing her win was a delight, it also cemented a statistic that is frankly kind of wild. Jennifer English has now starred in three of the last four Game of the Year winners.
Jennifer English Dominates The Game Awards 2025
When you look at the recent history of The Game Awards, the name Jennifer English keeps popping up in the credits of the biggest winners. She voiced Latenna in the 2022 winner Elden Ring. She was, of course, the iconic Shadowheart in the 2023 winner Baldur’s Gate 3. Now, she is the voice of Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the 2025 Game of the Year. The only gap in her resume is Astro Bot, but we can probably forgive her for missing that one.
This win for Jennifer English feels like a culmination of years of hard work. Her performance as Maelle has been praised as the emotional core of the game. It is a role that demanded range and vulnerability, and clearly, the voters noticed. It is rare to see an actor have such a consistent run of quality projects, but Jennifer English seems to have an eye for picking winners.
A Speech That Resonated With Gamers Everywhere
While the trophies are nice, what really stuck with people was the speech. When Jennifer English accepted her award, she didn’t just rattle off a list of agents and managers. She got real. She dedicated her win to the neurodivergent community in a moment that was both touching and incredibly relatable.
According to IGN, Jennifer English said, “to every neurodivergent person watching, this one is for you.” She went on to describe the feeling of living life “stuck on hard mode.” As gamers, we all know the frustration of a difficulty spike, but hearing Jennifer English apply that analogy to neurodivergence was a powerful moment of visibility. It wasn’t just a celebrity saying thanks, it was a human being saying “I see you.”
She also took a moment to thank her partner, Aliona Baranova. Baranova isn’t just a supportive partner on the sidelines, though. She was a performance director on Baldur’s Gate 3 and actually voice acted alongside Jennifer English in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It is arguably the ultimate power couple move to work together on a Game of the Year winner.
The Jennifer English Effect on Game of the Year Titles
So, is Jennifer English a good luck charm? Maybe. But luck implies it is an accident. The reality is that Jennifer English brings a level of depth to her characters that elevates the entire game. Whether she is playing a side character like Latenna or a lead protagonist like Maelle, she commits fully.
Developers seem to know this too. The team at Sandfall Interactive, who made Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, reportedly knew within seconds of her blind audition that she was their Maelle. They even added a story mode to the game because Jennifer English mentioned she wanted to play it but might struggle without an easier difficulty setting. That is the kind of influence she has. She isn’t just voicing lines, she is impacting development decisions that make games more accessible for everyone.
It is exciting to see where she goes next. She is slated to appear in Tides of Annihilation and Soulframe, so keep an eye on those titles. If history is any indication, having Jennifer English on the cast list is the first step toward a Game of the Year nomination. For now, she can rest easy knowing she has conquered the industry’s biggest stage, advocated for her community, and probably made a few developers very happy they decided to send her an audition script.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
