Lee played along and spoke in a loud whisper. “Blink twice if there’s a sequel.”
Ellie shook her head. “All I can say is that I would love to step back into Nyx’s leather boots. So, we’ll see.”
Lee had such a charming demeanor that she was seriously becoming a fangirl. “Aside from your incredible success with Myth Hunter, what other projects are you currently working on?”
Ellie settled her hands on her crossed knees. “I have voice acting roles in an anime series, a couple of animated short films, and an animated feature movie.”
“Is there the possibility of branching out into on-screen roles?” He tilted his head to the side. “You certainly have the personality and presence to be on the screen.”
Ellie looked at him, horrified at the thought and shook her head. “Thank you, but I’m staying well behind the microphone.”
“We’ll see.” Lee smiled at Ellie. “One more thing. When you play Nyx, you make every sound a person can think of.”
Ellie smirked and shook her head. “Not every sound.”
“Oh yeah? Take a listen.” Lee looked to his staff. “Roll it.”
A track came on with every grunt and groan Ellie made for Nyx's every move and exertion during the game. Taken out of context, the clip sounded like she was having sex—good, hard, feel it all the way to your toes sex.
When the track ended, Ellie held her hand over her mouth. Her face was hot, and she was probably ten shades of red. Now, every person she knew who was watching this episode would tease her about it. And worse, Tucker had witnessed her completely embarrassing moment.
“Sounds like you’ve been hiding some secrets, Ellie.” A mischievous sparkle glinted in his eyes.
Ellie lowered her hand and collected herself. “I guess Nyx does have a lot of battle cries.”
Lee and the audience were still chuckling at the audio clip. “But seriously, you’ve done an amazing job bringing Nyx to life. And speaking of life,” he continued, “we mentioned earlier that you’re from a small town in Arizona. Growing up on a ranch there must have been quite the experience.”
Ellie nodded, relieved at the shift in topic. “Yes, it shaped who I am today.”
Lee leaned back in his chair, looking intrigued. “Do you think your experiences on the ranch influenced your portrayal of Nyx in any way?”
Ellie paused, considering his question. “The strength, resilience, and hardworking mindset of my parents, brothers, and other members of my family seeped into how I approached Nyx’s character. I wanted to channel that same sense of determination and loyalty that I saw every day growing up.”
Lee nodded thoughtfully. “It’s fascinating how our past experiences can shape our present endeavors. And it seems like your journey is just beginning, Ellie.” He leaned back in his chair. “I think we’ve learned a lot about our favorite gaming superstar tonight. But before we wrap up, I have one final question for you, Ellie.”
Ellie raised an eyebrow, curious about what Lee had in store for her now.
Lee’s expression turned serious. “If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring voice actors out there, what would it be?”
Ellie thought for a moment, reflecting on her own journey and the lessons she’d learned along the way. “Never underestimate the power of your own voice. We all have a unique story to tell, and there is immense strength in embracing who you are and sharing that with the world. Never be afraid to speak up and let your voice be heard.”
The audience erupted into applause. Despite the nerves and unexpected surprises of the night, this was a moment she would cherish forever.
Lee turned to the audience. “Thanks to the lovely and talented Ellie McLeod.” He looked at her. “And we’re looking forward to that sequel.” He smiled at the camera. “We’ll be right back after the commercial break.”
Midnight Riff started a new tune.
Ellie blew out her breath. “I made it.”
Lee chuckled and helped her to her feet. “You did great. I appreciate you joining us, and thanks for being a good sport. Hopefully, we’ll see you again when the sequel comes out.”
She smiled. “Hopefully.”
Lee hugged her and escorted her offstage. Another employee took over and guided her to her dressing room. When she walked in, Tucker was waiting for her.
“Oh, Tucker.” She went into his arms and sank into him. “That was the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me.” Her face heated. “And at the end, one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.”
He leaned back and took her chin in his fingers. “You were fantastic, Ellie. I’ve seen how you interact with people in different situations, like the gamer convention. You’re a natural, and I know people will love you even more when they see the episode.” He didn’t say anything about the sounds-like-sex clip.
