Jennifer Hale didn't just voice the female version of Commander Shepard in the three games in the 2007-2013 Mass Effect trilogy. (And yes, I'm counting the year the Citadel DLC was released there.) Her performance, not unlike Mark Meer's, has become truly iconic across the gaming industry.
Fans hear “Mass Effect” and it's hard not to immediately conjure up exemplary voice work from both voice actors. Which is far from the only reason we tend to take note when Hale speaks; the veteran VA is intelligent, insightful and always worth listening to. However, Hale's latest insight really comes from looking back on the trilogy, and if there was one thing that stood out to us the most from this interview, it was her recollection of a powerful scene.
Ugh, now I'm crying again
“The farewell scenes with Garrus pretty much killed me,” Hale told Polygon in a more extensive interview just after praising another farewell scene – the one with Shepard's mentor, Admiral Anderson. Actually, let's talk about it a little bit first:
“I need to hear [Anderson actor Keith David]and I have to go back and forth with him that way. And the magic of having that other actor—even virtually—with you in that moment, it was incredible.” -Jennifer Hale
The comment was made as a point of contrast; more often than not, the voice recordings throughout the trilogy were kept separate across the cast (as is common). Anderson's tearful farewell was an exception, and it must have enhanced the moment for both Jennifer Hale and Keith David.
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The results speak for themselves.
But back to Garrus. Personally, I've always liked the turian's more platonic relationship path the best, but his romance is damn good. What a way You take your pick, I challenge you to keep your eyes completely dry during that final scene she shares with her dear friend (and possible lover) Commander Shepard.
“I had to stop and catch myself a little bit. So I just kept going, 'Shepard's not crying. Shepard's not crying. Shepard's not crying. Suck it up.'
That excerpt above immediately followed Hale's “killed” comment; suffice it to say, she was hit. Hale is an immensely talented voice actor whose work has shined in productions as diverse as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Metal Gear Solid 4, and Disney+'s ongoing X-Men '97 revival series. I can't speak to how often she encounters scenarios where she has to force herself to stay completely in character despite understandably harrowing moments, but I can hardly imagine myself not crying mid-show during those incredibly memorable final words with Garrus Vakarian.
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“And now we're going even further.
