Voice Over Artist Spotlight: Interview with Award-Winning Voice Over Artist Chris

In this blog post, we feature an insightful interview with an award-winning voice over artist Christopher Tester, who recently won the VOX Award for Best Male Voice Over Performance of the Year. With a wealth of experience across gaming, corporate, animation, and documentary work, Christopher has carved out a unique place in the industry. His engaging content, a great sense of humour, and empathetic approach have earned him thousands of followers on platforms like TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram. In this exclusive conversation, he shares his journey, the passion that drives his storytelling, and his personal approach to the art and technique of voice acting, providing valuable insights for aspiring and established voice actors alike.

Before we dive into the interview, watch this short video with a compilation of Christopher's work this year. 

1. Congratulations on your VOX award! How does it feel to be recognised as the Best Male Voice Over Performance of the Year?

Chris: It’s a huge honour! The judging process is to a degree subjective, so you have to take any award or nomination with a pinch of salt. But it’s evidence that I’m doing the right things, working with great people on great projects. It was also overwhelming to see the response from my peers—they have all been so supportive.

2. You’ve been nominated for several awards across diverse categories. What do you think sets your performances apart in the voice-over industry?

Chris: What could be more unique than a middle-class British male RP voice? Ahem. I think what sets us apart is largely our own personal eccentricities, interests, and passions—those are far more interesting and unique than a particular vocal quality. I think I can get vulnerable quite quickly and tap into a range of emotions, so that’s what I focus on as my offering (as well as being very professional, obviously).

3. Your training at the Central School of Speech and Drama must have been a significant influence. How does your acting background inform your approach to voice-over work?

Chris: It informs ALL of my work. Voice acting IS acting, so there are lessons in voice, physicality, script analysis, and emotional preparation that can be made relevant to any project. Drama school was great at providing a ‘toolbox’ from which to choose.

4. You’ve worked across multiple mediums like gaming, corporate, and animation. Which projects do you find the most creatively fulfilling, and why?

Chris: It really depends on the project as opposed to the genre. When there’s a really important message to say or a vividly portrayed character to embody. The projects where there is room for the actor to play, experiment, and bring something unexpected are always the most fulfilling!

5. You mentioned that storytelling has always been a passion of yours. Could you share a memorable project that allowed you to channel that passion?

Chris: I narrated a documentary series called The Art Scene of Singapore, which looked at the history of different art forms in the country. It was a fascinating learning experience that crafted a central narrative from all the artists’ stories—so it was a real honour to work on. And I got a few award nominations for it too—mainly because it looked so good.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring voice actors looking to build a versatile career like yours?

Chris: Keep training, keep learning. And pay attention to where your voice naturally ‘sits’ in the market, because being able to monetise your natural talent is half the battle when starting out. A lot of corporate work came my way when I started out just because of my natural sound, so I doubled down on that before focusing on other genres I was passionate about.

7. Looking ahead, what areas of voice-over work excite you the most, and are there any future trends you’re particularly keen on exploring?

Chris: The more complex, long-form stories being told in some video games are obviously very exciting. I also love documentary work and audio drama—those are big focuses for the future. But I can confidently say that the most fun jobs are often the ones I’d never imagined doing—that’s part of the fun of the job.

8. You’ve voiced characters in games like “Warhammer.” How do you approach bringing unique personalities to life in such fantastical worlds?

Chris: Sometimes, a monster needs a monster voice—so you just have to enjoy embracing the ridiculous and simply going for it. But a big franchise like Warhammer also has some absolutely amazing writing in it—so it’s acting fundamentals 101—working out the stakes and why these (literally) huge characters do what they do.

9. Voice actors often have to balance technical skill with emotional depth. How do you manage that balance in your performances?

Chris: Ten percent of any actor's brain is always aware of the technical. On stage, it’s about finding your light; on camera, it’s about playing to the lens. And in voice-over, it’s the capacity to maintain good mic technique (and also keep an eye on levels, plosives, and a remote connection) while the other ninety percent of you just ‘goes with’ the character.

10. What was one of the most challenging roles you’ve taken on, and how did you overcome the obstacles?

Chris: From a purely technical perspective, voicing monsters in the video game Total War 3 was challenging. There was a lot of shouting and screaming, so it was vitally important to listen to my voice and know when I needed breaks.

11. How do you prepare your voice before a big recording session? Do you have any specific routines or techniques?

Chris: It depends massively on the project at hand. But some gentle breathing exercises and humming is a minimum, plus some tongue twisters for good measure. I don’t like over-rehearsing a script, but putting a pencil in your mouth and then trying to speak the script is a great way of warming up the articulators.

12. You’ve worked with major brands and studios. How does your process differ between commercial work and character-driven roles?

Chris: In all honesty, not a lot. Each creative person I’ve worked with is different, has a different process and expectation. In commercial work, there is a lot more attention to the sound—which is where the technical expertise comes into play. Character work often requires a lot more actual material, so sight reading becomes far more important. It’s very much the flip side of reading a 30-second ad take after take—with a video game or audiobook, you’re often recording the final version as you read it for the first time!

We hope this conversation with Chris gives you a glimpse into the fascinating world of voice over craft. From navigating the technical aspects to embracing the sheer creativity of the job, Chris's journey is an inspiring one for both aspiring voice actors and seasoned professionals alike.

Stay tuned for more interviews and insights from our talented award-winning voice over artists, and if you want to work with Chris on your next project, just click the button below.

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November 7th at 12:00am