Ellen McLain
American voice actress (born 1952 or 1953)
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Ellen McLain (born 1952 or 1953) is an American voice actress. She is best known for providing the voice of GLaDOS, the primary antagonist of the Portal video game series, the Combine Overwatch AI in Half-Life 2, and the Administrator, the announcer in Team Fortress 2. Her voice roles also include the Jaeger A.I. in Pacific Rim[2] and The Witch in Left 4 Dead 2.
Ellen McLain | |
|---|---|
McLain at the 2017 Game On Expo | |
| Born | 1952 or 1953 (age 72–73)[1] Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupation | Voice actress |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Spouse | |
| Website | ellenmclain |
Career
McLain provides voices for many characters in several video games from Valve. Among them are GLaDOS, the primary antagonist of the Portal video game series (for which she won an AIAS Interactive Achievement Award for Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance), the announcer in Team Fortress 2; and the voice of the Combine Overwatch for the Half-Life series.[3]
McLain sang "Still Alive" and "Want You Gone", the ending credits songs to Portal and Portal 2, respectively, both of which were written by Jonathan Coulton.[4] She also sang "Cara Mia Addio" at the end of Portal 2.[5] In December 2011, McLain won the Spike Video Game Award in the category "Best Performance by a Human Female" for her voice acting as GLaDOS in Portal 2.[6]
In 2013, she lent her public support to gathering donations for the Kickstarter-funded LGBT gaming convention GaymerX.[7] She later was a special guest at the convention in August 2013. In 2014, she portrayed Fairy Godmother in the online video series [Wish It Inc.].[8] In 2015, she portrayed Lisa Clarke in the gay independent film, Winning Dad.[9] This film was also promoted on McLain's YouTube channel.
McLain has played roles in many radio dramas on the radio program Imagination Theatre.[10]
In 2021, McLain provided the voice of GLaDOS non-canonically, singing a verse in The Chalkeaters’ song "Count to Three" as a cameo.[11]
Also in 2021, McLain performed the role of Thelma (or Mama) in a livestreamed version of the play 'night, Mother co-starring Sheila Houlahan on the online platform Twitch with the story adapted by McLain within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The filmed online play, directed by McLain's husband John Patrick Lowrie, is performed through an online face-to-face chat with the screen split between McLain's and Houlahan's screens, occasionally interrupted by cuts to pre-filmed footage relevant to the story.[12]
In 2022, McLain provided the voice of GLaDOS for the GEICO Insurance ad.[13]
Personal life
McLain has been married to fellow voice actor John Patrick Lowrie since 1986.[14] McLain now spends her days as a voice instructor, teaching at local community and children's theaters.[citation needed]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Pacific Rim | Gipsy Danger AI[15][16] | |
| 2014 | Winning Dad | Lisa Clarke | |
| 2017 | The Gamers: The Shadow Menace | Lorraine Richards | |
| 2018 | Pacific Rim: Uprising | Gipsy Avenger AI[15] | |
| 2025 | Goos'd | Anti-Goosinator AI[17] | Short animated thesis film |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | IRrelevant Astronomy | NOTGLaDOS[18] | "Fusion vs. Fission" |
| 2014 | Wish It Inc. | The Fairy Godmother | 12 episodes |
| 2016 | Bee and PuppyCat | TempBot / Barkeep[19] | "Game" |
| 2017 | Electromagnetic Spectrum: The Musical | NOTGLaDOS[20] | |
| 2021 | Count to Three | GLaDOS[11] | Music video by The Chalkeaters |
| 2021 | Night, Mother | Thelma / Mama | Livestreamed adaptation of the play 'night, Mother on Twitch.[21] |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Half-Life 2 | Combine Overwatch[15] | |
| 2006 | Half-Life 2: Episode One | ||
| 2007 | Half-Life 2: Episode Two | ||
| Portal | GLaDOS / Turrets / Curiosity Core / Intelligence Core (Cake Core) [15][22] | AIAS Interactive Achievement Award for Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance Sings "Still Alive" Uncredited as "Curiosity Core" and "Cake Core" See also: Portal reception and Reception and analysis of GLaDOS | |
| Team Fortress 2 | The Administrator[15] | Also referred to as "The Announcer" or "Helen" | |
| 2009 | Left 4 Dead 2 | The Witch | "Wandering Witch" daytime-only soundtrack singing |
| 2011 | Portal 2 | GLaDOS / Turrets / Caroline[15] | Best Performance by a Human Female at the Spike Video Game Awards
Sings "Want You Gone" and "Cara Mia Addio" |
| Killing Floor | Anger Core | As a temporary trader during the games 2011 Potato Fools Day event. | |
| Defense Grid: The Awakening | GLaDOS | "You Monster" DLC | |
| 2012 | Dota 2 | Broodmother / Death Prophet / GLaDOS Announcer | |
| 2013 | Poker Night 2 | GLaDOS[15] | As the game's card dealer, supporting role |
| 2015 | Lego Dimensions | GLaDOS / Turrets / Cake Core | Supporting role Sings "You Wouldn't Know" |
| 2017 | Bridge Constructor Portal | GLaDOS[15] | |
| 2019 | The Church in the Darkness | Rebecca Walker | |
| 2020 | Half-Life: Alyx | Combine Overwatch[15][23] | |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Delamain[24] | As one of Delamain's split personalities, which is modeled after GLaDOS |
