It is common for game developers to base a character’s appearance on an actor or model. Their facial expressions convey authentic emotions that help the story flow more naturally, plus it’s cool knowing a hero you love — or a villain you hate — is real … sorta.
Konami hired actresses/models to portray the members of the Beauty and the Beast Unit in Metal Gear Solid 4, and the publisher will continue the trend in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain by using flesh-and-blood performers like Dutch model Stefanie Joosten, who plays Quiet [above]. Joosten also provides the motion capture and voice (mostly grunts) of the enigmatic sniper.
Check out the following side-by-side images of in-game character models next to the human beings who depict them.
Click here to see more actors and their polygonal, video game selves.
Michael K. Williams as Kimble “Irish” Graves (Battlefield 4)
Actor, model, and dancer Michael K. Williams (The Wire, Boardwalk Empire) plays Kimble Graves in Battlefield 4, a Staff Sergeant raised in East Flatbush Brooklyn who attended George Westington House High School, which is exactly where Williams grew up and studied.
Jamie Gray Hyder as Maya “Echo” Visari (Killzone: Shadow Fall)
You may know Jamie as Danielle, the werewolf from HBO’s True Blood, but to me she’ll always be Echo, the Helghast intelligence operative from Killzone: Shadow Fall.
Willem Dafoe as Nathan Dawkins (Beyond: Two Souls)
We’ve watched enough films where Willem Dafoe plays a villain, so it’s hard to trust Nathan Dawkins in Beyond: Two Souls. Just look at those cold, dead eyes.
Nathalie Cox as the Spirit of Summer (Ryse: Son of Rome)
Nathalie Cox (Clash of the Titans, Jumper), better known as Imperial officer Juno Eclipse from the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed series, embodies the Spirit of Summer in Ryse. A very warm performance.
Stefanie Joosten as Quiet (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain)
The Metal Gear Solid series has some of the best-looking female characters, and The Phantom Pain will be no different. Model Stefanie Joosten is the face, body, and voice (although she doesn’t speak …) of Quiet, one of the more “erotic” Metal Gear personalities.
Dwain Murphy as Isaac Briggs (Splinter Cell: Blacklist)
Fourth Echelon Field Operator Isaac Briggs’ behavior is robotic in Splinter Cell: Blacklist, making it hard to trust him, but you can see here that actor Dwain Murphy (Nikita, The Mentalist) is drenched in sweat, so he’s probably human.
Paisha Coffey as Cortana (Halo 4)
Master Chief’s artificial intelligence companion’s physical appearance has changed dramatically over the years, but she definitely looks her best in Halo 4, where she is portrayed by model Paisha Coffey.
Bill Watterson as Jim Peyton (Lost Planet 3)
Actor Bill Watterson stars in several German beer commercials, which is exactly what Jim Peyton constantly drinks to keep warm in Lost Planet 3’s ice world of E.D.N. III.
Natasha Alam as Helena Harper (Resident Evil 6)
Resident Evil 6’s zombie-killing newcomer Helena Harper owes her good looks to Uzbekistani actress/model Natasha Alam. Gamers searching for nude codes will be glad to know Alam did a photo shoot for Playboy magazine a few years ago.
Kevin Spacey as Jonathan Irons (Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare)
Two-time Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey can play a convincing good guy or villain, but the chances of Jonathan Irons being a hero in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare are slim. Check out that sinister stare.