We Speak Actors
Actress Marta Svetek talks ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’, ‘VALORANT’, and expanding her career from Games to Film
Slovenian actress Marta Svetek has been building an impressive international career across both video games and film. Known for her work in major gaming franchises including ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’, ‘VALORANT’, and ‘Battlefield’, Svetek has become a familiar presence in the world of video game acting. Her performance work also spans major titles such as ‘Horizon Forbidden West’ and ‘Destiny 2’, where motion capture plays a crucial role in bringing complex characters to life. Alongside her work in gaming, Svetek has also appeared on screen in films including ‘I Am Rage’, with upcoming projects such as ‘Savage Prey’ and ‘The Death of Us’ set for release in 2026. In this interview, she speaks about her journey from Slovenia to London, working inside some of the world’s biggest game franchises, and why motion capture is one of the purest forms of acting.
You have worked across both voice acting and motion capture for some of the biggest video game franchises, including ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’, ‘VALORANT’, and ‘Battlefield’. What first drew you to performance work in the gaming industry, and how did that journey begin for you?
I’ve been mashing buttons on controllers since before I could walk! I literally grew up with video games, and it turns out they would also become the thing that changed my life in the most amazing ways. I’m from Slovenia, a small country where having an acting career is challenging — although, isn’t it everywhere? I originally chose the “stable job” route in technology that made my family happy and ultimately brought me to London, but I always kept one foot in acting. It was actually my tech job that gave me the break I needed to start working in games. It was a case of opportunity meeting my fairly unique set of skills — acting, martial arts, technical understanding, and a lifelong love of games — that gave me the start I needed.
You made your debut in the ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ franchise with ‘Security Breach’ and continued working on the series with Steel Wool Studios. What was it like stepping into such an iconic gaming universe and becoming part of a franchise with such a dedicated global fanbase?
It’s always amazing — and always a little terrifying! I was aware of the franchise at the time, but I had no idea how big it had become. When the ‘Security Breach’ trailer came out and reached 2.4 million views in just 24 hours, it really started to sink in. The reaction to the characters I was trusted with was just… wow — especially for Gregory and Roxanne Wolf.
“The feeling of having your performance reach so many people in such a meaningful way is hard to describe and always fills me with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.”
It’s why I chose to become an actor — to connect. Now I also get to connect with fans in person at conventions all around the world.
Your motion capture work includes major titles such as ‘Destiny 2: The Witch Queen’, ‘Horizon: Forbidden West’, and the official F1 games. What is the most exciting or challenging aspect of performing through motion capture compared to traditional acting?
Motion capture is like Marmite for actors — you either love it or hate it. But if you ask me, it’s also one of the purest forms of acting. You’re in a big empty room wearing a Velcro suit, surrounded by infrared cameras. You have minimal props and maybe some tape on the floor to represent objects, and you still have to deliver a completely truthful performance, no matter how outlandish the circumstances.
“Your imagination has to fill in so many blanks. And I absolutely love it. It’s a space where I’m not limited by my appearance or by fitting a certain archetype. It’s pure performance.”
In ‘Destiny 2’ alone, I was an alien queen, an augmented human sorceress, and the literal embodiment of a dark hive mind!
In addition to gaming, you are also appearing in films including ‘I Am Rage’ and the upcoming projects ‘Savage Prey’ and ‘The Death of Us’. How has working across both film and gaming shaped you as a performer?
Acting is always about finding the truth of the character — the choice, the story. But jumping between these two very different worlds has undeniably made me a different calibre of actor. I started in games and later moved into film, and I’ve really enjoyed leaning into the subtlety of film performance over the past few years. At the same time, my voiceover and motion capture background made things like ADR and stunts so much easier. Particularly on ‘Savage Prey’, I needed to bring a subtle and intense performance for the camera while also performing my own stunts and practically setting a new speed record for ADR. That hugely benefited production — and it all comes from the crucible of video game performance.
With your career spanning major game franchises and upcoming film releases, what kinds of roles or projects are you most excited to explore next?
Even though I still have so much I want to explore in both film and games, my dream project would actually be joining the cast of a TV adaptation of a game — something like ‘Fallout’ or Henry Cavill’s upcoming ‘Warhammer’ 40k series. I’m such a hardcore 40k fan that I absolutely need to be part of that universe — whether as a Sister of Battle, an Eldar, or maybe an intrepid Cadian. Just don’t kill me off too quickly! As an actor and artist, I feel like I was meant to tell those larger-than-life stories of hope, heroism, and impossible odds. I’m getting fired up just talking about it — that’s exactly the kind of storytelling I’m most excited to explore next.
Featured photo credit: Urban Bradesko
New Zealand-born actress, writer and producer Amber Lily Butterworth, who was raised in Switzerland from the age of two, is steadily building a multifaceted career across film, both in front of and behind the camera. She stars as Kaiah Shaffer in the upcoming horror-thriller ‘It Goes on All Fours’, following previous screen work including ‘Sparrow’s Call’ and ‘I Could Kill’, as well as acting in the feature ‘Moss & Freud’. As her career continues to develop, Butterworth is also expanding her creative work into producing and directing, driven by a long-standing fascination with every aspect of filmmaking. Here, she reflects on discovering acting as a child, the projects that have shaped her career so far, and why storytelling remains at the heart of everything she does.
Amber Lily, can you tell us how your acting journey began and what inspired you to pursue a career as an actress?
My acting journey started very young. At the age of four, I developed a stutter, and my mum had the brilliant idea of sending me to acting classes. Little did she know that she was essentially setting the course for the rest of my life. From then on, acting was always something I instinctively knew I was going to pursue. I also grew up watching films with my dad that I was definitely far too young to be watching, and I completely fell in love with cinema. I loved how a film could make you feel understood in your emotions. Films have always made me feel less alone in mine, and that’s really all I’ve ever wanted to do as an actress: make an audience feel seen, understood or simply a little less alone.
Which projects have been the most significant in your career to date, and why?
I’ve been incredibly lucky with the projects I’ve worked on so early in my career. ‘Moss & Freud’ was a big stepping stone because I got to experience the inner workings of a much larger production and work alongside some brilliant actors, including one of my best friends, Ellie Bamber. Watching someone you know so well completely transform into a character is quite surreal and incredibly inspiring. But starring in ‘It Goes on All Fours’ has definitely been the most significant experience so far.
“Carrying such a substantial role in a film and really living with a character is a beast of an opportunity, in the best possible way.”
You spend months getting to know this imaginary person inside out, and then suddenly filming ends and you’re expected to just… move on with your life. No one really prepares you for the strange sense of grief that comes with leaving a character behind.
Is there one particular film or role that you feel marked an important turning point in your career as an actress?
Definitely ‘It Goes on All Fours’. It challenged me enormously, both as an actress and as a person. Going that deeply into a character inevitably brings up parts of yourself too. There was imposter syndrome, a few ego deaths, plenty of questioning myself and all the glamorous parts of being an actress! But somewhere within that process, I learnt an enormous amount about who I am, not only as an actress, but as a person and as a woman. I think the best characters leave you slightly different from how they found you, and this one certainly did.
Alongside acting, you also work as a producer. Can you tell us a little about your work behind the camera and what drew you to producing?
I am a complete film nerd, so fully immersing myself in every part of filmmaking was probably inevitable. If there’s an aspect of cinema I can get my hands on, I’m going to want to try it. Last year, I had the opportunity to executive produce ‘Borghese’. It had an incredible cast and crew, and I was initially drawn to its visual world, particularly the fashion and costume design we had access to. It was such a wonderful introduction to producing because it made me appreciate just how many moving parts have to come together to make a film. I loved being involved in shaping the bigger picture from the outside in. In return, I feel as though the experience has also benefited my performance and professionalism as an actress. Understanding what is happening behind the camera gives you a much broader appreciation of everyone’s role in bringing a project to life.
What can you tell us about your upcoming projects, and what should audiences look out for next?
I’m incredibly excited for ‘It Goes on All Fours’ to be released and for people to see what we created.
“There’s something slightly terrifying, but also very exciting, about finally handing something you’ve lived with for so long over to an audience.”
I’m also developing a documentary about the America’s Cup, which is especially personal because the story forms part of my family history. I’ll be directing and producing it, and we’re working with North Sails as a sponsor, which has been an amazing vote of confidence in the project. For me, acting, producing and directing all come back to the same thing: I’m obsessed with storytelling. Whether I’m in front of the camera or behind it, I just want to make things that make an audience as excited to watch them as I am to make them.
Featured photo credit: Rankin
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