Why Some Actors Use Pseudonyms

Have you ever seen a voice cast and then found out that most, if not all, of the names were fakes? One notable example that I remember is in the original Metal Gear Solid, where every character’s voice actor name is a pseudonym except David Hayter, who voiced the protagonist Solid Snake.

In the following games, they all used their real names, for the most part. In the 2004 Metal Gear Solid 3, the female protagonist, EVA, was voiced by a woman named Suzetta Minet. Just six months ago, after two decades of speculation, it was confirmed that Suzetta Minet was an alias and that the true identity of EVA’s voice actor was Jodi Benson, best known for playing Disney’s Ariel in The Little Mermaid and anything relating to the character.

So the question is, why would actors do this? There are several reasons, and today, we’ll discuss some of them.

The Work Could Be Controversial for Future Roles

The first and most obvious is that an actor may use an alias if the role could impact future work or if they do not want a controversial piece to be compared to less controversial performances. For example, an actor may make a fake name to voice political campaigns. Another example is work in an adult-related field.

In anime, many actors get gigs dubbing over hentai or Japanese animated pornography. One such actor was Dan Green, who used the pseudonym Tom Weston (or Wilson) in several hentai productions. Meanwhile, he used his actual name, voicing a lot more child-friendly anime, such as Yu-Gi-Oh.

While the game is not pornographic, Metal Gear Solid 3 is rated M. Jodi Benson was worried about her name being associated with the game when Disney, especially in 2004, had a family-friendly image. While Metal Gear Solid 3 was not associated with Disney (well, not yet, anyway), Disney may have recast or reprimanded her for taking on such a role.

It does sound silly; a little girl who likes Ariel isn’t going to play a game for mature audiences just because Ariel’s voice actor is playing a character, especially one a lot different. Ariel is a rebellious teenage princess, while EVA is an adult femme fatale. But you know how corporations can be.

The Work isn’t Controversial, But Considered Low-Quality

Some roles may not be controversial but are considered low-quality work that the actor may not want in their filmography. For example, a voiceover artist may voice in a mobile game that they know isn’t good, but it pays well.

In some cases, it’s for a medium that was considered low-brow at the time. Many early examples of video game voice acting did not use the actor’s names, as video games weren’t considered a high art at the time.

But in general, you should not use a pseudonym just because you feel like the work is above your name. Many actors, especially in the beginning, get cast in works that feel lower-budget or low-quality, then go on to have some iconic roles. Of course, exceptions apply. If the work feels truly like trash TV, you may not want your name on it.

While not voice acting, one good example of this phenomenon is the name Alan Smithee, which several film directors have used over the decades when they don’t stand by their work for whatever reason.

Voice Acting Isn’t the Main Source of Revenue

Voice actors who do it as a side hustle may want to use a pseudonym because they don’t want people who work at their main job to know that they do voice acting.

In some cases, it’s because the actor doesn’t want to bring it up when at the water cooler coworker awkwardly. In other cases, the work they do could be against the company’s image, and the actor doesn’t want to get fired from their main source of revenue when they’re still green as a voice talent. You may voice characters in violent animation when your main job has a clean image.

Union Conflicts

Being in a union can come with many benefits, but also, if your name is registered with the union, your name needs to be on work that has union contracts only. While this has benefits, such as higher pay and more protections, some voice talents may miss out on playing some fun roles or suffer when union jobs are in a dry spell.

Because of this, many voice actors will use aliases or go non-credited when they’re voicing non-union work. While I could not find a good source, it’s speculated that union issues are one example of why Metal Gear Solid mostly used aliases for the first game. It could have also been the previous reason as well. In 1998, video game voice acting was seen as a joke, and Metal Gear Solid did help to show that video games could bring some incredible performances just as memorable as the movies or TV.

So if you’ve ever heard a voice that makes you think, “Oh, it sounds like this guy,” and then you look it up, and it’s a different name, there’s a good chance that it’s a non-union role by a union actor under a pseudonym. Many actors have to keep hush-hush about these roles unless they get the clear to talk about them.

To Avoid Being Typecast

Some actors are good at doing one voice, yet they don’t want to be stuck playing the same character archetype. So, they may keep an alias for more typecast roles, while their real name is associated with a variety of characters that show their range.

Some actors even take this logic to the extreme and have names for every genre or niche they voice in. I feel this phenomenon is partially due to social media, with algorithms rewarding users who have a niche rather than multiple interests.

These are some reasons why an actor may use a pseudonym. It can be a great strategy for certain jobs, so feel free to use one if you’re unsure you want your real name attached to it. And if possible, name it after your furry friend!