I am Ellen McLain, voice of GLaDOS & Wish It Inc.'s Fairy Godmother. Round 2!

Oh. It's you.

It's been a long time. How have you been?

I've been busy being old.

Could we please get a GlaDOS announcer for Valve's Dota 2?

Wait and see...

When you're angry at somebody, do you just repeat condescending GLaDOS lines at them? Because I would.

I just repeat condescending Ellen lines. I have plenty.

Hello Ellen, Thanks for doing this again! I was at your last one Anyway my question: Are there any games that you wish you could voice in?

Portal 3, lol.

Do you think the designers add features to characters based on your interpretations of them? Or is it the other way around? I've heard both sides.

I think that my work on Portal affected the writing for Portal 2. Erik and Jay and Chet realized what a bitch I am and they just played along.

What was your favorite line while voicing GLaDOS?

"Eating tofu and giving you good advice aren't mutually exclusive."

If they were to ever make a Portal movie, would you consider being Glados? :D

I love it that GLaDOS is a machine because I could voice her anytime anywhere for anything, even a movie.

What hidden talents do you have (beyond singing and voice acting) that would surprise most people?

I keep my husband happy.

Which lines from Portal 2 would you say were the most difficult to record?

It was when I was a potato battery. They kept telling me I sounded too strong, I needed to sound weaker.

What is your interpretation on the ending of Portal 2?

GLaDOS releases Chell with a bit of sadness.

That username....

I agree.

Have no question, just wanted to say hi :)

Hi StatusQ4 :)

Can you share your favourite cake recipe?

Red Velvet is my favorite type of cake and that recipe is classified.

Being an opera singer, how does GLaDOS' deadpan voice compare to some of the opera works you have done? Which do you prefer doing?

Actually, I think Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus is like GLaDOS because he is always bored. I prefer doing things for money.

How does it feel to be Ellen McLain?

It feels old, but fun.

Do you ever use the GLaDOS voice for fun in your everyday life?

Yes, my everyday life is so full of pain and suffering.

Hi Ellen!

• What is your favorite drink?

• Would you do The TF2 announcer pack for Dota 2 if Valve asked you to make one?

Virgin Pina Colada. And I would if Valve asked me.

Why are you so wonderful?

Because my husband loves me. God knows why.

If you could, would you become a neurologist just to research the depths of Gabe Newell's mind and figure out why he can't count to 3?

I would become a neurologist because they make more money than I do.

What do you think of reddit?

I have so little experience with reddit that I don't think anything yet. Usually I don't think anything about anything at all. But I'm having fun.

Hello, Ellen! I'm a huge fan! I wanted to say that your role as GLaDOS is my favorite of yours. One day, I'd love to meet you. I just want to say that Still Alive is a song all my friends and I love so very much. Want You Gone is great too. GLaDOS is my favorite robot in gaming as well. Anyway, I have two questions.

Have you met Jonathan Coulton? If so, what is he like?

Do you plan to do more work with Valve?

Thanks! I'm GLaD I could make it on your AMA this time.

PS. I'm wearing a Portal 2 shirt right now!

I met Jonathan Coulton twice to record his songs "Still Alive" and "Want You Gone." I also saw Jonathan Coulton perform at Bumbershoot about three years ago. He is a wonderful writer/performer. I loved working with him because he knew exactly what he wanted. His direction was very specific. I hope that our paths cross again soon. Better question: does Valve plan to do more work with me? I'm ready any time. PS: My plush turret "Tillman" says hi.

What is the funniest thing that happened to you?

When John and I were doing Show Boat in Europe, part of the set fell on me and I had to hold it up and continue to say my lines and it was the most tragic scene in the whole play. The audience gave me rousing applause with much laughter.

How do you get into character?

I internalize the character and what's happening to the character and I respond depending on what's happening to the character and what the character wants.

So you are actually part GLaDOS?

Yes, the brainy part.

[deleted]

Anytime at all.

Have you played the games you've voice acted in yourself? Do you do any personal fragging on TF2? Love your work, by the way! I wanted to see you at Momocon 2012 but my group was all "uggggh let's leave" and I was so upset I missed your table U~U

Sorry I missed you at Momocon! I'm not smart enough to play computer games, but my husband John plays several of them including TF2.

Hi Ellen! I can't think of any good questions, but I just wanted to compliment you on your beautiful singing voice! Cara Mia Addio brings me to tears every time!

Yes! To mine too. Mike Morasky knows how to compose.

Do you have any advice for overcoming shyness? You seem so outgoing, I was just wondering how you do it!

Thanks in advance :)

Hi Forest-Fern, I am an introvert, but I am not shy. I think that my age has made me less worried about what other people will think. Just remember that most people have some shyness and if you try to overcome that, you'll have a lot more fun. I suggest thinking that everybody else is naked.

If you could be the voice of any character on a previously produced show, game, or movie; who would you want to be and why?

I really don't want to follow in anyone's footsteps, I like to create my own characters.

Thank you for doing a round 2!

Do you ever just start doing VoiceOver stuff in public if you see someone wearing valve swag?

Edit: Like just calmly as a joke?

If you come to the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle and are between the age of 15 and 25, I'll be sure to let you know who I am.

If you were to record an outgoing message for voicemail or ansaphone, what would it be?

"Hi, this is fustanella. I'm not available right now, I'm eating cake."

Hey Ellen! I met you and John last year at Dragon*Con 2012 and you two were fantastically amazing! It was an awesome experience and I was so happy to meet the both of you; it remains my favorite con experience!

What are other conventions you foresee going to? I'd be thrilled to see you at Dragon*Con again!

Hi Jeselnik, John and I will be at Anime Midwest in Chicago, Gaymer X in San Francisco, and PAX in Seattle over Labor Day weekend.

How did Valve find you? Did you apply, or did they go to you?

I'm with the Actors Group in Seattle. My agent at The Actors Group sent me an audition from Valve.

How cool is the person who voice acts for Chell?

It goes without saying- totally cool.

Could you have your husband do an AMA also?

I'm sure he could, somebody just needs to ask him. He's much funnier than I am.

Welcome back for round 2 Ellen!! I'll try and keep it simple.

1) What drew you to Wish It Inc.? Did you know the Synthetic PH team beforehand?

2) You're becoming a regular celebrity around the internet, but what's a little known role that you've done? (As a lot of people seem to know you as GLaDOS, Helen the Administrator, the Overwatch etc etc).

3) What was your reaction to GLaDOS' comment regarding a "Cave Johnson shaped hole" in her databanks during Poker Night 2? As it's pretty tear worthy, the thought of her not remembering Cave until the events of Portal 2.

4) Is there a good place to find out a schedule of your convention events? I'd love to meet up with you (in my Cave Johnson costume no less), but I can't seem to find details until the last minute or afterwards!

As always, love your work. Your friend in Science. @CaveJohnson

I had seen some of their videos and I liked the writing- they are funny. I've sung a lot of opera roles, in particular MiMi from La Boheme. Also Linda Loman in Death of a Salesman. Sorry, but I don't remember that particular line about Mr. Johnson. Check EllenMcLain.net and I'll try better to list all of my conventions. I have 3 coming up.

have they contacted you about Portal 3 yet?

No, but I wish they would.

Hey Ellen! Love the Portal games. I have a few questions.

• Did you know when you took the job how iconic your voice would become?

• Do you like potatoes more or less than before making Portal 2?

• A bunch of Stephen Merchant's lines were improved, and all of J.K. Simmons's was word for word in the script. How about your lines?

• How do you feel about that family who got mad about GLaDOS and Wheatley making fun of Orphans? Here is the link for those who don't know about it.

• You said in the last AMA you were not called in to do a Portal 3 yet. However, you do do the voices of the combine machines on Half Life, so what about Half Life 3?

• Lastly, what is the best fat-person joke you know?

No, I had no inkling. I like potatoes waaaay too much for my own good. Stephen Merchant both improvised many of their lines. I did not improvise. My mother, who was a social worker, was the first child professional child welfare worker in North Carolina. Many people in my family are adopted and we love them just as much. I cannot comment on that family's personal experience, I only understand my own. I have never heard of a Half Life 3. I don't know any- do you?

Hi, another fan here. Loved your work on Portal and I enjoy watching or hearing you work on other projects. I hope to get to meet you someday (and hopefully with my GLaDOS costume ready!) Thank you for reading!

Thank you for writing!

Is Wish It Inc as fun as it looks on the kickstarter page? If I could swing it I would have backed so my son could be on it.. but he will have to be happy with his DVD bundle...

Wish It Inc. is MORE fun because the writing is so good and I'm sure your son will be happy with his DVD bundle. Thank you for supporting us!

Where did you go to study the character of GlaDos? Was it more of a creative venture or did you perform legitimate research.

I took direction from the writers and producer and I am passive aggressive.

Hey there, I am a kickstarter for Wish it Inc. and I was wondering if you would ever consider doing an entire album as GLaDOS? :D

Sure, just ask me! Thank you for supporting the Kickstarter.

What kind of Fairy Godmother hijinks can we expect you to get up to in Wish It Inc.?

Running a company of leprechauns and egomaniac-genies is hijinx should be enough, but I get to fix a busted magic generator with a golf club. That should be fun.

Was there any dialogue you've recorded for games that you were particularly disappointed to see edited from the final version of things?

I trust the writers and the game developer's to use what they need, so no I've never been disappointed.

Hi, Ellen! Thank you so much for doing this! :)

Do you have any suggestions for someone trying to get into voice acting and the voice acting business? Also, for the Portal games, how long did it take to record all of the lines?

Besides acting classes, you have to make a voice demo of your work. For Portal 2, I recorded over a 10 month period every other week for four hours.