BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityNewsbeatFF7 Rebirth: Aerith actress on confidence and keeping ending secretsPublished9 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Square EnixImage caption, Final Fantasy 7 character Aerith Gainsborough’s role in the remake trilogy has been a source of speculationBy Tom RichardsonBBC NewsbeatA reply from a job application. A message from last night’s date. The bus. No-one likes waiting. But how about the world’s reaction to your starring role in a recreation of “one of gaming’s most iconic moments”?That’s what Briana White, from the cast of Final Fantasy 7 (FF7) Rebirth, is waiting for when BBC Newsbeat catches up with her over Zoom.The game is the second part of a trilogy that remakes the legendary, influential 1997 Japanese role-playing game (JRPG).Briana provides the English language voiceover for Aerith Gainsborough, a flower seller with a link to a mystical race that might just save the planet.It probably isn’t a spoiler to say – but look away now if you do want to avoid them – that her fate in the original FF7 is one of the most famous twists in gaming history.”It’s what gamers think about when they think about the greatest gaming moments,” says Briana. “It was a shock, it was a surprise, it was incredibly subversive.”It’s no secret that the moment is being revisited in the new game but its prequel, 2020 smash hit Final Fantasy 7 Remake, teased the possibility that Aerith’s destiny could change. And since Rebirth’s release last week, players have been racing to get to the end of the game to see whether that departure from the original storyline does occur. The problem is, not many of them have got there yet. Image source, Briana WhiteImage caption, Briana’s comfortable in the voice recording booth now, but moving from conventional acting had its challenges”It’s already been six days,” Briana says. “And most people I know are still in chapter three.”So there’s a whole game for them to go through still.”Rebirth is massive. There’s a main quest which can be completed in about 50 hours. But it’s also packed with side activities and mini-games that can push the play time closer to 100 hours.So while fans are grinding through trying to reach the ending, Briana is anticipating their response to the finale. “I’m definitely nervous, waiting to see how people react,” she says.”But at the same time, it’s kind of nice,” Briana adds, speaking after an “insane” launch week. “Now it’s quiet, because everyone’s playing the game,” she says. “And I just get to relax and take a breather for a little bit.”That’s also given her time to reflect on how she got here.Unlike many video game voice actors, Briana’s a keen player and remembers sitting on her mum’s knee as a child playing PC adventure games. Before being cast as Aerith she’d built up a strong following on streaming platform Twitch on her channel The Strange Rebel.She’s also a trained actress, and had performed in traditional theatre, TV and film roles earlier in her career.But Final Fantasy was her first voice acting role, one she never expected to get and one that she underestimated at first.Image source, Briana WhiteImage caption, Briana says portraying Aerith in the high-profile game series has been life-changing for herBriana says she “skipped” into the recording booth on the first day, but “the gleam started to slowly melt away” as the reality set in.Recording and re-recording lines, changing her delivery to eliminate small speech quirks, “those incredibly detailed technical challenges really threw me for a tailspin”, she says.Briana says she was “full of self-doubt” during the Remake project, and remembers sitting on her bed at home and bursting into tears after one especially tough week of recording.”I just didn’t think they had gotten the right person,” she says. “My inner critic was saying, ‘you don’t belong here’.”She eventually managed to block out that voice, and when Remake came out performances across the board were praised.So Briana says she returned for Rebirth feeling more confident, “more playful and more open in the voice recording booth”.Despite the latest game’s size, she doesn’t feel like it was a lot more work for her overall, because the game expands the core characters to feature a bigger cast of allies and party members.But the side content in Rebirth, those distractions and diversions that ramp up play time, can get weird. Really weird.While the main story touches on weighty themes and an epic quest to save the planet, players can also spend time completing obstacle courses as toads, competing in dolphin-riding stunt races and riding chocobos – yellow bird-like creatures that have become a trademark of Final Fantasy.That’s completely normal for a JRPG like this, but Briana admits the tone changes kept her on her toes. The cast don’t get scripts in advance, and so have no idea whether they’re going to be in serious mode or “doing something kind of goofy today”. “But that’s so much fun when I get to do that,” Briana says.Image source, Square EnixImage caption, Briana’s performance as Aerith has been well-recieved, and she says she feels lucky to have had good feedback overallThe main talking point, though, was always going to be that ending. Developer Square Enix is keen for the new take to stay secret, and even issued a plea for streamers, reviewers and fans to avoid spoilers.Briana admits that it’s not stopped people asking her.”I want to tell them, of course, but I also don’t. I want to give them the gift of being able to go into it with fresh eyes not knowing what’s happened.”There’s a good chance that the finale will prompt strong feelings, and that can put actors in the firing line of social media abuse.Briana says the Final Fantasy fandom “tends to be pretty respectful” and good at understanding that she didn’t write the game. “I’m not preparing for a huge wave of hate because I just don’t think that’s going to come my way,” she says.”Is that naive? Is that too optimistic? I really think it’s gonna be fun.”Critics say Final Fantasy Rebirth a stunning sequelHow the fantasy world of D&D can be a home for everyoneThe pressures of remaking a classic gameHarassment is a risk for video game actors. Earlier this year Last of Us developer Naughty Dog released a documentary about the making of the second game in its critically acclaimed series.One widely shared clip showed Laura Bailey, who voiced Abby in the game, tearfully recalling threats she received over her role.But Briana, who says she’s “liberal with mute and block buttons” has some strong words for those who take their anger out on actors.”The people who would harass or belittle anyone involved in the making of the game, because it didn’t go the way that you wanted it to – find a better outlet,” she says.”Go scream outside, go chop a tree down, punch a pillow, go to therapy. I mean, there are so many better outlets for anger and sadness.”Briana says she counts herself lucky that she’s not had to face waves of negativity, and says being part of Final Fantasy “never stops blowing my mind”.But the big question is will she be back for part three?”I don’t know,” she says, laughing. “They don’t tell me anything.””They give me a call, I say ‘when?’, and I show up. “So if they don’t call, then I won’t. But if they do, then I will.”Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or listen back here.Related TopicsGamingMore on this storyCritics say Final Fantasy Rebirth a stunning sequelPublished22 FebruaryCritics and fans get first taste of FF7 RebirthPublished21 September 2023Top StoriesGaza aid ship expected to set sail from CyprusPublished7 hours agoNew life springs from rescued Sycamore Gap treePublished9 hours agoThe Oppenheimer story that won’t win OscarsPublished9 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: ‘Camilla to the rescue’ and ‘Budget falls flat’Tear gas and surveillance on the coast as Channel migrant deaths rise’Wedding photographer caused mayhem – I told him to leave’On patrol with the anti-social behaviour squadThe sisters defying the Taliban by singingFF7 actress’s nervous wait for fan reactionsDid State of the Union change how voters see Biden?Why mass abductions have returned to haunt NigeriaWest Bank violence: ‘My child’s destiny was to get killed’Elsewhere on the BBCSeven times cruises have caused commotionFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…AttributioniPlayerThe mystery of a devastating helicopter crash…A weekend away for those leading the intelligence war in Northern Ireland turns to disasterAttributioniPlayerThe untold story of the first moon landingIt was a journey that changed the way we think about our place in the universeAttributioniPlayerParkinson meets the greatest names in entertainmentHe’s joined by guests Michael Palin, Kate Adie and Ricky GervaisAttributioniPlayerMost Read1New life springs from rescued Sycamore Gap tree2’Wedding photographer caused mayhem – I told him to leave’3Muriel McKay killer ‘willing’ to show where body is4The Oppenheimer story that won’t win Oscars5I was cyberbullied while pregnant, says Meghan6’Camilla to the rescue’ and ‘Budget falls flat’7Faisal Islam: The Budget was more radical than it looked8Award for emergency service staff who die on duty9The Brit up for three visual effects Oscars10Destructive Joshua knocks out Ngannou in second roundAttributionSport
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