Analesa Fisher Interview – Acclaimed Actor Talks Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, Rise and Shine & More!

An Acclaimed Actor and Writer, Analesa Fisher can be heard in Netflix’s hotly anticipated Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, and can also be seen as Amanda in the coming-of-age film Rise and Shine October 23.

We recently spoke with Analesa Fisher about their many works – learn more with our interview…

Analesa Fisher Interview – Acclaimed Actor Talks Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, Rise and Shine & More!

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Gamers Heroes 

Thank you for the time!

I actually got the honor of meeting Emi Lo [Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ Lucy] earlier this year!

Analesa Fisher 

Oh my gosh – I love Emi!

Gamers Heroes 

They were incredible! 

It was their cat Noctis’ sixth birthday, so I got them some cat toys when I saw them at Fanime – they were super kind! 

What I’m trying to say is, I’m a huge Cyberpunk: Edgerunners fan  – and it’s a huge honor speaking with you. 

I even saw the first episode at the Crypto Arena during Anime Expo. The crowd went nuts – and you’re a part of it!

What drew you to this role in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and what’s been your favorite part working on Season Two?

Analesa Fisher 

I’ll give you a little tidbit – I was also there with the crew!

I was not involved with it at all – I was just there with CD PROJEKT RED, because a good friend of mine was already in the show. We were all watching the first episode together. 

I have always been a huge fan of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. The first season is one of my favorite seasons of television in existence!

As the season continued, they were recording episode by episode.

It kind of trickles in into your schedule, and so my dreams were going out. 

The team was like, 

“We really like this, but we actually want you to audition for this other character!” 

So I auditioned for the other character, and then I got that one!

Being involved in this industry, everything in my life happens for a reason – because this second character I got ended up being way bigger any of us thought it was going to be when I booked it!

Them being so much more integral to the plot was really special for me, because of how much I love the first season and the lore of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

I said:

“You don’t need to explain any of this – I’m locked in!”

Gamers Heroes 

Absolutely! 

Something they said at the event that stood out to me was:

“The first season is Michael Bay, and the second is Martin Scorsese.”

That’s really good! The energy was just incredible that night – I look forward to it, and I will be there. It’s been a very tough secret to keep!

I’d also like to talk about Rise and Shine. I’m looking forward to that as well, and will be there for that too!

I saw the trailer, and it looks like a really great coming-of-age film. 

What drew you to that role, and what have been some of your favorite moments working with Rachel, Danny, and all these other great people?

Analesa Fisher 

Oh my goodness! 

Like with anything, I got the script and I got to audition for the role. 

When it comes to movies, we usually get the full script when we audition. However, most of the time with TV shows, we don’t. You get the lines and that’s it. 

I got to read the whole script – and I really loved it! It was really endearing, and it was really sweet. 

Something that really drew me to the role specifically was that there wasn’t anything in the script that made it seem like this was a disability story where it’s almost tragic but uplifting. 

Rather, it is centered around this girl that, although she had cerebral palsy, was so positive she was able to touch everyone in her life – and change their lives because of it. 

Everyone was looking at her like,

“How is she so happy all the time? How was she able to deal with all this stuff?” 

And she was none the wiser! I really loved that part of the script. 

When I got to audition for her best friend in the movie Amanda, I said: 

“I’m there.” 

Being autistic myself, I felt like I’d really connect with this part. I wasn’t sure that I’d be the right fit because I was really worried.  This sounds so strange, but being in a community, especially one with a disability that is on a spectrum…

There are so many people who whose autism presents completely differently, that have different needs. I was really worried I wasn’t autistic enough, which is a very weird thing to think when it has affected your whole life.

You’re sitting there thinking that you know that this has affected your ability to do things – and now here I am. Maybe thinking that I’m not enough of that specific thing to be able to play someone with autism. 

I was really nervous, but then I got a call back – and then another call back – and then I did a chemistry read with Amanda…

Then I found out on set Ana specifically told the team:

“I want Analesa! I think I’d have the most fun with Analesa!”

And we did! We had so much fun on set.

Working with Danny and Rachel was awesome – they’re both legends! The first thing I did when I saw Rachel was tell her I was in New York and got to see her on Broadway in Dear Evan Hansen.

It was a magical experience, and now here I am getting to work with her and Danny Burstein!

She and I both have celiac disease, so we would eat gluten-free food together all day long. I just love them – they became like pseudo-parents, giving us advice and things like that.

It was very special!

Gamers Heroes 

I think the big thing is it’s genuine! It’s real, and that has power. 

I always say strength in community – definitely cherish that!

Gamers Heroes 

Talking about acting, I saw you recently did a workshop with Red Scythe Studio on script analysis – with a Halloween theme!

That is incredible! 

What are some your favorite moments working with them, and what was the one thing you wanted to include as part of your session?

Analesa Fisher 

I feel bad, because everyone who comes to visit me at conventions has asked when I’m going to teach a class…

Every single time I felt like I wasn’t qualified to teach a class and I probably would never do that.

Then Red Scythe Studio approached me and said: 

“Would you like to teach a class? We’d love to have you!”

So I did! When they put it up on the site, it sold out almost immediately!

It was really cool, it was really fun – and it was really nerve-wracking. 

I think I said a million times that I talk very fast and I get very nervous. I told them if anyone is confused or needs me to slow down, put it in the chat and I will stop, regroup, and catch my breath. 

It was awesome though! I got to give people a glimpse into my world, because I get questions all the time. 

How do you approach roles? How do you break down your scripts? How do you do all these things? Not just as an actor who’s gotten to be in all these TV shows and movies, but as someone who’s autistic.

I got to bring that kind of dual perspective to it, which was really fun. I also created a little worksheet for them to take home! 

Honestly, some of my favorite moments were that a lot of autistic and neurodivergent people signed up for the class. That was something the guy who owns the studio said afterward.

He didn’t realize how many voice actors were neurodivergent. He now feels he should create a space in his studio for neurodivergent people to come – because they ask so many wonderful questions!

One question that I got was if I ever feel nervous I’m not going to understand things, I’m going to get a director frustrated, and I’m going to get fired from a role.

I have felt that before. However, moreso, I’ve been told since I was five that I perform and work in a way nobody else does. 

I’ve left auditions and callbacks before where people said:

“I didn’t know you could do that scene that way!” 

To me, it feels like the only way to do it. However, that’s just because my brain is different than maybe everybody else’s.

Getting to tell people that what you may think is a detriment is the thing that makes you unique – the thing that’s going to make you stand out and give you a huge advantage…

Seeing people light up when I said that was the best thing that I could give!

Gamers Heroes 

Absolutely – that’s the genuine part! 

It’s distinctly you, and I’ll back you up there too. 

Doing my homework, I saw you were also at Anime Expo! Even though we didn’t cross paths, I saw people were commenting nonstop on your posts.

Things like “you’re the coolest” – and you are! They’re there for you. 

I’d love to know some of your favorite community stories! Whether it be these workshops, events, or anything else, what are some of your favorite moments?

Analesa Fisher 

My bag is in the other room, but I carry a shark backpack around everywhere – it’s what people know me for!

In fact, I got recognized at Disneyland. Not because someone saw my face, but they saw my backpack and said “that’s Analesa.” 

This is Disneyland – I didn’t think I’d ever get recognized here! 

Similarly, because people know I carry the shark backpack around, they will always bring me sharks at conventions! 

A lot of people think,

“You must want gifts of your character – I’ll draw your character, I’ll get you a stuffed animal or stickers of your character.” 

But my community has come to know me so well that they know the things that like I love. 

They might love that character, but they’ll bring me little shark pins or shark drawings!

Gamers Heroes 

I’m taking notes!

Analesa Fisher 

Exactly! 

One of my favorite memories was at a convention earlier this year. One of my fans brought me a hand-drawn keychain that they made and laminated. 

It was me as Spider-Gwen – that is my dream role! 

I literally burst into tears, because as the classic saying goes: 

“To be loved is to be seen.”

And I’ve never felt more seen! This is you telling me I could be this; I could be this character.

It’s been on my shark backpack clipped to the outside since she gave it to me that day.

That was one of my favorite memories!

Gamers Heroes 

And that’s how it should be! Cherish that too.

I saw an interview you did with Pop Culturist on your work as a writer, and how it makes you a stronger actor. 

That was in 2022, and I’m sure four years has lead to a lot of growth! 

How would you say your work as both a writer and actor helped each other out?

Analesa Fisher 

Oh my gosh! 

Script analysis is a great thing – I can now look at scripts from both sides. I can look at it as:

“What is the best way for an actor to be able to approach this? How can I make this the easiest for them?” 

Not just in how dialog sounds, but what you’re giving them as tools to be able to use in the scene.

As an actor, when I get lines, my brain immediately goes to writer mode. No scene is written for no reason – there is always a reason for a particular scene in each show or movie. Getting to the bottom of “why” is so much easier when you have that writing skill!

It’s helping me grow as a writer – I’ve written so much in the four years since that interview. It introduced me to my new manager because of my writing – that was the big catalyst that moved it over the edge!

I’ve written books with the UTA publishing department, so a lot has happened! It’s a slow process but behind the scenes a lot of things have been happening – which definitely keep me busy!

Gamers Heroes 

You’ve accomplished a lot – definitely cherish that too! 

So talking to other voice actors and writers, they say they have their own toolbox.

What would you say is in your own toolbox?

Analesa Fisher 

It’s so crazy you said that! 

I was just talking to a friend last week, and I was like, 

“We’re all raised differently, and come from very unique circumstances growing up.”

I like to think of people as like a giant industrial shelf. When you open it up, tools are on each one, and it can be hard to find just one. 

They said that was an insane metaphor! My tools have taken a long time to understand; because of my autism, I have a tool to be like: 

“I’ve been in therapy almost my entire life; I’ve met a lot of people to understand things.”

It can be a great tool when working on something more because I can read them. I don’t just want to know what this person is saying; I want to know why they’re saying that thing – and continue to get into that.

I feel very accomplished when that happens! 

I’ve been sick my whole life – and I have tools when it comes to handling medical stuff. My friends like to call me a walking pharmacy, because I know a lot of things about the medical system, what medications are okay, what might be able to cure certain things. 

I would say most of those!

Gamers Heroes 

Those are all dynamic and distinctly you! And you’ve done a lot – it’s the fabric of one’s life!

I know your time is valuable, so keeping things short and sweet… 

Talking about these people that look up to you, that want to follow in your footsteps – what advice would you give to them?

Analesa Fisher 

I should never give up!

I think a lot of people think that overnight success is a real thing.

Look at Austin Abrams and the new Resident Evil movie. Everyone said “he came out of nowhere!,” but he was in Weapons. He was in a Netflix movie called Do Revenge, and then he did all these TV shows. 

People often say: “How did I not register that was him?” 

I get a lot of people at conventions who come up to me and say they want to get into voice acting, that they’ve been doing it for a year and haven’t booked anything. 

Every take in your toolbox is honing your craft! Sometimes in order to book a big thing, they see that you have done a ton of little small things. 

None of it is nothing – nothing you book, no class you take. People think they wasted their time – nothing is a waste of time! 

It’s all gearing up to that mountain. Sometimes just having to take a deep breath and remembering to never give up.

Just to remember all the people that I look up to – who I feel like just shot out of nowhere and became super famous – have had years and years and years of stuff leading up to it.

Gamers Heroes 

That’s fantastic advice!

I actually just published an interview with Mike and Jerry of Penny Arcade, and they also said there is no wasted effort. 

You are in fantastic company, and I couldn’t have asked for a better closer – thank you so much. 

I will get you a shark pin at a future event!

Analesa Fisher 

I’m so excited!

Gamers Heroes

Pleasure’s all mine – thank you so much!

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Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 – which features Analesa Fisher – is now streaming on Netflix. 

Meanwhile, Rise and Shine – which features Analesa Fisher as Amanda – will be at AMC theatres nationwide starting October 23, with advance tickets now available as of this writing.

For those feeling social, be sure to follow Analesa Fisher on their Twitter/X, TikTok, and Instagram social media channels.

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