Interview With Mass Effect’s Rana McAnear

Los Angeles based model and actress Rana McAnear brings the commonly conceived notion of the tinsel town professional to a halt. The face behind Mass Effect 2 & 3’s Samara and Morinth also holds the titles of wardrobe stylist and costume designer. With a stacked resume and can-do attitude, McAnear has actively engaged her fans. First, through online forums and then taking it a step further with cosplay. The complex and powerful character Morinth, who has a genetic mutation that causes her to kill her lovers, joining minds with them and coming out smarter and stronger for it, is a very different type of female narrative in gaming. Much like the multi-talented McAnear is forging a new path for herself in the entertainment industry. She may have also just been destined for sci-fi related greatness. After all, she was named after a character in the 1971 novel 2150 AD by Thea Alexander. I got the chance to ask McAnear a few things about her time as a video game model and her cosplay experiences.

Can you tell us about how you booked the job to model for the character of Morinth in Mass Effect? What was your reaction when you were contacted for the game?

I have a profile on a modeling website called Model Mayhem where BioWare had posted a casting call. I submitted my pictures and was picked shortly after! I was very excited to have been picked!

When you were offered the position, were you aware of the kind of character that would be modeled after you?

When I went in for the 3D scan Casey Hudson told me the character’s personality traits and a bit of her backstory but he didn’t mention I was going to be a blue alien!

Morinth is a very complex character do you personally find significance in her backstory?

I have met and spent some time with the writer of Samara and Morinth’s dialogue a few times and met his wife whom he based a lot of Morinth’s dialogue on so I relate her story more to his wife than to myself.

I read that you weren’t credited in Mass Effect so you went on forums and introduced yourself as the face behind Morinth. What made you decide to reach out to the fans in that way? What kind of reactions did you receive?

That is true, it’s not typical for face models to be credited, so I wasn’t alone in that. I wanted to introduce myself because I wanted to be a part of that community and a lot of my friends were already fans of the first one, so it was fun too see them freak out when I posted about it! I got a mixture of reactions, some people didn’t believe so I posted photos of myself. Some people thought I’d look different, but most everyone was very welcoming and awesome.

Did you ever cosplay before Morinth, what has your cosplay experience been like?

I had never really cosplayed before per say, I dressed up a lot for theme parties and Halloween of course but that was my first time cosplaying at convention. My cosplay experience has been pretty amazing, I have traveled internationally because of it, made amazing friends because of it and been introduced to an awesome community! It has had it’s ups and downs though. A lot of work, time and money goes into it.

What has been your favourite con experience?

There has been so many, it’s hard to choose! I think a couple favorite moments have been being in the parade at DragonCon and then being on stage at PAX East with the Mass Effect Cast Cosplay group. That was pretty epic!

Morinth joins forces with Commander Shepard (Mark Meer) Photo by Photosnxs

Craziest/best fan reaction?

I had one girl at WonderCon run up to me jumping up and down squealing hysterically saying “OH MY GAWD I love Samara.” I said “I am the face model for Samara!” She proceeded to squeal and jump even more.

The most valuable thing you’ve learned about the gaming/entertainment industry since modeling for Mass Effect?

I’ve learned that gaming is a way of life for some, in good ways and bad. I’ve learned that Mass Effect has literally saved peoples’ lives. I’ve heard so many touching stories about people finally coming out because of Mass Effect and people who have social disorders but have somehow been able to come to conventions to be with other fans. It’s been a very touching experience.

What would you say is the nerdiest thing about yourself?

Maybe the fact that I grew up watching Star Trek the Next Generation? It was the only show my parents allowed us to watch while we ate dinner. That and my name comes from a Sci-Fi novel.

How does your experience as a wardrobe stylist tie in to the cosplay aspect of your role? Other than Morinth are there any other characters you’d love to cosplay as?

I’m also a costume designer and I learned to sew in fashion school so I was able to sew my own Asari dancer costume, which was pretty great. Having Pillar of Dawn Studios make the pattern and source the fabric was very helpful and we have a great group of ladies called the Azures of Afterlife.

For now, I’m good with cosplaying as Samara in red, Samara in her loyalty outfit, Morinth, and an Asari dancer.

Was there anything about the cosplay experience that took you by surprise when you first started out?

I was pretty surprised that people do this for a living, and what a huge community it is.

Since you’re a gamer yourself, what’s your all-time favorite game? (none of the Mass Effect games are an option) 

I got pretty addicted to Tetris but I think BioShock was pretty amazing.

You can keep up with Rana on her Facebook page, Rana – Face of Samara and Morinth