What to know
- Cairn uses a hybrid voice system combining dialogue and physical exertion audio
- The protagonist Aava is portrayed by multiple performers
- Supporting characters are voiced by experienced film, TV, and game actors
- Voice work was handled by SIDE UK, a major industry studio
In Cairn, voice acting plays a subtler but more important role than in many narrative-driven games. Dialogue is sparse, but every spoken line, breath, strain, and vocalization is designed to reinforce the physical and emotional weight of the climb. Rather than relying on a single voice actor per character, Cairn blends traditional performance with physical exertion audio, resulting in a layered and highly immersive soundscape.
This blog covers the full confirmed voice cast, explains who voices whom, and breaks down why Cairn credits multiple performers for the same character.
Cairn voice cast details
| Actor | Role(s) |
|---|---|
| Sophia Eleni | Aava (spoken dialogue, emotional acting) |
| Camille Constantin Da Silva | Aava (singing, exertion sounds) |
| Gildaa | Aava (vocal textures, effort sounds) |
| Hyoie O’Grady | Marco |
| Adam Howden | Chris |
| Aaron Neil | Additional voices |
| Rebecca Benson | Supporting roles |
| Alexandra Boulton | Additional voices |
| Rich Keeble | Supporting roles |
| SIDE UK | Voice production & direction |
Who voices Aava, the protagonist
Aava, the climber you control throughout Cairn, is not voiced by a single performer. Instead, her character is built from three complementary performances, each serving a different purpose.
Sophia Eleni as Aava
Sophia Eleni is the primary voice of Aava. She delivers all spoken dialogue, narrative lines, and emotional moments. Her performance grounds Aava as a character rather than a silent avatar, conveying determination, doubt, exhaustion, and resolve through restrained but expressive delivery.
Eleni’s background in television, games, and performance-driven roles makes her particularly suited to Cairn’s understated storytelling style, where tone matters more than volume.
Camille Constantin Da Silva and Gildaa as Aava’s physical voice
Alongside Eleni’s dialogue work, Camille Constantin Da Silva and Gildaa provide Aava’s non-verbal audio. This includes breathing, grunts, strain, pain responses, and vocal exertion during climbs.
Their performances are not incidental background noise. Cairn treats physical sound as part of character expression, syncing breath control and effort sounds dynamically with stamina, terrain, and player input. In some sequences, singing or tonal vocalizations are used to evoke isolation, rhythm, or emotional release rather than literal dialogue.
Marco’s voice actor and role
Hyoie O’Grady voices Marco, a companion climber Aava encounters during her ascent. Marco serves as a contrast to Aava’s solitary journey, offering warmth, encouragement, and moments of levity.
His dialogue is intentionally limited, but his presence helps humanize the climb and provides narrative pacing. O’Grady’s performance emphasizes optimism and approachability without undercutting the game’s serious tone.
Chris, the agent voice
Adam Howden voices Chris, Aava’s agent. Chris communicates progress updates, sponsorship context, and external pressure tied to the climb.
Unlike Marco, Chris represents the world beyond the mountain. His voice often arrives through communication rather than physical presence, reinforcing the psychological distance between Aava and everything she’s left behind. Howden’s controlled, professional delivery fits the role of someone focused on logistics rather than survival.
Supporting and additional voice actors
Cairn includes a number of additional characters and incidental voices that appear briefly but add texture to the world. These roles are voiced by a seasoned supporting cast.
Aaron Neil contributes multiple additional voices encountered throughout the journey.
Rebecca Benson provides supporting performances tied to optional narrative moments.
Alexandra Boulton voices secondary characters that appear in isolated segments of the climb.
Rich Keeble rounds out the cast with further supporting roles.
While these characters may only appear briefly, their performances help Cairn feel inhabited rather than abstract.
Voice direction and production
All voice work in Cairn was produced and directed by SIDE UK, one of the industry’s most established voice production houses. Direction was handled by Kate Saxton and Damien Goodwin.
Their approach emphasizes naturalism over theatricality. Lines are delivered as if spoken under physical stress, at altitude, and in isolation. Even clean dialogue is recorded with restraint, avoiding over-polished delivery that would clash with Cairn’s grounded tone.
Why does Cairn need voice actors
Cairn deliberately avoids constant chatter. Silence, breath, and effort are as important as spoken words. By separating dialogue from exertion audio and assigning them to different performers, the game achieves a realism that would be difficult with a single recording approach.
This design choice reinforces one of Cairn’s core themes: climbing is not just about movement, but about endurance, isolation, and internal dialogue. The voice cast supports that theme without ever overwhelming it.
Do you think the voice actors did their part well?
According to us, the voice cast in Cairn delivers exactly what the experience demands. Performances feel restrained, physical, and authentic, with dialogue, breathing, and exertion blending naturally. Rather than overpowering the climb, the acting quietly reinforces immersion and emotional weight. What do you think, let us know in the comments!
