Bringing Kay Vess to Life: My Journey as a Scoundrel in Star Wars Outlaws
Star Wars Outlaws protagonist Kay Vess embodies a compelling 'fake it till you make it' spirit, brilliantly brought to life through the actress's authentic collaboration and charismatic performance. This deep character immersion creates a uniquely relatable and thrilling scoundrel.
Sitting down for this interview in 2026, I still get a rush thinking about the journey of becoming Kay Vess for Star Wars Outlaws. It wasn't just another acting gig; it was about embodying a spirit, a 'fake it till you make it' attitude that I found weirdly familiar. As a Venezuelan actress who's bounced around in games like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Far Cry 6, I've played my share of tough characters, but Kay? She's something else. She's that low-level street thief, just getting her feet wet in the galaxy's seedy underbelly, nowhere near the legendary swagger of a Han Solo yet. But man, does she have the guts to try. And that's where our worlds collided.

From the get-go, the folks at Massive Entertainment weren't looking for a puppet. They wanted a collaborator. They cast me for a reason, and they trusted me to find Kay's voice. It was wild, honestly. There were moments in the recording booth where a line on the page just felt... off. It didn't land right, the words felt clunky, or I'd just keep forgetting it because it wasn't something my Kay would ever say. I'd stop and think, 'Okay, how would I say this if I were in her boots, trying to talk my way out of a jam with some Hutt?' I'd just riff, say it in my own words, my own rhythm. And more often than not, the team—our narrative director, Navid, especially—would be like, 'Yeah, we like that better. That makes so much more sense.' It was this incredible creative back-and-forth where Kay truly became alive in me. I wasn't just reading lines; I was understanding how she wanted to communicate.
What made it click, I think, were the parallels. Kay relies on quick wit and a natural, almost effortless charisma to survive. It's her armor in a cutthroat world where she might be secretly scared stiff. And hey, that's a vibe I know all too well. In this industry, you gotta have a bit of that 'no worries' facade. I remember Navid pointing it out once during a break: 'You know, you’re sitting in that chair like Kay Vess.' She's got this specific physicality—a cool pose, a walk with a swagger, kind of like weighted feet, projecting confidence even when it might be shaky. That swagger? It came naturally to me. I walk around with a lot of that same attitude. It's not about being arrogant; it's about owning your space, something I've channeled for roles before, but with Kay, it was the core of her being.

Building a character like this is more than just voice and posture. It's about the heart of a scoundrel. Kay isn't a polished hero; she's figuring it out as she goes. To help flesh her out, I thought a lot about the legacy she's stepping into. The Star Wars galaxy has iconic underworld figures, and Kay is aiming for that league. Let's break down who she's looking up to:
| Scoundrel Icon | Defining Trait | Kay's Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Han Solo | Cocky charm & a loyal heart | The aspiration, the ultimate 'made it' goal. |
| Lando Calrissian | Smooth-talking style & business savvy | The art of the deal and looking good doing it. |
| Atton Rand (KOTOR) | Sarcastic wit & a hidden past | Using humor as a shield and a tool. |
Kay's got pieces of all of them, but she's her own woman. She's raw, she's learning, and her confidence is a work in progress. Playing her was a masterclass in 'show, don't tell.' The performance wasn't about announcing she's cool; it was in the subtle choices:
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The way she'd lean against a doorway, assessing a room.
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The slight smirk when a plan starts coming together.
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The genuine, unguarded moments with her companion, Nix, which show the person beneath the bravado.
Looking back now, with the game out in the world, the most rewarding thing is seeing players connect with her. They see the authenticity we fought for. She's not a carbon copy of the greats; she's the next generation, trying to carve her own path with a blaster, a smirk, and a whole lot of nerve. Bringing Kay Vess to life was about trusting that instinct, that blend of my own experiences and the incredible world Massive built. It was about making a scoundrel you can't help but root for, warts and all. And let me tell you, that was one hell of a ride. 😎