With a rising career across both video games and film, Marta Svetek is establishing herself as a versatile performer in major franchises and emerging independent projects. In this interview, the Slovenian actress reflects on the emotion of turning her passion for gaming into a profession, the creative freedom of motion capture, and how her journey from Slovenia to London helped shape an artist driven by imagination, discipline, and ambition.
You have built a very interesting career across both video games and film. What was it like realizing that games could become not only a passion, but also such an important professional path in your life?
I had a specific moment where it all hit me. We had just finished calibrating the mocap system, and I turned towards the live pre-viz screen where they had loaded the character model for Eris Morn onto my rig. I moved, she moved. We were doing the cinematics for Destiny 2: The Witch Queen (RIP).
I had played over 2000 hours of that game at that point. I had spent hundreds of hours with that character. And now I was embodying her. I was the next person to bring her to life. Obviously, someone was chopping onions nearby because my eyes weren’t dry.
My passion for games mirrors that of the millions of fans around the world. Being able to channel that passion into a career? I’m obviously the luckiest girl in the world.
Your work in franchises like Five Nights at Freddy’s, VALORANT, and Battlefield has connected you with deeply passionate global audiences. What does it mean to you to be part of worlds that are so significant to fans?
It is such a privilege. Being well-received by these communities, knowing what I expressed in my performance had a positive impact, is the biggest accolade I could ever receive as an actor, and I never take it for granted. I mean, what a dream to connect so profoundly with so many people!
Motion capture requires imagination, precision, and emotional commitment under very particular circumstances. What fascinates you most about that form of performance?
In motion capture you work within a certain set of technical limitations, very limited props and no customs or built out sets, and yet to me that is one of the most freeing circumstances of any part of my job. It’s almost pure imagination. It doesn’t really matter what you look like in real life. Your casting type isn’t limited by your appearance. You get to stretch creatively every time, and embody the greatest variety of the most extraordinary characters. What could be better than that? If you have a strong mind’s eye, you thrive in the volume.
You have said that motion capture is one of the purest forms of acting. How has that experience shaped the way you approach characters in film?
It’s given me the license, and confidence, to explore so far beyond the obvious choices. Make bolder choices, really take charge of the portrayal of my character. My job as an actor is to add to the character on the page and present options and interpretations that the writer or director might not have thought of. Obviously, not all choices are always the right ones, but when it does all come together, and you have that a-ha moment with your director and/or fellow cast, it’s pure magic.
Your journey goes from Slovenia to London and now reaches major franchises and international productions. What impact does that path have on the artist you have become?
Slovenians are first and foremost hard-working and grounded. If you want something, you put in the work every day. If you ever start getting too big for your boots, there is usually no shortage of people to remind you to stay humble. Those two things have become integral to my approach to this career and to the increased recognition. I got here with some serendipity, but mainly with hard work – and never shying away from that. I do not see myself as entitled to anything, and feel a deep sense of gratitude when I’m given the opportunity to work on a project, especially when I see that something I created meant something to someone. Made their day better. I couldn’t do this any other way.
Beyond gaming, you are also expanding your presence in film with titles like I Am Rage, Savage Prey, and The Death of Us. What excites you most about this phase of your on-screen career?
It’s never been a more exciting time to be in independent film, and to be trusted with starring roles now is a real dream come true. There are some seriously exciting stories being told. I feel that with the number and quality of indies that are being released these days, we’re really building up to the next wave of IPs that will shape generations to come. Who knows, maybe the next Star Wars is just around the corner? Being in a position where productions are this creative, while being recognized as an actor that can carry a starring role is a really great feeling. I can’t wait to keep working on as many new projects as possible!
You mentioned wanting to explore worlds like Fallout or Warhammer 40k. What draws you most to those larger-than-life stories, and what kind of artistic challenge do you still dream of taking on?
Half the time I’m mentally IN those larger-than-life stories, haha! I’ve always been a dreamer, absorbing those stories in as great a number as I could. The imagination poured into fantasy and sci-fi writing, film, TV, etc. is nothing short of magical – and I know most of the people I see at cons will agree. I mean, just look at the size of the lines at any of Brandon Sanderson’s meetups! But even more so, as I became an actor, I saw that my energy, my presence really suits those worlds. It fills out that space. I believe it’s also why I’ve done as well as I have in video games. The characters and the stakes in games always tend to be bigger.
As for artistic challenges, there are so many. I want to star in a heavily cinematic game – that perfect blend between film and games. I would love to be part of a fantasy IP where I could utilize my love of riding and swords (bring back horse mocap!). Or throw hands in a gritty cyberpunk story. I would love to lean into the unhinged and play a really horrifically ostentatious villain. I would do pretty much anything to one day work with Ralph Fiennes. I would also love to direct one day. And so much more!
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