Overwatch is a strategy based multiplayer first-person shooter game by Activision-Blizzard. The game takes place after a devastating war against a combat-ready team of intelligent machines known as Omnics, who the former agents of the heroic team known as Overwatch must join forces once more to fight a new threat.
Lucie Pohl voices ‘Mercy’, who was the most popular support character during the game’s open beta and has become a divisive character in the game’s meta, being nearly always picked as part of a team composition in competitive modes.
Growing up, what made you decide you wanted to become a comedian and an actress?
I grew up in a family of actors, writers, and performers, so performing always felt like the most natural thing to do for me. Apparently, when I was three years old, I told my mother, if I didn’t become an actress I’d like to be someone who wakes people up by hitting them in the face with a wet washcloth. In short, I think I did the world a favor by becoming an actor and comedian.
You voice ‘Mercy’ in the wildly successful game Overwatch. Tell us about your character!
Mercy is a guardian angel and medical doctor. Her real name is Dr. Angela Ziegler, she is Swiss and a brilliant scientist. Mercy is a very aspirational character: she’s feminine yet tough, nurturing, empathetic, pragmatic and sometimes sassy. She is a pacifist and her main mission is to help others.
How has Overwatch changed your life? Do you have a fun fan story?
Overwatch has changed my life in so many ways but the most important one is getting to meet and connect with so many amazing fans all over the world. It’s an incredible gift to be able to experience so many different people and hear their stories. The love I feel from the community is indescribable and has made my life so much fuller.
A fun fan story?
There are many! When I was in Vegas I was asked to sign a baby. I guess it makes sense that that would happen in Vegas. A couple came to my booth with a tiny baby and asked me if I would sign his “onesie”. I said, of course, I will and figured they would pull out a onesie and put it on the table. Instead, they laid this tiny infant on my table and handed me a sharpie. My hands were shaking but I did it. I signed a baby… in Vegas.
For voice acting, do you have special rituals to keep your voice healthy?
I like to pretend I am chewing on an invisible ball to warm my facial muscles up while making noises, so that has convinced my neighbors I am insane. I also drink a lot of tea.
Are you a gamer in your personal life?
I’m great at Tetris, does that count? I used to obsessively play Super Mario on my Nintendo and Game Boy (I’ve just dated myself). Then I had a Sega and was obsessed with Sonic the Hedgehog. I took a long break from video games and have just started playing Overwatch here and there. I’m so bad it hurts.
What is your favorite thing about touring and doing live shows as a comedian?
I love to travel and I love to see how people react to my jokes and stories in different cities and countries. Every live show is like a different animal, so every one of them is thrilling and unique.
What upcoming live shows or projects do you have coming up?
I host a monthly stand up comedy show in New York called Immigrant Jam with immigrant comics. I’ll be at Vancouver Fan Expo October 12-14, Abu Dhabi Games Con October 25-27 and Holiday Matsuri in Orlando, FL December 14-16. I also have a new video game coming out in a few weeks. Check out my social media for all the updates!
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Lucie is a German-Jew, who moved to the US at the age of 8 and is a native German speaker, as well as being fluent in Greek and French. Lucie comes from a long line of German theatre and performance artists including her father, Klaus Pohl, who is an acclaimed German playwright and actor, and her mother, Sanda Weigl, is a renowned Romanian singer. Fun fact, academy award nominee actor Christoph Waltz used to babysit Lucie.
