The 2021 cooperative masterpiece It Takes Two, developed by Hazelight Studios and directed by Josef Fares, stands as a landmark in narrative-driven gaming. While its innovative mechanics and emotional storytelling earned it Game of the Year honors, the lifelike performances of its cast provided the necessary emotional anchor. Because the game focuses on a shrinking couple—Cody and May—trapped in doll versions of themselves, the vocal performances had to convey deep-seated marital frustration, humor, and eventual reconciliation.

The main cast of the game features Joseph Balderrama as Cody and Dr. Hakim, Annabelle Dowler as May, and Clare Corbett as their daughter, Rose. These actors did more than just read lines; they participated in extensive performance capture sessions to ensure their physical movements matched the emotional weight of their voices.

Joseph Balderrama as Cody and Dr. Hakim

One of the most impressive feats in It Takes Two is the dual performance by Joseph Balderrama. He voices both the protagonist husband, Cody, and the flamboyant, often polarizing "Book of Love," Dr. Hakim.

Bringing Cody to Life

Cody is depicted as the more sensitive, nurturing, and perhaps less "driven" half of the relationship. Balderrama infuses Cody with a certain softness that contrasts sharply with May’s pragmatic nature. During our analysis of the game's early chapters, particularly the "Shed" sequence, Balderrama’s ability to convey Cody's bewilderment and physical comedy is vital. The character’s transformation from a father trying to maintain the status quo to a partner willing to change is narrated through subtle shifts in Balderrama’s vocal pitch and tempo.

The Phenomenon of Dr. Hakim

The character of Dr. Hakim is arguably the most divisive element of the game. As a sentient self-help book with a thick, exaggerated accent and a chaotic personality, Dr. Hakim serves as both a mentor and an antagonist. Balderrama’s performance here is high-energy and theatrical. Interestingly, while Balderrama provides the voice, the game’s director, Josef Fares, provided the motion capture for Dr. Hakim’s dance moves and erratic gestures. This collaboration created a character that feels truly "larger than life," even if some players find his interruptions frustrating.

Balderrama is a veteran in the industry, with a portfolio spanning major titles like Horizon Zero Dawn, Far Cry 6, and Batman: Arkham Knight. His versatility in It Takes Two proves why he is a sought-after talent for complex narrative roles.

Annabelle Dowler as May

May represents the "rational" and career-oriented side of the failing marriage. Voiced by Annabelle Dowler, May’s character arc is one of the most relatable aspects of the story.

The Pragmatism of May

Dowler provides a grounded performance that anchors the game’s more fantastical elements. In the "Cuckoo Clock" and "Snow Globe" levels, the dialogue reveals May’s guilt over being away from home and her resentment toward Cody’s perceived lack of ambition. Dowler excels at capturing the "sigh in the voice"—the sound of a woman who is exhausted by the emotional labor of a struggling relationship.

Vocal Chemistry and Performance Capture

The success of It Takes Two hinges on the chemistry between the two leads. Although Cody and May spend much of the game arguing, the voice actors manage to maintain a thread of underlying affection that makes their eventual reconciliation believable. Dowler’s background in British television and theater is evident in her precise diction and emotional range, particularly in the later stages of the game when the characters must confront their shared failures.

Clare Corbett as Rose

The emotional stakes of the game are personified in Rose, the daughter who inadvertently traps her parents in doll form through a magical wish. Rose is voiced by Clare Corbett, a highly prolific voice actress in the gaming world.

Rose’s Emotional Journey

Corbett’s performance is crucial because she must portray Rose’s sadness without making the character seem purely like a plot device. The scenes where Rose talks to her dolls—unaware that they are actually her parents—are some of the most heartbreaking moments in the game. Corbett brings a vulnerability to the role that reminds players exactly why Cody and May are going through this ordeal.

Clare Corbett is well-known to RPG fans for her work in Elden Ring, where she voiced several key characters, and the Dark Souls series. Her ability to transition from the dark, brooding tones of FromSoftware games to the innocent, hopeful voice of Rose demonstrates her incredible range.

Supporting Cast and Anthropomorphic Bosses

Beyond the central trio, It Takes Two features a vibrant cast of actors who bring life to inanimate objects and garden creatures. These "secondary" characters often provide the most intense gameplay challenges and comedic relief.

Stephen Greif as the Vacuum

The first major boss, a vengeful vacuum cleaner neglected by Cody, is voiced by Stephen Greif. Greif, a legendary British actor known for Blake's 7 and The Crown, gives the Vacuum a menacing, gravelly voice that turns a mundane household appliance into a legitimate threat. His performance sets the tone for the game’s "discarded object" theme.

Grahame Fox as the Squirrel Chief

In the war between the squirrels and the wasps, Grahame Fox voices the militaristic Squirrel Chief. Fox brings a "gruff commander" energy to the role, parodying classic war movies. His performance makes the absurdity of a squirrel insurgency feel surprisingly epic.

Victoria Willing as the Wasp Queen

The antagonist of the garden section, the Wasp Queen (who turns out to be a robotic construct piloted by a bumblebee), is voiced by Victoria Willing. Her performance captures the mechanical coldness and the eventual frantic energy of the battle.

Other Notable Voices

  • Martin T. Sherman as Hammerhead: Providing a tough-guy persona to one of the workshop tools.
  • Louiza Patikas as Joy: Bringing a sense of whimsy to the nursery-themed sections.
  • Susan Brown as the Stargazer: A guiding voice in the more cosmic, abstract parts of the game.

The 1995 Film Version: It Takes Two

When searching for the "cast of It Takes Two," many users are directed toward the 1995 family comedy of the same name. While unrelated to the video game, this film remains a nostalgic staple for many.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

The film stars the Olsen twins at the height of their child-stardom. Unlike the game, which is about a divorce, the movie follows two identical strangers (Amanda and Alyssa) who meet at a summer camp and decide to switch places to matchmake their respective parental figures.

Kirstie Alley and Steve Guttenberg

The adult leads, Kirstie Alley and Steve Guttenberg, provide the romantic tension. Alley plays Diane, a kind-hearted social worker, while Guttenberg plays Roger, a wealthy widower. The film’s "cast" is much more traditional than the game’s vocal and motion-capture ensemble, focusing on slapstick comedy and the "Prince and the Pauper" trope.

Hollywood Adaptation: Rumors and Reality

Given the game’s massive success, a film or television adaptation was announced in early 2022. Reports suggested that Seven Bucks Productions (Dwayne Johnson’s production company) and dj2 Entertainment were attached to the project.

Is there a confirmed cast for the movie?

As of mid-2025, there is no confirmed cast for the It Takes Two movie. While fans have speculated that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson could play Cody or voice a character like Dr. Hakim, these remain rumors. Josef Fares, the game’s creator, has expressed some frustration in recent interviews regarding the slow pace of Hollywood development.

In a recent industry event, Fares noted that while there is "a lot of talk," the project has not moved into active production. This means the definitive "cast" of It Takes Two remains the voice actors from the 2021 game.

How Voice Acting Influences the Experience

In our testing and playthroughs of the game, we noted that the voice acting isn't just a layer of polish; it’s a gameplay mechanic. In levels like "Symphony," where the characters must use musical instruments, the vocal cues provided by Balderrama and Dowler help players time their movements and understand the "flow" of the narrative.

The use of "bickering" as a background audio track during puzzles reinforces the theme of a broken relationship. If the voices were less convincing, these segments might feel annoying. Instead, because the actors sound genuinely frustrated with one another, the player feels motivated to solve the puzzles to help them "fix" their bond.

Technical Prowess of the Hazelight Cast

The recording for It Takes Two was not done in isolation. Unlike many games where actors record lines separately, Hazelight often had the leads perform together. This allowed for natural interruptions, overlaps, and a level of emotional synchronicity that is rare in digital media.

Summary of the Key Cast Members

Character Voice Actor Notable Other Works
Cody Joseph Balderrama Far Cry 6, Horizon Zero Dawn
May Annabelle Dowler The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Doctors
Dr. Hakim Joseph Balderrama Batman: Arkham Knight
Rose Clare Corbett Elden Ring, Dark Souls III
The Vacuum Stephen Greif The Crown, Doctor Who
The Squirrel Chief Grahame Fox Dark Souls, The Witcher 3

FAQ: Common Questions About the Cast

Who plays the Book of Love?

The Book of Love, also known as Dr. Hakim, is voiced by Joseph Balderrama. However, the physical movements and "spirit" of the character were provided by the game's director, Josef Fares, through motion capture.

Are Cody and May played by real-life partners?

No. Joseph Balderrama and Annabelle Dowler are professional actors and are not a couple in real life. Their convincing performance is a testament to their acting skill and the direction of Hazelight Studios.

Why does the Vacuum sound so familiar?

The Vacuum is voiced by Stephen Greif, a veteran of British stage and screen. His distinctive deep voice has appeared in countless BBC productions and high-profile video games.

Is the It Takes Two movie coming to Netflix?

There is currently no official streaming platform or release date confirmed for the adaptation. While Amazon Studios was rumored to be in talks for the rights, no final announcement has been made as of 2025.

What other games has the actress for Rose been in?

Clare Corbett is a prolific voice actor. In addition to Rose, she is well-known for voicing various characters in Elden Ring, Bloodborne, and the GreedFall series.

Conclusion

The cast of It Takes Two is much more than a list of names; it is a carefully curated group of professionals who brought depth to a story that could have easily been a simple platformer. Joseph Balderrama’s dual role as Cody and Dr. Hakim demonstrates incredible range, while Annabelle Dowler provides the emotional heart of the story as May. Although the 1995 movie and potential future adaptations share the same title, the 2021 game remains the definitive version of this narrative, largely due to its stellar vocal performances. For players diving into this world, listening to the subtle nuances in these performances is just as rewarding as solving the game's many imaginative puzzles.