Earlier this year, Warner Bros. Games released its fourth LEGO Batman title, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. Black Girl Nerds sat down with voice actress Clara Emanuel, who brings Selina Kyle/Catwoman to life in the game, to discuss her experience, preparing for the iconic role, and what makes this latest adventure stand out.
BGN: What do you like about this game compared to the previous LEGO Batman titles?
Clara Emanuel: There wasn’t a lot of voice acting in the previous games outside of the cutscenes, so I think it’s really exciting that they’ve focused on a smaller roster of playable characters. With the DLC coming out in September, the world is only going to expand even more.
What I love most is how immersed you become in the world. The combat style is so cool. I’m not really much of a gamer—I actually love watching my husband play because, for some reason, my thumbs just don’t cooperate with controllers. My favorite part of gaming has always been the storytelling.
I’m the person who’s constantly saying, “No, go into that room!” or “Wait, I want to hear that dialogue!” or “Stay in the car so we can watch this scene!” I love exploring open worlds and uncovering every little detail.
BGN: So you’re a backseat gamer.
Emanuel: (Laughs.) I am absolutely a backseat gamer. I’m a card-carrying member of the Backseat Gamer Club.
This game is just so much fun because there are so many Easter eggs and references woven into the story. Even while we were recording, I’d ask the writers about certain lines, and they’d explain things like, “Oh, that’s a reference to ‘Kiss from a Rose’ by Seal.” Nearly every line has some connection to Batman’s history while still moving the story forward.
For someone like me, who’s not necessarily a hardcore gamer, that’s incredibly enjoyable. You get the storytelling, the Arkham-style combat, the classic LEGO humor and playfulness, and a healthy dose of nostalgia all in one package.
I’ve been playing it myself. My husband is much farther ahead than I am—I’m still only about two hours in because I keep getting stuck running into walls—but I’m having a great time.
BGN: What kind of preparation did you do for the role?
Emanuel: I worked on this game for probably over a year—about 18 months.
Thankfully, I’m already a huge Batman fan, so I came into the project with a lot of context. But I really wanted to dive specifically into Selina Kyle and Catwoman because LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight spans Bruce Wayne’s life in ways we really haven’t seen before.
That meant exploring Selina’s journey throughout different eras. We begin with her in the Iceberg Lounge, which definitely takes inspiration from the films, particularly Zoë Kravitz’s portrayal. Then you move into a phase that’s a bit closer to Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman—breaking into places, having fun, and eventually working alongside Batman.
Later, you see her becoming more integrated with the Bat-Family. So I went back and rewatched the Batman films. I actually hadn’t seen the LEGO Batman movies before, so I watched those as well. They were such a pleasant surprise. They’re incredibly immersive and funny, and understanding that unique LEGO tone was really important.
I’m more of a movie fan than a comic book reader, so I also spent a lot of time researching Selina online—reading about the comics, learning what fans love about her character, and exploring her complicated relationship with Bruce Wayne. It gave me the opportunity to really experience her history from every angle.
Luckily, I already loved Batman and Catwoman, so it was genuinely fun research.
BGN: In previous LEGO Batman games, Catwoman was portrayed as more of a villain.
Emanuel: Yes.
BGN: Has she really changed in Legacy of the Dark Knight, or do you see her returning to her criminal ways?
Emanuel: That’s such a great question, and honestly, I don’t know if I can answer it properly because I don’t like judging this character.
From everything I’ve researched, Selina has such a tragic, layered, and complex history that I’ve always viewed her more as an antihero than a villain. Now, this is a LEGO game, so it’s definitely lighter and more fun, and in this story we’d certainly consider her one of the heroes.
But what makes Selina so compelling is that she’s never one-dimensional. She’s not driven solely by justice. She’s such a fascinating foil for Bruce because they both experience profound tragedy, yet they choose completely different paths in how they pursue justice. Bruce becomes this vigilante dedicated to doing what’s right, while Selina embraces freedom. She wants to have fun, she’s playful, and she’s a little more selfish.
Honestly, as a woman today, I can relate to that. I’m kind of living in my own “selfish era” too, not stealing jewels or anything — but I understand that desire to prioritize yourself.
So I don’t really see Selina as a villain. I think she embodies someone who trusts herself, goes after what she wants, and still has a fundamentally good heart underneath it all. That’s what makes her such an interesting character, and I hope players really enjoy experiencing her story in this game.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is an open-world action-adventure game developed by Traveller’s Tales and is available now on Steam and major gaming consoles. A new DLC expansion arrives this September, featuring an additional mission set in Arkham Asylum.
Be sure to check out the second part of our interview with Clara Emanuel on Black Girl Nerds, where she discusses her voice acting career and reflects on joining the legacy of Black actresses who have portrayed Catwoman.
