You might not recognize her name (yet), but you have definitely seen Jesse Meriwether’s work. The actress has starred in over 20 national commercials, as well as three Super Bowl spots and two international ads. You probably know her best as the lint-licking Cootie Queen from the Orbits commercial. Meriwether is more than just a pretty face with a charming southern drawl, she is also a dedicated and doting mother who is single-handedly raising two children. Jesse is also a self described dork and a video game enthusiast. That is why we chose her for our very first Gamer Profile segment. We spoke to our favorite gaming mom about everything from her borderline obsession with all things Zelda to her dream casting in an Assassin’s Creed movie.
CL: What are some of your favorite video games and why?
JM: Adventure Games. Its just what I've always done. I enjoy WATCHING other people play fps (first person shooters)--but I am so horrible at them and have so little time to improve right now--I usually stick to what I know and enjoy. LOL
I would say that my favorite game series of all time is Legend of Zelda.
CL: What games are you currently playing?
JM: I just finished Wind Waker for the Wii U--which was awesome because I had missed the GameCube and it was one of the few Zelda games I had missed. Right now I'm playing A Link Between Worlds on my daughters 3DS and Assassins Creed Revelations on Xbox.
CL: What upcoming releases are you looking forward to the most?
JM: I'm really super-hyper looking forward to the new Zelda for Wii U. They say that ONE dungeon is the size of ALL OF Hyrule field in Ocarina of Time.
Whaaaaat!!!!!
Also I wish Dragon Age 3 would hurry up already. I'm also waiting (patiently) to the hear if they are going to make a new Darksiders installment. I know the company went under... but I loved part one and really liked part two... and would like to see the character design they give to "Famine."
CL: What systems do you own and which ones are currently plugged in?
JM: I have a Wii U, an Xbox 360, and a PS3--ALL of which are plugged in. I also have an old school controller (SuperNES) that is a USB. I have a flash drive with old classic games that I can play on the computer whenever the mood takes me.
CL: Female characters in video games run the gamut from the cliche damsel in distress, to highly skilled warriors and the seemingly unavoidable, oversexualized eye candy. What are some of the best and worst examples of girls in games?
JM: Lara Croft is an example of an awesome and strong female game character. Also any of the comic/game crossovers (Arkham Asylum/ Marvel Heroes) have awesome female characters--but I consider those to be comics really--not gaming characters.
As far as the eye candy--I love Mortal Kombat--but the female costumes are really just ridiculous. All I can do is laugh and make sure my daughters know that is not reality (and more closely resembles ridiculous). Realistically--Kitana's boob’s would pop out after her first uppercut and be flying all over the place.
CL: Are you more likely to appreciate a game if it has a female lead, or does the gender of the character not really matter?
JM: It really doesn't matter to me. I have played and loved both.
CL: At what age did you start gaming and what ages did your daughters get into games?
JM: I got my first Nintendo for my 5th birthday. My parents and I were on vacation--staying at my aunts home in Alabama. I remember opening it up--the plastic suitcase it came it--with a pocket for everything. I remember thinking my mom was a genius for figuring out the correct configuration of coax and power cables. And then--there it was! I hated Duck Hunt (guess I wasn't a fps from the start lol!). But I loved Mario so much! I was always hooked after that.
Bella was born in 2006--the year Twilight Princess came out. Naturally--with my first baby (who was a "surprise"--I was 24), I was too busy to do anything for a while. But eventually I began playing again - and Bella grew up watching me. She began playing herself about two years ago (at 5! hey! irony!). Lucci--my 4-year-old--has started playing already. Some simple dress up games on the computer and a little on the Wii and DS.
CL: A lot of parents will allow their kids to play Teen or Mature rated games, even if they do not meet the age rage. The justification for this can be based on the wide variety of reasons why a game has received the rating. Example: A teen might be allowed to play a Mature rated game that contains blood and mild adult language, but not one that contains drug references and nudity. As a parent, do you depend on the ratings system to dictate what you let your kids play/watch, or do you rely on your own personal judgment?
JM: I use my own personal judgement when it comes to games. Every parent and every child is different. Even though I have caught hell for this by some--I really don't mind blood/gore/violence in games. To a point... I would probably feel uncomfortable watching/playing war games with Bella--where humans are shooting humans to pieces. Probably because I know that happens in the world every day--that violence (to me, this is just how I feel personally) just hits a little too close to home--its a little too "real".
Blood in games--no matter how amazing the graphics--still looks like cartoons. ESPECIALLY when you are fighting monsters/dragons/creatures or men in medieval times with swords.
Once--after cutting a monster in half--my mom said to me "Jess! this game is too violent for Bella!"
I rolled my eyes said to Bella, "Ok baby... listen... if you're ever walking down the street--with a sword--and DEMON LORD jumps out in front of you--just.. like... DON'T cut it in half, ok?"
Bella nodded. My mom laughed and rolled her eyes.
I thought for a second and whispered to Bella, "Baby... if you are ever walking down the street with a sword and a demon lord jumps out in front of you... you can TOTALLY cut it in half."
She nodded.
So--blood and gore and violence (everything that's not present day, human against human violence) don't bother me. It's nudity/sex/language that I have to watch out for. And some would argue that I have it backwards--but its just how I feel.
It is incredibly frustrating tho--to see so many games that are off limits because of the CRAZY amount of profanity. I don't care if there is a "damn" or "hell" or "a**hole" every so often.
However--it seems to be that "f**k" and "b****h" and "s**t" are the standards. Its so frustrating. I have been wanting to play borderlands with bella forever--but can't because of the language.
I mean--its just sound editing! Cant there be a function where you can turn on beeps over the profanity? Like you can turn on closed captions? Oh well--just a thought.
Are there any games that you pull out after the kids go to bed?
No. Half the problem is that after the bedtime battle, there is still - dinner cleanup - dishes - laying out their clothes for the next day--lunches--laundry--and whatever else I have to do. I'm so exhausted there is no time/energy for playing. Plus... I LIKE playing with my girls. Thats another reason the language restrictions frustrate me so much.
CL: Bubble Guppies is my favorite TV show, based solely on the fact that it my daughter’s favorite show. Not only am I able to sit through it on repeat all day long but I can also tell you everything there is to know about the series that is aimed at preschoolers. Do you find that you feel an attachment to games and shows that your kids enjoy that you normally wouldn’t yourself?
JM: Ha!!! I totally know what you are talking about man. I have seen Bubble Guppies many times. I don't think I have taken a shine to any shows just due to repetition. However, having kids HAS exposed me to shows that I might not have seen otherwise (such as Adventure Time, Regular Show, Steven Universe, many others). Shows that I now love.
CL: Vegetarians can shoot ducks guilt free in Duck Hunt. The unathletic can score points in any number of sports games. Just as easily, girls and guys can switch genders in a large number of games. When you get a chance to create a player do you stick to your sex or do you ever cross gender?
JM: This is a very interesting question, made me think a little. Whenever I've gotten to pick/create my own character--I've always been female.
CL: In the Legend of Zelda series, the primary protagonist is a male named Link. However, the game gives you the option to rename your character. What name do you give your Link?
JM: Always Link and always Epona. [Link's horse] Once Bella set up a game for me and put my name as Jesse. It was so weird I had to restart the game.
On a side note -
One of the reasons I love this game so much is because of the hero--Link.
He comes from humble "non heroic" beginnings, giving him the underdog appeal.
Also--When I'm playing Link--I don't have to suspend my disbelief so far...
Stay with me--I'll try to explain this... it may seem kinda silly
In most games, the main character is HUGE or at least RIPPED. Gears of War, Darksiders, Assassins Creed, God of War, on and on and on.
If I am playing these characters--I still have a lot of fun--but I know this is only pretend and not even REMOTELY inside the realm of my physical capabilities.
Even if I was at my physical PEAK--I couldn't complete an obstacle course designed for these dudes.
But Link is... what? Like 5'6? 140lbs?
He is young and inexperienced at the start every game.
He has an ARCH.
You get to go with him on his journey from everyday person to Hero of Time.
He has no great physical attributes--he's not a genius--and he's not much of a talker.
I guess I just love how in the Legend of Zelda games--all you need to start your journey--is a little courage. And rest you gain along the way.
CL: You are best known for your commercial work. Have you ever thought about lending your talents to a video game voiceover?
JM: Oh man I would love to do voiceover work! I am some what of a one trick pony, tho. LOL. And I have never been able to lose the drawl completely. But yeah--if that opportunity every knocked I would certainly open the door and invite it in.
CL: Do you watch any movies based on video games? If so what are some the best and worst?
JM: Well.... I love B-movies. And so--luckily for me-movie adaptations of video games usually always fall into the B category. Tomb Raiders--adventure cheese. Resident Evil Series--zombie porn with awesome one liners. The Mario Brothers Movie--EPIC CHEESE. Need I go on? They're all great.
CL: If you could star in a film adaption of a game, what would it be and who would you play?
JM: Wow--what a question. Well... I love LOZ - But I wouldn't want to play Zelda. Maybe Impa (from Skyward Sword)? Or Midna? Or Hilda from Lorule?
Or the champion from Dragon age? Or the WITCH from Dragon Age? Or maybe a female Horseman in the new Darksiders? Or Maybe Desmond's great grandma in the next Assassins Creed?
LOL! That question is impossible!
You can join Jesse’s loyal army of followers, The Knights of Awesome by liking her page on Facebook.
© 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
