Ray, the calm and highly intelligent strategist of The Promised Neverland, is voiced by Mariya Ise in the original Japanese version and Laura Stahl in the English dub. Both actresses received praise for portraying Ray’s sharp intellect, emotional restraint, and gradual emotional growth throughout the series.
Japanese Voice Actor: Mariya Ise
Date of Birth
September 25, 1988
About Mariya
Mariya Ise is a Japanese voice actress known for portraying emotionally complex, sharp-minded, and energetic characters across anime and games. Her performance as Ray in The Promised Neverland became one of her most critically praised dramatic roles because of the character’s emotional subtlety and psychological depth.
As Ray, Ise delivers a restrained and intelligent performance that perfectly captures the character’s cynical worldview and hidden compassion. Her delivery becomes especially powerful during emotionally intense scenes involving Emma, Norman, and Isabella, where Ray struggles between logic and emotional attachment.
Ise is also widely respected for her versatility, having voiced everything from young heroes to chaotic antagonists throughout her career.
Hometown
Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Career Highlights
Mariya Ise built a major career in anime during the 2000s and 2010s through a wide range of memorable performances.
Some of her best-known roles include:
- Ray — The Promised Neverland
- Killua Zoldyck — Hunter × Hunter (2011)
- Reg — Made in Abyss
- Levy McGarden — Fairy Tail
- Midari Ikishima — Kakegurui
- Dorothy Unsworth — Black Clover
- Stocking Anarchy — Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt
- Eureka — Pokémon XY
Her portrayal of Ray stands out because of the emotional restraint and maturity required throughout the series.
Full Current Filmography
The following list reflects documented credits from publicly available sources and may not be exhaustive.
Anime Television
- The Promised Neverland — Ray (2019–2021)
- Hunter × Hunter — Killua Zoldyck (2011–2014)
- Made in Abyss — Reg (2017–present)
- Fairy Tail — Levy McGarden (2009–2019)
- Kakegurui — Midari Ikishima (2017–2019)
- Black Clover — Dorothy Unsworth (2017–2021)
- Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt — Stocking Anarchy (2010)
- Pokémon XY — Eureka / Bonnie (2013–2016)
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean — Foo Fighters (2021)
Anime Films
- Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul — Reg
- Hunter × Hunter: Phantom Rouge — Killua Zoldyck
- The Promised Neverland promotional projects — Ray
Video Games
- Granblue Fantasy — Various characters
- Pokémon Masters EX — Bonnie
- Azur Lane — Voice roles
- Blue Archive — Voice appearances
Critical Reception
Mariya Ise’s portrayal of Ray received widespread praise for its emotional nuance and intelligence. Critics frequently highlighted how effectively she communicated Ray’s internal conflict while maintaining the character’s calm and analytical personality.
Fans especially praised her emotionally restrained delivery during the anime’s darker scenes, where Ray’s fear and vulnerability emerge beneath his composed exterior.
Her performance helped establish Ray as one of the most memorable characters in The Promised Neverland.
Our Sources
Behind The Voice Actors – Ray cast listing (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/The-Promised-Neverland/Ray/)
Wikipedia – Mariya Ise biography and filmography (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariya_Ise)
The Promised Neverland official anime website (https://neverland-anime.com/)
Anime News Network encyclopedia entry for The Promised Neverland (https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=20854)
Social Media
Official Agency Profile: https://across-ent.com/talent/women/mariya_ise.html
English Voice Actor: Laura Stahl
Date of Birth
August 12, 1974
About Laura
Laura Stahl is an American voice actress known for anime, video games, and animation work. Her portrayal of Ray in The Promised Neverland became one of her most recognized dramatic anime performances thanks to the character’s intelligence, emotional restraint, and deeply personal internal struggles.
As Ray, Stahl delivers a calm and controlled performance that emphasizes the character’s analytical personality while gradually revealing his emotional vulnerability. Her delivery was especially praised during tense psychological scenes and emotional confrontations involving Emma, Norman, and Isabella.
Outside anime, Stahl has voiced major characters in games, animation, and long-running franchise projects, becoming a familiar voice to anime and gaming audiences alike.
Hometown
Not publicly documented.
Career Highlights
Laura Stahl has built a diverse voice acting career across anime, games, and animation.
Some of her best-known performances include:
- Ray — The Promised Neverland
- Barbara Gordon / Batgirl — DC animated projects
- Hayase Nagatoro — Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro
- Irina Jelavić — Assassination Classroom
- Rosalia — Genshin Impact
- Xingqiu — Genshin Impact
- Young Xehanort — Kingdom Hearts III
- Mammon — Helluva Boss
Her role as Ray stands out because of the emotional subtlety and maturity required throughout the series.
Full Current Filmography
The following list reflects publicly documented credits and may not be exhaustive.
Anime Television
- The Promised Neverland — Ray (2019–2021)
- Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro — Hayase Nagatoro
- Assassination Classroom — Irina Jelavić
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure — Additional Voices
- Demon Slayer — Additional Voices
- Blue Exorcist — Supporting Voices
- Sword Art Online — Additional Voices
Anime Films
- The Promised Neverland promotional projects — Ray
- Demon Slayer related dub appearances — Additional Voices
Video Games
- Genshin Impact — Rosalia and Xingqiu
- Kingdom Hearts III — Young Xehanort
- Fire Emblem Heroes — Various characters
- World of Warcraft — Additional Voices
- League of Legends related media — Voice work
Critical Reception
Laura Stahl’s portrayal of Ray received praise from fans of the English dub for capturing the character’s intelligence and emotional restraint without making him feel emotionally detached. Viewers frequently highlighted her subtle vocal performance during Ray’s most psychologically intense scenes.
Critics and fans also praised the chemistry between Stahl, Erica Mendez, and Jeannie Tirado, whose performances as Ray, Emma, and Norman helped establish the emotional core of the English adaptation.
Her performance contributed significantly to the suspenseful and emotionally grounded tone of the dub.
Our Sources
Behind The Voice Actors – Ray cast listing (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/The-Promised-Neverland/Ray/)
Wikipedia – Laura Stahl biography and filmography (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Stahl)
The Promised Neverland official anime website (https://neverland-anime.com/)
Anime News Network encyclopedia entry for The Promised Neverland (https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=20854)
Social Media
X / Twitter: https://x.com/laura_stahl
Official Website: https://www.laurastahl.com/
