The Voice Behind Panam Palmer
In the 2020 CD Projekt Red videogame, Cyberpunk 2077, the character Panam Palmer is voiced by American voice actress Emily Woo Zeller. Zeller is known for her work in voice acting and as an audiobook narrator. Her portrayal brings to life the strong-willed Nomad who plays a significant role in V’s journey through Night City and beyond.
Emily Woo Zeller was born on November 3, 1983, making her 42 years old as of 2025. She pursued her education at the University of California, Berkeley, where she majored in dance, theater, and performance studies. During her fifth year at the university in 2006, she was recognized with an Eisner Award for her creative talent. After her time at Berkeley, Zeller spent a period living on Lamma Island in Hong Kong.
Emily Woo Zeller’s Career Highlights
Beyond her role as Panam Palmer, Emily Woo Zeller has an extensive career in voice work, particularly as an audiobook narrator. Her talent in this field has earned her significant recognition, including being selected as a Golden Voice narrator by AudioFile Magazine in 2020.
Her audiobook narration credits include:
- Doctor Aphra in the Star Wars audiobook of the same name.
- Narrating the 2020 audiobook of From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back within the Star Wars canon.
- She has received numerous Earphones Awards for her audiobook narrations, such as for Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal (2013), The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (2014), The Poppy War (2018), and Six Crimson Cranes (2021).
- In 2018, she won an Audie Award for Faith-Based Fiction and Nonfiction for Fire Road: The Napalm Girl’s Journey through the Horrors of War to Faith, Forgiveness, and Peace.
- She also received Independent Audiobook Awards in 2020 for Kintsugi: Finding Strength in Imperfection, winning for Best Female Narrator and Nonfiction.
In addition to audiobooks, Zeller has contributed her voice to animated projects. She was part of the English dubs for Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (2015) as Meray, Pokémon the Series: XYZ (2016) as Bryony, and provided additional voices for Yasuke (2021).
Panam Palmer in Cyberpunk 2077
Panam Palmer is a key character in Cyberpunk 2077, first encountered during the “Ghost Town” Main Job in Act 2, which V receives from Rogue. She is an ex-Aldecaldo Nomad who seeks V’s help with various tasks, often leading to significant developments in the game’s narrative.
Players have the opportunity to build a relationship with Panam. To romance Panam, V must be a male with a male body type. The romance arc unfolds through a series of Main Jobs and Side Jobs:
- Main Jobs: “Ghost Town,” “Lightning Breaks,” and “Life During Wartime.”
- Side Jobs: “Riders on the Storm,” “With a Little Help From My Friends,” and “Queen of the Highway.”
Throughout these missions, specific dialogue choices and actions are required to progress the romance. For instance, siding with Panam against Saul, touching her thigh or hand when prompted, and choosing to let her touch V during a specific moment in the “Queen of the Highway” side job are crucial steps. These interactions deepen the bond between V and Panam, culminating in a sexual encounter and offering the possibility of a lasting connection with the Aldecaldos.
FAQ
Is Panam Palmer a romance option for all V body types in Cyberpunk 2077? No, to romance Panam Palmer in Cyberpunk 2077, V must be a male with a male body type.
What is Emily Woo Zeller known for besides Cyberpunk 2077? Emily Woo Zeller is also widely recognized as an American voice actress and prolific audiobook narrator. She voiced Doctor Aphra in the Star Wars audiobook of the same name and narrated From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back. She has also received numerous Earphones Awards and was named a Golden Voice narrator by AudioFile Magazine.
When does V first meet Panam Palmer in Cyberpunk 2077? V first encounters Panam Palmer during the “Ghost Town” Main Job, which is given by Rogue in Act 2 of Cyberpunk 2077.