Question Faith's Voice in Buffy S7

[whatdBuffyDo]

So, Faith has a much deeper voice in S7. Any idea why is that? Any plot reason, an acting decision by Dushku, an illness Dushku was struggling with that has an impact on her voice?
It might not have been such an issue during the original run of the series since years passed before Faith reappeared in Buffy. However, as I watch the series now, Faith's voice sounds so different from how it was before, that it is uncomfortable to my ears.

 

[Faded90]

I think Eliza had some kind of operation on her vocal cords hence why its not raspy like it had been in S3/4

Mostly I missed the occasional Bostonian twang her voice!

 

[Bop]

What's odd is it says online that Eliza started working with a vocal coach to make her voice higher pitched because her natural voice was ruining her vocal chords.

In universe maybe it's because Faith started smoking in prison.

 

[Kendar]

From IMDB trivia... " When she was told her naturally deep, husky voice was destroying her vocal chords, she went to a vocal coach to learn to speak in a higher register."

It's an incredibly long article, but this explains some of the issues. Basically (as I understand it) deep voices vibrate the cords more roughly, and the vocal cords of a woman are thinner and therefore more subject to damage.

Gender differences affecting vocal health of women in vocally demanding careers - PMC

Studies suggest that occupational voice users have a greater incidence of vocal issues than the general population. Women have been found to experience vocal health problems more frequently than men, regardless of their occupation. Traditionally, it ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[semiurge]

Eliza's voice is naturally raspy/husky, but if you have a raspy voice naturally, prolonged speaking in that sort of raspy tone would probably ruin your vocal cords and women usually have thinner vocal cords and are more susceptible to damage or strain. Deeper voices vibrate more abrasively on the vocal cords and as a result, she was taught to speak in a higher register to try and avoid any long-term damage and to preserve her voice. Some singers have a higher pitched voice to speak in to preserve their singing voices, it might be a similar case with actors.