Judy Alvarez is a Cyberpunk 2077 character that captured the hearts of many. She's a very well-designed character and her personality is very fleshed out, grounded, and likable. Whether someone loved or disliked the game itself, it is without a doubt that they immediately took a liking to Judy when they first met her in the game.
CD Projekt Red, the studio behind the game, placed a lot of effort into turning Judy into a compelling supporting character. She will contribute a lot to the story and she and V will develop a close relationship as the game progresses. However, there are things about her not everyone will learn on their first playthrough, things that make her character even more interesting and likable.
May contain spoilers for Cyberpunk 2077.
Updated on August 7, 2022, by Stephen LaGioia: Cyberpunk 2077 has been somewhat bogged down by bugs and technical issues since its December 2020 launch. However, CD Projekt Red has since made great strides in ironing out some of the rough patches, allowing the dynamic open-world gameplay, thrilling action, and rewarding customization to shine.
In any case, the game is also renowned for its cinematic, gritty sci-fi charm as well as its 3-dimensional characters; traits that technical issues cannot spoil. One of the key examples is techie renegade Judy Alvarez. It seems that the more players have delved into this intriguing, downtrodden figure, the more depth they find. And so this list has been revisited, highlighting even more Judy Alvarez facts and details.
13 She's A Pisces
Judy Alvarez's zodiac sign is Pisces. This information about her is actually referenced in a side job given to V by Judy. It is also evident in her character design, like her dual hair color and a couple of tattoos that reference her zodiac.
Her personality is also fashioned to match the strengths and weaknesses of a Pisces, according to various astrological beliefs. She is tough, trusting, caring, afraid to be alone, yet headstrong.
12 She's A Rock Music Fan
A couple of Judy's tattoos indicate that she's a rock music fan. She has a tattoo on her left arm that reads, "There was nothing to fear, nothing to doubt". This is a lyric from a Radiohead song called Pyramid Song. Interestingly, it is also the name of Judy's final side job.
On her other arm, Judy has a tattoo that reads, "Underwater where thoughts can breathe easy". This is a song lyric from Parallel Universe by Red Hot Chili Peppers. It also relates to Judy's affinity for scuba diving.
11 She's From Laguna Bend
Laguna Bend was a small suburb located on the outskirts of Night City. It was a little area with a very close-knit community. Judy Alvarez grew up in this town before it became an underwater ghost town.
A few years before the events of Cyberpunk 2077, Laguna Bend was bought out by a corporation named NC Dam Ltd. The corporation wanted to use the small suburb as a reservoir so everyone was forced to evacuate the town, including Judy's family.
10 Rebellious References From Her Tattoos
Judy's tattoos are significant when it comes to her unique identity, and there are quite a few that stand out. Along with the ones mentioned, players are likely to have noticed a bold '13' tattoo that adorns her left arm.
While it's never completely spelled out in Cyberpunk 2077, fans have speculated that this is likely a subtle reference to 'Las Trece Rosas,' a tag given to a Spanish group of 13 women who were executed by a firing squad in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. This would certainly align with Alvarez's rebellious nature—as this group of victims was accused of aiding a military rebellion.
A bit less intense is the firetruck under her neck, which is a reference to an 'incident' in which she was arrested for joyriding in one.
9 Her Voice Actress Has Done Many Roles - But Has A Particular Affinity For Judy
Judy Alvarez is brought to life by American voice actress Carla Tassara, who has voiced various video game characters, from Wolfenstein: The New Order's Tekla to Katherine Pinn and Knight Lucia in Fallout 4. But amidst the various TV, anime, and video game roles, it's Judy that Carla especially loves.
As part of an interview with TheGamer from Jade King, Carla discusses the character's underpinnings with regard to her background and identity, how they bring depth to the character—and how they're significant to the actress and culture at large. In the interview, she notes:
“I am proud to have portrayed a gay woman in what I think, should the player choose so, is a complex romantic relationship, and in the friendships in which she makes no apologies for being exactly who she is.”
“I am Latina. I resonate with the broader Latin culture more than I do any other. It’s home to me. Roles representing Latinos are ever increasing, and with that I hope will come more and more nuanced and individualized characters such as Judy.”
8 Players Can Snoop On Her (And Elizabeth's) Computer To Learn More About Her
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If players are feeling particularly nosy, they can learn more about Judy through her various text messages and email. One thread involves her relationship with Night City lawyer and politician Elizabeth Peralez through personal messages. During a mission 'Dream On,' in which V can aid Elizabeth regarding a break-in, players can go into her apartment and view a few messages between her and Judy.
They can also delve a bit deeper and learn more about Judy's life happenings and troubles, by snooping through her computer messages in her own apartment. One standout message includes a somber note as she expresses remorse for her friend Evelyn Parker, blaming herself for her death.
More of Judy's personality and quirks will come to light via text—assuming players decide to romance her as a female V.
7 She Will Only Romance A Female V
Those who took a liking to Judy as a male V will be disappointed to find out that romancing her will suddenly become an absent option. As it turns out, Judy will be affectionate toward V if the character was a female.
During a series of side jobs provided by Judy, she will begin to show affection towards V, granted the players have chosen the proper dialogue options, which will eventually lead to them getting together during Judy's final side job mission.
6 She's One Of The Best Brain Dance Technicians In Night City
Judy, despite her reserved and low-key demeanor, is actually one of the most competent brain dance technicians all across Night City. The way she's able to manipulate sessions, using them as investigative tactics, is apparently born out of combing other brain dance techniques, something she has mastered.
Judy also uses techniques never seen or heard before. This is why she is such a valued member at Lizzie's Bar, and why Evelyn Parker turned to her for assistance while preparing for the Arasaka penthouse heist.
5 Evelyn Parker Wanted To Leave Night City With Judy
Evelyn Parker is a character that has a very close relationship with Judy. It was Evelyn who provided the Arasaka penthouse infiltration heist to Dex, which in turn became V and Jackie's mission.
It is later revealed that Evelyn wanted to double-cross everyone and keep the relic hidden inside Yorinobu's penthouse for herself so she could sell it to NetWatch. She would apparently have used her earnings to leave Night City with Judy, to leave it all behind and start a fresh, new, safer life.
4 She's A Mox Member
Judy Alvarez is a member of the Mox Gang, one of the many gangs in Night City. This gang dedicates its time to protecting working men and women from abuse and violence throughout Night City. The gang was founded after the death of Elizabeth Borden, the owner of Lizzie's Bar, who had the reputation of treating her workers fairly, even defending them against abusive clients.
While Judy, on paper, is a brain dance technician for Lizzie's Bar, she often uses her brain dance expertise to help out the bar's workers, and the other prostitutes all throughout the city.
3 She Was Raised By Her Grandparents
During a side job called Pyramid Song, Judy will ask V to go on a scuba diving trip with her to her now-submerged hometown, Laguna Bend. During this mission, V will discover a lot of things about Judy's past, including who raised her.
Judy was raised by her grandparents, a technical grandfather, and a temperamental grandmother. After they were forced to vacate the town, they moved to Night City.
2 How She Got Interested In Being A Braindance Tech
One of the few things V discovers while going on a scuba diving trip with Judy on the submerged Laguna Bend is Judy's old passion for photography. While searching around for clues to Judy's past, the players will find an antique camera, a DPI-350, as Judy calls it.
She will also explain how her grandfather was an extremely technical man and how he "taught her everything she knows." These two things can be attributed to how Judy became involved in braindance technology. Her passion for photography, capturing moments, and her grandfather's technical skills that he imparted to her, are two great tools necessary for being a decent braindance technician.
1 She Will Allow V To Use Her Apartment
Judy is one of the only few NPCs in the game that will lend V a new place to stay. In fact, it is one of the only few moments where the players are given the opportunity to have a different place to call their own aside from the one they're already given.
If they complete every single side job given by Judy, they'll be given a biometric key to Judy's apartment, regardless if they've romanced her or not.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.