Miranda Lawson is a Cerberus officer and appears in Mass Effect 2 as a Normandy crew member who is also Shepard's second-in-command. She also had an appearance in Mass Effect Galaxy. In Galaxy, Miranda communicates with Jacob Taylor as a hologram, and is his main source of information on how to stop the batarian threat. In Mass Effect 2, Lawson is revealed to be a high ranking operative of the pro-human organization Cerberus, and has been genetically altered for superior intelligence and physical traits. She is shown to be a capable leader, exemplified with her being one of the few members of the squad who can successfully lead a fireteam in the final mission without anyone dying, despite feeling she doesn't command respect like Shepard does. Lawson is leader of Cerberus' Lazarus Cell, tasked with reviving Commander Shepard. Aboard the Normandy, she is Shepard's second-in-command and Executive Officer, and files mission reports directly to the Illusive Man.
Lawson was the artificially created daughter of a rich and powerful businessman from Earth. Rather than give her a human mother to randomize her genetic code, Lawson's father took his own DNA and doubled his X chromosome, hoping to create a dynasty. Unhappy with his attempts to exert control over her life, Miranda joined Cerberus and secretly sent her sister into hiding to protect her from their father. Provided the player completes a mission to prevent her sister's abduction, she ultimately becomes loyal to Shepard. In one of the story's possible endings, she proves her loyalty when the Illusive Man gives her an order to prevent Shepard from destroying the Collectors' Space Station by refusing and announcing her resignation before ending the communication abruptly.
Lawson is a possible romance option for a male Shepard.
It is confirmed that Miranda Lawson will make an appearance in Mass Effect 3 if she survives the events of the suicide mission in Mass Effect 2. However, it is unknown whether she will return as a permanent squad member or as a supporting character.
Miranda is voiced by and modeled after actress Yvonne Strahovski.
