Game news “I took big risks”: Neil Newbon reveals some secrets about his interpretation of the character of Astarion
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A true star of Baldur's Gate III, the character of Astarion is played by Neil Newbon, also a renowned actor. If this role propelled his career, he believes it was also at risk.
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An actor saved by video games
If Neil Newbon is on the rise today thanks to Baldur's Gate III – he notably won the prize for best performance in a supporting role at the Golden Joystick Awards, but also that of best performance at the Game Awards 2023 – you should know that the actor has come a long way. “I was really on the verge of quitting acting. It was 2008 or 2009… I was making a poor living, so I was doing a lot of part-time jobs to make it through the month… I was also starting to become disillusioned with the profession of actor…”, he declared when he came to collect one of the prizes last year.
“I got to a point where I felt very, very oppressed, I suffered from the rejection, from the difficulty of pursuing your dreams and never achieving them. (…) I decided to try the dubbing. And I discovered motion-capture… it completely resurrected my career (…) So yes, I was really saved by games.”
Neil Newbon will have lent his voice to characters for major productions, such as those of Elijah Kamski and Gavin Reed in Detroit Become Human, Nicolas in Resident Evil 3, Karl Heisenberg in Resident Evil Village, Zéron in Xenoblade Chronicles 3… and therefore Astarion in Baldur's Gate III.
Astarion, a difficult character
The least we can say is that Newbon gave everything to play the vampire Astarion in Baldur's Gate III. His vision of the character was even very personal, enough for it to represent, according to him, a risk of misunderstanding on the part of the public.
“I think the choices I was making were pretty important,” he told Game Rant. “It was also a risk, but one I felt was worth taking. I know everyone wasn't sure about it at first, until they understood what I was trying to do.”
An acting supported by cinematic director Jason Latino and head screenwriter Stephen Rooney, whom Newbon greatly thanks for their involvement. We remind you that Baldur's Gate III also won the prize for best game of the year (notably at the Game Awards), driven by exceptional writing and characters, you will have understood, very aptly embodied.