Karlach’s Voice Actor Swaps Fire for Water as a Shapeshifter
▼ Summary
– Claire is an avid RPG enthusiast with extensive playtime in Baldur’s Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, and a passion for obscure horror games and The Sims.
– Samantha Béart, known for voicing Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3, will next voice One, a shapeshifting water-based protagonist in the game Fading Echo.
– Béart praised the opportunity to play a water-aligned character, calling it “brand new” and exciting, contrasting her own fiery and earthy personality.
– Béart highlighted the benefits of seeing her character’s design and animations early, advocating for more transparency in voice acting roles to improve performance.
– Fading Echo features an international team, including notable voice actors like Matt Mercer and Laura Bailey, and combines puzzle mechanics with One’s unique water-based abilities.
Samantha Béart, the acclaimed voice behind Baldur’s Gate 3’s fiery Karlach, is diving into uncharted waters with her latest role. The BAFTA-nominated actor is trading flames for fluidity as the voice of One, the shapeshifting aquatic protagonist in the upcoming action-adventure game Fading Echo.
Béart’s portrayal of Karlach earned widespread praise, but her new character couldn’t be more different. One is a water-based being capable of transforming from humanoid to liquid form, using her abilities to navigate puzzles and outmaneuver enemies in the mysterious world of Corel.
“It’s refreshing to step into something so distinct,” Béart shared in a recent interview. Known for her fiery energy both on and off the mic, she admitted that embodying a water-aligned character presented an exciting challenge. “Seeing a protagonist with this kind of fluid, adaptable energy feels entirely new. I’m thrilled to bring that essence to life.”
The game’s vibrant, cel-shaded art style also caught her attention. Collaborating closely with the lead animator gave Béart rare insight into One’s movements and design, something voice actors don’t always experience early in development. “Having that visual reference makes a huge difference,” she explained. “When you understand how a character moves, it shapes your performance in ways that just reading a script can’t.”
Béart praised the international team behind Fading Echo, including notable talents like Matt Mercer, Laura Bailey, and writer-actor Jasmine Bhullar. The game’s mechanics, which blend environmental puzzles with combat, have her particularly eager to play. “The way One interacts with the world, turning to steam on lava or petrifying enemies, looks incredibly inventive,” she said. “There’s a moment in the trailer where she’s this adorable blob activating a switch, and I just thought, ‘Yes, this is going to be amazing.’”
With Fading Echo on the horizon, fans of Béart’s work can look forward to hearing her bring another unforgettable character to life, this time, with a splash instead of a blaze.
(Source: Polygon)
