Jennifer English and Devora Wilde, the talented actors who portray two of the main characters in the highly anticipated fantasy game, Baldur’s Gate 3, recently engaged in an interview with NME to discuss their roles and experiences working with Larian Studios.

English takes on the role of Shadowheart, a mysterious Cleric, while Wilde embodies the character of Lae’zel, a Githyanki Fighter. These characters, known as origin characters, offer players the option to either play as them directly or recruit them to their party while assuming a different persona.

English and Wilde have dedicated four years to voice-acting and motion capturing for these main characters, making it one of their longest-lasting projects. As Wilde shared with NME, “I’ve never been involved in a project, whether it be a film, TV series, or game, that has lasted this long.”

For Wilde, the role of Lae’zel holds a special place due to the extensive time she has spent with the character, the depth of her personality, and the vastness of the Dungeons & Dragons universe in which Baldur’s Gate 3 is set. As English added, “This is not just a small story. It’s massive, and it’s not just a linear journey. It’s colossal in terms of the multitude of endings that exist!”

Throughout the years, Wilde and English witnessed their characters evolve through the creative input of Larian’s narrative team. English revealed that Shadowheart became more complex and nuanced based on feedback from fans, while Wilde refrained from disclosing any surprises in Lae’zel’s journey.

While Lae’zel may come off as standoffish and direct, Shadowheart has a tendency to keep secrets from her companions. Despite being forced to collaborate in order to escape their Mind Flayer captors at the beginning of the game, these two characters often find themselves at odds with each other.

“Although our characters may seem constantly at odds with each other, they are actually quite similar,” explained Wilde. “I appreciate the straightforwardness and outspoken nature of Lae’zel. She doesn’t take any nonsense from anyone and stands firmly by her principles. I sometimes wish I could be more like her in real life, but I’m not sure how well that would go down with most people.”

Meanwhile, English adores Shadowheart’s sense of humor and determination but relates to the character’s secretive nature on a personal level.

“I believe the secrecy comes from my experience of growing up queer and needing to keep that part of myself hidden, especially as a teenager in rural England,” English shared. “I think many people can relate to that, and that’s where I find the strongest connection with Shadowheart.”

Wilde recognizes a familiar struggle in Lae’zel’s inner turmoil. “She puts up a facade, but deep down, she’s trying to prove herself to herself just as much as to others,” Wilde expressed. “As an actor myself, I can definitely relate to that constant pursuit of validation and proving oneself.”