Samantha Béart, the fiery voice behind Baldur's Gate 3's beloved Karlach, has been moonlighting as a vocal chameleon across gaming's landscape. While Karlach fans might expect a carbon copy of their favorite tiefling barbarian in Béart's new projects, the actor treats typecasting like a clown treats a whoopee cushion—with deliberate, gleeful sabotage. Her latest roles in Tron: Catalyst (already available) and the upcoming Absolum (demo out now) showcase a versatility that would make a Swiss Army knife blush. 🎭
The Shapeshifter's Toolkit
Béart’s career resembles a cosmic buffet—where else can you find a prim Victorian archaeologist (The Excavation of Hob's Barrow) and a rage-fueled hellion (Karlach) on the same resume? As she quipped to Game Rant, "I don’t want to be on autopilot. I want to discover new bits and bobs. That’s where the exciting work is." This philosophy transforms her performances like a master chef altering recipes: same ingredients, explosively different flavors.
Tron: Catalyst – Neon Oracle Vibes
In Bithell Games' Tron: Catalyst, Béart voices Oracle—a role she describes as "something you haven’t seen me do before." Channeling Michael Sheen’s campy flair from the Tron films, she embraced the game’s synth-heavy aesthetics like a moth to a neon zapper. Director Mike Bithell gave her free rein, resulting in a performance as fluid as liquid light cycles. "You want to surprise players," Béart emphasized, comparing the creative trust to "assembling IKEA furniture blindfolded—terrifying until the pieces click."
Absolum’s Rogue-ish Cyborg Charm
Meanwhile, DotEmu’s Absolum casts Béart as Cider, a semi-robotic rogue she calls "probably more my type." The development team spoiled her rotten, showing character animations during recording—a luxury she likened to "getting GPS for a desert hike." Unlike gigs where actors stare at Excel spreadsheets praying their grunts match dev visions, this collaborative approach birthed a cheeky, mechanical outlaw.
People Also Ask
- Why isn’t Samantha Béart just playing Karlach clones?
She values creative whiplash—jumping from stoic to chaotic roles keeps her artistry sharper than Lae’zel’s sword.
- How does Tron: Catalyst differ from Baldur’s Gate 3 tonally?
Swap dungeon grit for disco-grid elegance; it’s like comparing a heavy metal concert to a laser harp recital.
- Will Absolum feature Karlach-style rage?
Cider’s mischief is more calculated—think Astarion with motherboard upgrades.
The Shape-Shifting Future
With three distinct roles under her belt (Fading Echo, Absolum, Tron: Catalyst), Béart’s next projects promise more vocal gymnastics. She teased "doing some different things... over the next year or so," hinting at announcements looming like impatient owlbears. Whether whispering as Oracle or snarking as Cider, her range proves acting isn’t a monologue—it’s a kaleidoscope.
FAQ
Q: Can I play Tron: Catalyst on Switch?
A: Absolutely! It’s on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X—no light-cycle license required.
Q: Is Absolum’s demo similar to Streets of Rage 4?
A: Same devs (DotEmu), but expect futuristic brawling with robo-pizzazz.
Q: Does Béart improvise during recordings?
A: Bithell encouraged her instincts—sometimes you gotta let the rogue rogue.
Q: Why avoid typecasting?
A: Béart finds monotony deadlier than a Displacer Beast: "Autopilot is where careers go to nap."
Q: Will we hear Karlach’s warmth in Cider?
A: Only if Karlach rebuilt herself with sarcasm circuits—Cider’s charm is 90% snark.
Q: How many roles has Béart recorded for 2025?
A: At least three major ones, with more "surprises" brewing like questionable wizard potions.
