Jennifer English
Jennifer English | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Royal Birmingham Conservatoire |
| Occupation | Actress |
Jennifer English is a British actress and voice performer, known for her portrayal of the half-elf cleric Shadowheart in the role-playing video game Baldur's Gate 3 (2023). In 2024, English was named a BAFTA Breakthrough talent in recognition of her work on Baldur’s Gate 3.[1] She also provided the voice of Latenna the Albinauric in Elden Ring (2022), and Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (2025).[2]
Early life and education
[edit]English graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2012.[3]
Career
[edit]Stage and early voice work
[edit]English began her career in theatre, with roles in Abyss (written by Maria Milisavljevic, directed by Jacqui Honess-Martin) at Arcola Theatre (2015) [4] and Future Conditional (written by Tamsin Oglesby, directed by Matthew Warchus) at The Old Vic (2015).[5]
English's first video game voice acting role was in Divinity: Original Sin II (2017), a role-playing game developed by Larian Studios, where she played about seventy different characters.[6]
English voiced Latenna the Albinauric in Elden Ring (2022).[7]
2023 to present: Breakthrough in Baldur's Gate 3
[edit]English reunited with Larian Studios when she joined the cast of Baldur's Gate 3 (2023). She portrayed Shadowheart, providing both voice acting and motion capture for the character. The game was developed by Larian Studios.[8] In the following year, she was selected as a BAFTA Breakthrough talent, highlighting her standout contribution to the title.[1] When asked about reprising the role in another game, she said that should would consider it "only if it honors her in a way I think we would all be proud of."[9]
She voiced Maelle in the 2025 videogame Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.[10] She participated in blind auditions for the role before being cast.[11] The game's developer, Sandfall Interactive, added a "story mode" difficulty setting with less challenging combat after she expressed that although she wanted to play it, she would not be able to complete a challenging RPG.[12][13] Her role received praise from critics, with Tessa Kaur calling her character "the emotional core" of the game, writing that "Whether it’s her lovingly mocking banter with Gustave, her hyperventilating after a vision, or her screams of grief, Maelle is utterly convincing at every turn."[14]
She hosted the Future Games Show Spring showcase in 2025.[15]
English will play the lead role, Gwendolyn, in the upcoming video game Tides of Annihilation.[16]
Personal life
[edit]English identifies as queer and lesbian,[17] and has shared her perspective on authentic representation in media.[18] She is in a relationship with Aliona Baranova, motion capture performance director for Baldur's Gate 3.[17] Baranova appeared alongside English as a voice actor in Expedition 33.[19] She has attended fan conventions alongside other Baldur’s Gate 3 cast members, expressing gratitude for the community’s enthusiastic response to her role as Shadowheart.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Meet the 2024 UK Breakthroughs". Bafta. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Anna Koselke (15 May 2025). "Baldur's Gate 3 dev points out that many of this decade's best RPGs so far, from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to Elden Ring, feature something in common: Shadowheart's actor". GamesRadar+. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "RBC Alumni on Stage and Screen in February 2025". Birmingham City University. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "Abyss - Arcola Theatre". The Arcola. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ Bannister, Rosie (19 June 2015). "Full cast announced for Future Conditional at the Old Vic". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ King, Jade (2 August 2023). "Baldur's Gate 3 Actors Jennifer English and Devora Wilde On The "Groundbreaking" RPG". TheGamer. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Conlin, Dan (30 March 2025). "Every Jennifer English Video Game Voice Role, Ranked". TheGamer. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Simpson, Sarah-Jane (27 September 2023). "Jennifer English On How Baldur's Gate 3's Shadowheart Was "Her Dream Job"". ScreenRant. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Andrew Brown (7 December 2024). ""Don't kick squirrels!": Baldur's Gate 3's Jennifer English talks bringing God's Favorite Princess to life and her "conditions" for playing Shadowheart again". GamesRadar+. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Sacco, Dom (21 November 2024). "Interview with BAFTA Breakthrough 2024 talent Jennifer English on the 'magic' of Expedition 33, performing with Andy Serkis, her theatre background, and the differences between working on Baldur's Gate 3 and Elden Ring". Esports News UK. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Sophie Ulanoff (5 June 2025). "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs "knew within seconds" that Baldur's Gate 3's Shadowheart actress was the perfect pick for Maelle". GamesRadar+. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Koepp, Brent (21 May 2025). "Jennifer English Was Able to Play 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' Because of Story Mode - Here's Why Easy Difficulty Options Matter". VICE. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Issy van der Velde (23 May 2025). "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's story mode is down to Maelle actor and Baldur's Gate 3 favorite Jennifer English: "I really want to play this game and I don't think I can without it being on easy mode"". GamesRadar+. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Kaur, Tessa (22 May 2025). "Excellent Voice Acting Really Does Raise Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 To Greatness". TheGamer. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Harvey Randall (25 February 2025). "Jennifer English (Shadowheart) and Nolan North (Nathan Drake) will be the illustrious hosts of the Future Games Show this year". PC Gamer. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Tay, Nathalie (13 February 2025). "Jennifer English Stars In Arthurian Action-Adventure Tides of Annihilation". THE MAGIC RAIN. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ a b Hart, Aimee (19 October 2023). "Jennifer English on growing up queer and becoming a video game icon in Baldur's Gate 3". Gayming Magazine. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "Baldur's Gate III's queer repreesentation is great says star Jennifer English, but the games industry could use "a hell of a lot more"". Popverse. 25 March 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Craig, Jo (6 June 2025). "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Devs Didn't Recognize Baldur's Gate 3 Actor During Audition". Game Rant. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "Larian Studios Panel at EGX 2023: Q&A with the Cast of Baldur's Gate 3". EGX.net. Retrieved 25 February 2025.