Neil Newbon On Playing Astarion, Baldur's Gate 3 & A Career In Acting | EGX 2023 

Neil is such a gem. He’s incredibly talented, kind, selfless, humble, respectful, caring, and all around just a beautiful human. He thinks we love him as his characters, but there’s no doubt that there are people who love him as ‘Neil’ too ❤

you may have not written him Neil, but you brought him to life for so many of us who have gone through abuse.

He should win best performance for the Game Awards. His work as Astarion was absolutely brilliant.

Neil has been streaming/uploading his play through of the game and it's been a delight. Every time you hear, "Neil. What are you doing?" something funny happens.

10:02 Neil really has acquired Astarion's giggle. 😂 aw, it's so lovely to hear how passionate he is about his craft and how much work he put into bringing Astarion to life.

One of few times a story writer has genuinely understood the subject of abuse and to an extent trafficking as well as how abused people can tend to fall into the patterns of their past without even meaning to... how trauma and ptsd can look and how survival becomes the number one for most of the time.

I could listen to Neil talk about his work, Astarion and Baldur's Gate 3 ALL DAY! The way he describes it all sounds so lovely and he is such a sweet and understanding person and I love him for that!

I love how he always mentions the other people that put work into Astarion and overall BG3. His professionalism and humbleness is really refreshing to be honest. But I hope he one day realises that we also love him for who he is and not just the character Astarion. 💚

He managed to be sleeveless even while wearing sleeves lol

Neil is a talented actor and deserves the praise for the work he has done. I like how candid he is, not just here but also in other interviews, he talks about financial struggles and burnout which are common in many creative fields, and manages to do it without ever sounding negative or blamey. Seems he has a lot of compassion for other creatives too and works to help people in the same profession. Good on him! A real class act and role model for young actors.

Such a great guy. I'm so glad Larian chose him to portray Astarion. He's too perfect for him. The writers did such an amazing job creating this character and then Neil polished him even further to fully create the character we know and love (or hate lmao). Neil is such a genuine person and it's incredible to see all the work he's done with both his acting as well as his charity work.

Yes, Mr. Newbon did an EXCELLENT job with Astarion. All the voice actors did. Loving his own playthrough of BG3.

Such a man of class ❤❤ his Astarion embodiment will stay with me forever, his story resonates a lot with me personally as someone who endures humiliation and abuse from chuldhood.

I really appreciate Neil's professionalism when interviewing. He managed to really eloquently overview his role in the game, highlight all the other team members who contributed to BG3 and Astarion, and how Astarion has resonated with fans in a really short interview. A very talented and humble human being.

Aside from his talent, I quite admire his obvious passion for sleevelessness 😂

The entire game and every voice actor is a gift.

watching his streams has been so lovely lately, he is just the loveliest person with the cutest and most bubbly personality, and it still boggles my mind how he can just switch Astarion on in a split second, and how his whole demeanor changes cuz he's not just doing the voice he's doing the body language too and you can *see* Astarion just sort of pop up. Really incredible to watch

Honestly his answers are so in depth and detailed, I could just listen to him ramble about anything. He's so knowledgable and real

Mr. Newbon deserves an award. He did such an amazing job acting out and bringing Astarion to life. Such a fan

I adore the way Astarion has been written and acted, when I found out that during his romance you can say to him "we can have a relationship without intimacy" and he jokingly says how long he can push that, as a person who is asexual, I ended up crying, cause that's the line I wish I could of had someone tell me, I'm only in Act 2 so I don't know what Astarion has instore for me in Act 3 (although I predict it involves a lot of trauma cause Cazador will be involved), but I felt really seen, by how the writers wrote romancing Astarion (the non-ascended version) thus far, and am kind of happy that a character who for some part of the game does not want sexual intimacy is being loved so much by the community. Gives me hope that maybe people like myself who are on the Asexual spectrum and don't care much for sexual intimacy can be accepted more openingly one day, instead of "what is wrong with you, everyone is horny!". That being said, when I first saw Astarion I thought he was ugly, but jokes on me I better put the clown makeup on cause WOW did my opinion change quick once I started the game xD

Neil seems like such a wonderful human, his passion for life is really moving.

I will not stop saying what a gem Neil is. And funny thing is it is very easy to separate him from Astarion, they are really different, I would say mentally Neil is Astarion 10-15 years after the events of BG3: matured, healed, humbled and loved❤

Neil is such a nice person, I didn't know about him until baldur's gate 3 and I'm so happy I decided to play the game and I've been hooked with astarion. He my favourite character and feels like a real person. It's also nice to know Neil is a dnd fan too ❤

I just noticed his lil dagger earring, love it. I've been watching watching him streaming for the past couple of years. Hes lovely and his bg3 playthrough with tom is absolutely chaotic 😂. Astarion is suuuch a well written character, he and karlach are my faves

It's very sad to hear that their work is not appreciated financially and that the actors are having problems, it's totally unfair

He’s an amazing humble human. Good things are coming your way Neil and you deserve the praise. Astarion is a beautifully written character and will stay with me for life. ❤️

The way he lit up while talking about his character, Bowie 🤣

I’m not kidding when I say this is the first time I’ve seen him wear sleeves 😭

I have fallen so hard and so fast for this man 🤭🤭 Hes adorable, kind, generous. 2x award winner, well deserved ❤ All the best to him

From a magnetic engineer in a resident evil game to a sassy sarcastic precious Vampire rouge, his talent is amazing.

I noticed he’s still wearing the bracelet he got from his daughter. I love it!

I really respect how nuanced Neil's perspective on his characters. A very accepting perspective of the characters he plays. I really enjoyed this :) Astarion's story is really moving and he really bring it to life

I'm not a native English speaker, and I fail to express how much I admire this lovely, humble, funny and incredibly talented man ❤

He's such a good human, through and through. We are blessed to have him.

Said it before and I'll say it again, This man could recite the dumbest thing on the planet and I would still hang on his lips. He has such a presence and carries everything he does with the utmost respect and care. He's an absolute gem and you've got to love how passionate he is in everything he does! I really hope we can find him in another DnD like game again. Can't wait to see what project he does next.

the amount of love and respect Neil openly and loudly expressed toward the writers and the conpany in general is so heartwarming. you can tell he truly loved his work in BG3 and is proud of what the team accomplished.

His dedication to being sleeveless in every occasion is pretty funny

It's so beautiful to hear Neil talking about his work and Astarion. I love them both 😁

One thing i would tell Neil is that this is my favorite game. I had Bioshock as my number one game for like 8 years and BG3 has dethroned Bioshock. Also the fact that he worked for kids in South Central LA is awesome, it really shows how much he loves his craft.

The whole crew that Larian Studios picked is just amazing. I adore every one of the actors, they all did such an amazing job!

Neil has a unique voice. And he is a talented actor

I never played dnd but after playing this game I've made it a mission to find a dnd group to join and play with

What a wholesome person Neil is! He's a treasure to the gaming community. I wish I could try VA and mocap for games one day like Neil does ❤❤❤

The effort that the whole team put into this game is very evident

I am constantly looking at his fangs😮

While Neil is correct in that Astarion is great because of both the writing AND his acting, I have to say that a lesser actor would not have made Astarion half as amazing a character. In fact, every one of the voice actors in the game did a truly amazing job. I've never played a game where EVERY character was nailed by the voice actors. It seems like being a VA would be a ton of fun- wish I had tried it when I was younger lol

BG3 is actually SCARILY good. You cant play it and NOT notice the passion and love that went into it. It's insane. Im just so used to games being halfway done or not delivering what was promised and that's why I didnt immediately buy it. After hearing how good it was, I HAD TO have it and I haven't regretted it yet. You can replay it multiple times.

10:12 My current Shadowheart origin playthrough is very pleased that Meta Astarion would marry her :P She's romancing him ♥

He's a queer supportive roleplayer!!😭HE'S SUCH A GEM! I adore him 🥰💕I am also a survivor of violence and and to hear him talk about it is beautiful. 🥺Thank you for seeing us!

oh my gosh he’s wearing the bracelet his daughter made for him, brb dying ❤

Astarion is the best thing to happen to video games for years

I'm so touched by this interview that I struggle to find the right words to appreciate what an amazing human being Neil is man. Obviously his work in Astarion's performance is what got me to him but his thoughts and outlook about financial struggle of actors, his personal journey, his belief to give back to the world of acting and how he thoughts on the "feast or famine" nature of income for actors is moving. Truth in his words and emotion in his voice tells every sentence was sincere and heartfelt. It's so easy to see the pain in his eyes when he mentions that dark time in his life when he was struggling financially and got into VA only because he was broke and probably had no other option. It makes his recent successes even more precious because you can see this man is grateful and appreciates the hell out of it. He totally deserved all the acclaim he has gotten for his performance as Astarion. Honestly, I love the man behind Astarion's voice so much.

The way Neil talks about his characters and supporting them through their journey makes me believe that he's a great dad, partner, friend, etc. So many people feel the need to change their loved ones or steer them according to what they want and what they think is right, and in certain cases like a parent keeping their kid safe it makes sense, but often it's just people being closed-minded, selfish or misguided. _Being there,_ listening and helping when you can are the healthiest ways to support your loved ones imo, and I think Neil has the right attitude.

Neil has bonus on charisma +10. Love this dude 😊✌️

Love seeing interviews with this talented man!

I'd say he definitely achieved the goal of making people feel something for Astarion because most player either love him or hate him, no in between

I like this guy so much, and Astarion. It's so lovely to feel how much he truly cares about this project and loves his work.

Neil the way you embrace a character and put yourself in their shoes is just amazing. The raw emotion that can be felt when you voice acted him,especially when he finally becomes free truly brings to tears.

I just started playing, and I really understand why people love him. He grows so much. And his story arc can be a really healing experience. This game has brought me so much joy and healing.

Neil is such a gorgeous person inside and out

As someone who has suffered through abuse and felt unseen and alone, Astarion and Neil both mean SO much to me. They both have become such a comfort to me in ways I cannot even begin to explain. Helping Astarion heal in the game is like helping myself heal. Because of my abuse I cannot be with someone in that way, but being with someone that way in the game eradicates any loneliness I experience. Especially when I can truly and deeply relate to that character. It's safety for me.

That Kia ad he did should have been a movie

Okay damn,Neil has done a lot of things!! An that’s iconic. I love how he’s so well spoken an tries his hardest to express his gratitude towards other people who’ve been there in beginning of BG3! This was such a cool interview.

I fell in love with Astarion throughout my first playthrough so hard, and hearing about Neil's passion and love for the project and talking about everyone that helped bring Astarion to life really makes me appreciate the character and the whole game even more. I fell in love with the game within an hour after not being familiar with Baldur's Gate, and it is now by far one of my absolute favorite games of all time, with Astarion's personal quest being one of if not my favorite parts of the game. It really is a masterpiece of a title

10:02 Astarion laughter 🖤

Whatever he was paid, it was not enough. The real breakout star of the game.

That howl in the background over kiss merry kill

Wow...what a remarkably grounded and humble person.

He is so well-spoken. It's a treat to listen to him talk about his passion.

The best built character I have ever played in an RPG. Neil brought him to life.

Neil is just an absolute wonderful human bean and I wish him so much happiness and all around satisfaction and support. I love him as my precious sassy boi Astarion and I love Neil himself, as a person, just as much

I truly appreciate how humbling and charitable he is! He seems like such a great person he takes his career seriously while simultaneously having fun doing it!

You and Jennifer English had such captivating performances that I literally cannot imagine a playthrough without your characters.

He is so awesome, I have become a fan of his

he did a super great job!

Какой он приятный парень, настоящий профи, артист..на одном дыхании интервью посмотрела👏👏👏👏👏💓

I appreciate this video, I just wish the audio wasn't panned like this, left and right, and was centered more.

Neil is a real good soul , that's quite impresive what is his journey that lead him to Mocap capture.

He is so humble and sweet and amazing and the world needs more people like Neil out there

All voice actors were awesome

I can honestly say baldaurs gate 3 is the best game with the best options and the best story lines and choices and endings that iv seen in my time as a gamer in my 20+ years this game was one the most resonating and breathtaking ❣️

What an amazing human being

Actors have the same struggles as other artists. I hope that Neil knows that he is inspiring people to help others who are interested in art.

What an amazing multi personality, and giving human being, Thank you Neil, bless you. 👩🏻‍🚀🐶✨🌜✨❤️‍🩹🪛

Hands down my favorite voice actress, and even more with the lovely Astarion.. ♥

What was the part about Joss Whedon recommending Neil for Astarion? Also Neil gives very real reactions as to someone with PTSD (I felt very seen and it wasn't in the same type of context as Astarion's trauma.). Also I genuinely enjoy hearing Neil's stories and I think it's great he's helping people get into mo cap so they have an extra skill set. Isn't South Central LA like the roughest high crime area; that's great he did that and probably helped the kids confidence. I mean I did a lot of public speaking/drama/choir to get over my anxiety but to not have access to that would've been rough in high school for me.

He's such an icon

I really love how he distinguished having a bad day and a hard/burned out day doing the job you love

If people are still playing Skyrim to death decades after release, you can bet the even more for BG3. Big tip of the hat to the whole BG3 crew for bringing this game to life.

Such a down to Earth and humble human being.

Neil is such a beautiful human being. I hope he knows 🧡

Neil interviews very well.

I love him so much

3:21 what Neil said is so true. None of the things happening in the game that Larian Studios has implemented into the game does not feel forced at all. It feels real, true, seen, that it has happened and it really is happening in real life to people. Maybe not 100% exactly but the emotions and trauma are real. I love it with the LGBTQIA+ characters too they added in the game. NONE feel forced, it’s just there and existing and it’s so lovely. Like Isobel and Aylin, I never saw it coming and the two gnomes at Grymforge. It’s so lovely and absolutely brilliant

If anyone asks me “if you could have dinner with any celebrity, who would it be?” He’s gonna be my answer.

"Half elf wood elf pansexual druid" YES! Love that representation!

It was wonderful to listen to Neil, but as a point of constructive criticism, the audio balance does not work well on headphones.

He is great actor

Being a writer is the same mindset as Neil's on acting as a character. As an author I have to support each character on their journey, even the villains because no one is purely evil, we all have something driving us and shaping us.

I thought he said Joss Whedon not Josh Weeden 😅 was really questioning things for a moment