Why The Voice Of Roshan From Assassin's Creed Mirage Sounds So Familiar
Ubisoft revealed a voice in "Assassin's Creed Mirage" that should be familiar to some. During the first ever "Assassin's Creed" showcase, the publisher revealed the future of "Assassin's Creed" that includes several upcoming games. Also shown was the first trailer for "Mirage," which will be centered on Basim of "Assassin's Creed Valhalla" and his rise from thief to assassin in Baghdad.
"Mirage" is being billed as a return to the franchise's roots. While the last three games were closer to fantasy RPGs with their focus on dialogue options, special combat abilities, and adjustable stats, Basim's adventure will once again place the emphasis on stealth. The trailer even hinted at some of the gameplay mechanics that could be returning, including performing assassinations from hiding spots and using smoke bombs to break enemy lines of sight.
Throughout the trailer, a familiar voice could be heard seemingly speaking to Basim directly. Danny Wallace, the voice of Shaun Hastings in the games, revealed it to be Shohreh Aghdashloo. She will be playing Roshan, Basim's mentor within the Hidden Ones. Given her distinct voice, fans of other popular franchises may have recognized her right away.
Shohreh Aghdashloo was also in Mass Effect and Destiny
The first time the actress' voice appeared in a video game was in 2010's "Mass Effect 2." In it, she played Admiral Shala'Raan vos Tonbay, a member of the Quarian Admiralty Board. Players meet the admiral aboard the Migrant Fleet during a quest involving Tali'Zorah nar Rayya, a character whose original design is considered to be one of Mass Effect's biggest mistakes. When Tali is accused by her people of treason, she's forced to testify in front of the board. Shala'Raan, who's known Tali's family for years, recuses herself from the hearing and instead acts as a moderator for it. She also appears briefly in "Mass Effect 3," depending on the player's choices in the second game.
Aghdashloo's services were then used for 2014's "Destiny." She played Lakshmi-2, the leader of the Future War Cult faction. The role was initially small but took on greater significance in "Destiny 2." During the game's Season of the Splicer between May and August 2021, Lakshmi-2 sowed discord within the Last City and led the ensuing rebellion. This action cost Lakshmi-2 her life in the season's final battle, resulting in the factions fleeing the city.
During the "Assassin's Creed" showcase, Aghdashloo said Roshan's backstory drew her in, calling her a "true warrior who fights for justice." Roshan's Persian origins, she added, were also a big draw as it made her more relatable for the Iranian actress.
She's more widely known as the UN's secretary-general in The Expanse
Those unfamiliar with her video game work may still recognize her from the Amazon series "The Expanse." In the show, she plays Chrisjen Avasarala, the secretary-general of the United Nations and one of its most impactful characters. Avasarala is a stern but caring woman, and the actress said in an interview with TheGamer she used her role as a mother to her children to portray the secretary-general as a protector of Earth who cares deeply for the environment.
Aghdashloo, 70, moved from Iran to England at 26 and earned a degree at Brunel University. Margaret Thatcher had recently become the UK's prime minister, and she said she tried to recreate Thatcher's stoicism in her performance as Avasarala.
Given her prior experience acting in sci-fi universes, Aghdashloo also said she noticed similarities between "Mass Effect" and "The Expanse." Both IPs tackle social issues in their own ways, but the actress mentioned that there have been multiple instances where she read a script from "The Expanse" and it took her back to her days recording lines as Shala'Raan.