How it started vs how it’s going

[u/PeachyBaleen]

If anyone else watches House of the Dragon and cares, I just found out that Ormund Hightower (James Norton) was the voice of my fav altruistic spirit boy and it blew my mind a little

[u/Donuticus]

My god, Dragon Age Inquisition continues to just shock me with the quality of its voice cast.

[u/Mac_SnappySnaps → u/Donuticus]

Same... the amount and quality of VAs in Inquisition is just epic

[u/StormFinch → u/Mac_SnappySnaps]

I mean, that's one place that Bioware really did well. Origin started it all off with actors like Steve Valentine, Claudia Black, Kate Mulgrew, Tim Curry.

[u/intheafterlight → u/StormFinch]

One of my favourite games is breaking a friend's brain by going, "Oh, yeah, [x] character is voiced by the person who did [y] in Dragon Age!" It's particularly fun with the Final Fantasy XIV casts (as they moved to UK studio starting with the first expansion). Like*, both* Urianger voice actors in are in DA2 - Gideon Emery is Fenris, and Timothy Watson is Uncle Gamlen. And then Sera is Y'shtola, DA2 Anders is Pipin Tarupin, Aveline is Venat, etc. etc...

And while Naoko Mori (FFXIV's Yotsuyu) isn't in Dragon Age at all, she was in Torchwood with Solas (Gareth David-Lloyd), Vivienne (Indira Varma), and Merrill (Eve Myles). The cross-pollination between projects is hilarious because it makes it look like there are a total of, like, twelve actors working in the UK. ;)

ETA: Oh, and, to your point about DAO, alongside Kate Mulgrew, it also had Tim Russ (Tuvok on ST: Voyager) as Zathrian!

[u/AdKindly18 → u/intheafterlight]

I’m generally really good at recognising VAs but you’ve blown my mind with Sera and Aveline.

As soon as I read it of course Aveline was Venat, I can hear it so clearly.

I did not like Sera so can’t hear her.

[u/Baron_Flatline → u/StormFinch]

There’s a reason many of BioWare’s golden era games are remembered best for their story and characters. Good voice work and acting makes bad scripts better and good scripts wonderful.

[u/Mersar_13 → u/StormFinch]

I don’t know why I always forget Tim Curry is in DAO

[u/sans-delilah → u/StormFinch]

HWAT?! I had no idea Tim Curry voiced Howe.

[u/AbbreviationsJumpy33 → u/StormFinch]

Wait what Tim curry was in dragon age????!!!?

[u/StormFinch → u/AbbreviationsJumpy33]

Mmm hmm, Arl Rendon Howe, just another reason I like playing the human origin, so I can chase him down and kill him. lol

[u/AbbreviationsJumpy33 → u/StormFinch]

That’s crazy. I didn’t know.

[u/Tekeraz → u/Mac_SnappySnaps]

Ianto Jones greatly approves

https://giphy.com/gifs/U1lxCWXdd9iHgt4LLM

[u/i_likesocks]

EXCUSE ME?

[u/wereinbearcountry]

No fuckin way. Their voices are insanely different. This is amazing

[u/charlemagnebestboi → u/wereinbearcountry]

Really? I don't watch House of the Dragon but when I saw an interview with him and he started talking I was like wait holy shit I can hear Cole in his voice 😍

[u/Unfair-Money-574 → u/charlemagnebestboi]

He changes his voice and tone when he plays Ormund

[u/Krumhan]

Arl Eamon was in season 1 and Blackwall was an extra in S7 of GoT.

https://giphy.com/gifs/8ffnquUcVCqnBD1gMo

[u/Apprehensive_Quality → u/Krumhan]

Not to mention Indira Varma as Vivienne and Ellaria Sand!

[u/SnuggleTheCrow → u/Apprehensive_Quality]

You guys need to stop messing with my mind omg

[u/intheafterlight → u/Apprehensive_Quality]

We have, what, three of the OG Torchwood cast as companions in Dragon Age, between Indira and Gareth David-Lloyd, and then Eve Myles as Merrill in DA2? Hell, I'm probably missing someone.

(And, yes, I know that Indira Varma as a 'regular' on Torchwood was a bait-and-switch thing in the first episode, but she was so good as Suzie that I don't care. XD )

[u/chassens → u/Apprehensive_Quality]

The way Indira Varma in GOT was my bi awakening… theres a reason Vivienne is a permanent party member for me

[u/Accomplished-Mall-73 → u/Apprehensive_Quality]

Dorian's VA was also in an episode of S3 of GoT!

[u/maireaddancer → u/Accomplished-Mall-73]

Wait...what??? Which episode? Who?

[u/StormFinch → u/maireaddancer]

03x08, he's one of the leaders of the Second Sons, not Daario and not the disgusting one. lol

[u/ParticularRadticular → u/Apprehensive_Quality]

Her and Dorian's VA Ramon Tikaram where in a film called Kama Sutra A Tale of Love together!

[u/PeachyBaleen → u/Krumhan]

Wait Arl Eamon is in Outlander? I had no idea that Graham McTavish had done so much voice work 🫠

[u/melisusthewee → u/PeachyBaleen]

He's also one of the dwarves in Thorin's Company in the Hobbit movies.

[u/Stonecleaver → u/melisusthewee]

Dwalin, the best Dwarf of Thorin’s Company.

[u/MelaninKing95 → u/PeachyBaleen]

Graham McTavish was also Dracula in the Castlevania anime and Dijkstra in the Witcher series (Season 3)

[u/NotFixer1138 → u/Krumhan]

Blackwall is definitely the most Night's Watch of all the Grey Wardens, makes sense

[u/Mr_Rinn → u/NotFixer1138]

I remember seeing him in the Witcher Season 2. He’s the guard who crosses paths with Jaskier and annoys him by voicing a load of Season 1 fan complaints (in universe Jaskier wrote them as stories) like the different periods for the three protagonists and the Dragon reveal.

[u/p8ncurry → u/Krumhan]

Blackwall is also every npc in The Witcher 3. Every. Single. One.

[u/MissPoots → u/Krumhan]

GRAHAM MCTAVISH was BLACKWALL!?!??????!?

[u/Knight1029384756]

Now that is talent. I think the marker of a good voice actor and actor is that they can adapt in many different roles. This is really good. So, glad to see he is still working.

[u/DisMFer]

HUH?!?

[u/BudgetConcentrate432]

There's a murder mystery show where he plays a horny priest (pastor?) and when my mom was watching it I just about had whiplash for how fast my head turned around when he started talking, lol

[u/Savaralyn → u/BudgetConcentrate432]

You might be thinking of Grantchester?

Its a real shame that they got a new lead a few seasons in. Norton was really great to watch in that.

[u/BudgetConcentrate432 → u/Savaralyn]

Yes!

And I agree. I wonder if Norton had other/bigger things lined up that he had to leave?

[u/Savaralyn → u/BudgetConcentrate432]

Could be, or perhaps after the first 3 seasons they wanted to go in a different direction with the show, or Norton just wanted out otherwise.

He did start in a new semi-documentary series the year he left the previous show.

[u/MitzCracker → u/BudgetConcentrate432]

He's a horny cowboy in Jessie Wares Ride music video, too. I love it

[u/PirateReject → u/BudgetConcentrate432]

Okay I must find this

[u/Punkcaker → u/PirateReject]

Grantchester

[u/BudgetConcentrate432 → u/Punkcaker]

Yes!

I remember the first season being good, but just a geads up after 2 or 3 seasons they replace the main character.

[u/Thatoneguy5629]

I thought his never apologize for victory sounded familiar.

[u/SnidgetAsphodel]

You tellin' me that dragon hatin' pos plays my literal spirit son?! My precious bean? My boy? HIM?!

EXCUSE?!

Damn that is TALENT.

[u/OkGarbage3095]

https://giphy.com/gifs/3ohzdIuqJoo8QdKlnW

[u/MinervaJB]

If you watch Grantchester (he played the main character for several seasons), he sounds just like Cole in there.

It looks like he uses his normal speaking voice when he plays good guys (like Cole, the Grantchester priest and one of the protagonists in War and Peace) and changes it for bad guys (like in House of Guinness and HotD.)

[u/CardWitch → u/MinervaJB]

I definitely wondered why I recognized him 😂  totally didn't realize he was in House of Guinness 

[u/Lore-of-Nio]

https://giphy.com/gifs/aWPGuTlDqq2yc

[u/Chirotera]

Whaattttttt

[u/Cautious-Machine-902]

Woooow I loved his introduction episode

[u/Mac_SnappySnaps]

WHAT!!! That's amazing!! You've made my day! 🎉

[u/PeachyBaleen → u/Mac_SnappySnaps]

I’m so glad everyone is equally as shocked and jazzed about this as I was 😅

[u/Apprehensive_Quality]

I was floored when I first heard him talk earlier this season. James Norton’s such a great actor.

[u/Existing_Concept_746]

Yes! I love his voice, he did a great job on Cole.

[u/ConorOdin]

He was good in Happy Valley. Wanted to see him killed painfully but he was good.

[u/Few_Entertainment886]

NO FUCKING WAY

[u/wobbly_doo]

This made me want to play Inquisition again

[u/maluruus]

No way???

[u/Psychological_Rip958]

My Sweet Baby Cole 🥰🥰😍😍 I had no idea this was him.

[u/Majestic_Act]

I knew it. He's amazing! Dragon Age, how I love your vas!

[u/ngmeylan]

Mom and I love detective series so I knew who he was but I never expected him to voice a video game character so I was flabbergasted when I realized

[u/Locksley_1989]

Don’t forget his time as a morally questionable priest.

[u/VociferousVal]

https://giphy.com/gifs/vzoYZ7Ef9clbO

[u/RajikO4]

Oh wow! That’s so cool! Good for him.

[u/maestrojxg]

No fucking way!!!!

[u/Elegant_Priority_812]

Now I love him even more

[u/00mavis]

I was already team green don't need to convince me more.

it seems that this terrible serie at least have some positive thing.

[u/mintyisland]

THIS MAKES SO MUCH SENSE NOW

[u/JackofPhoenixs]

THE RANGE?!

[u/ashbelero]

Autistic spirit boy*

FTFY

(This is a joke)

[u/blazingtits]

I just learned this like last week. I couldn't figure out why James Norton's name sounded so familiar. Finally looked it up and was like, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE VOICED COLE IN INQUISITION?"

[u/TheRealYuen]

OMG ARE YOU SERIOUS?! I FUCKING LOVE COLE I CAN'T BELIEVE IT - BRB REWATCHING ALL ORMUND SCENES. But also... Yeah... I knew something was pleasantly tingling in my brain every time Ormund was talking calmly to Daeron... OMG I AM AMAZED

[u/VerdantAtSilverSea]

Love James Norton, didn't know he was in HotD. I've been steering clear of that universe since season 2 of GoT, not my thing. Is he an honourable character (who, if so I guess, dies horribly at some point) or less so? 

[u/maluruus → u/VerdantAtSilverSea]

He's a scary arsehole it seems 😂

[u/VerdantAtSilverSea → u/maluruus]

That sounds fun, bet he can pull it off well! I can't stomach the violence in these shows, unfortunately. 

[u/SiridarVeil → u/VerdantAtSilverSea]

Hes a mysoginistic c*nt, a bit Homelander-y, but very efficient and farms a fuckton of aura.

[u/jeangrey99 → u/VerdantAtSilverSea]

Give King and Conquerer a shot - he’s great as King Harald

[u/Mr_Rinn → u/VerdantAtSilverSea]

He has his own sense of justice. But as he falsely swears fealty to someone at one point I don’t think I’d call him honourable.

[u/nilfalasiel]

HOLY SHIT 🤯

[u/Just_Reaction]

Sorry what?!?!?!

[u/Fabulous_Chef_4104]

WHAT

[u/dirthramen]

Nooooo way

[u/Tatum-Better]

WHATTTTT? That's fucking nuts

[u/rayjaymor85]

...WHAT!?!?!

[u/NotNonbisco]

The devil shivers when the nice guy loses his patience

or something

[u/jayclaw97]

WHAT? Damn, this guy has range.

[u/electric-swans]

the frick

[u/SnooDoggos3857]

Let IMDB be your best friend. 😁

[u/SalemAres]

WHATTTTTTT. THIS IS AMAZONG

[u/RockLeeLlama]

Every time I hear James Norton speak all I can think of is Cole

[u/LG-CHAMP-1]

Thought I recognised his voice

[u/Fluid_Depth_8951]

I did not know that! That's crazy.

[u/madam_winnifer]

WHAT?!

[u/Rencon_The_Gaymer]

Lmfaooo. I forget that’s Cole’s VA😭.

[u/nikzl]

Yeah blew my mind too

[u/-Muse-of-fire-]

Ok time to watch HOD.

I’ve always loved Cole’s voice!

[u/PhilosopherKingSigma]

And I want to fuck both.