An Official SWTOR Developer Interview with Samantha Béart, the voice of Darth Nul (Karlach from Baldurs Gate 3).

Video

Official Video Interview featuring Samantha Béart (Darth Nul, Karlach), Ashley Ruhl (SWTOR Narrative Director) and Caitlin Sullivan Kelly (Lead Writer).

Written Interview

The following is a complete written transcript of the official (youtube exclusive) Developer Interview.

Ashley:

Hello Everyone, we are excited to bring you an exclusive interview with someone that is joining us on Star Wars the Old Republic. Samantha Beart is joining us on a new story here with a character we’ve had in the story for some time. This is the first time we get to hear them, so we’re very excited to have you and to chat about how this character is coming into our next story updates. Including the one that we finally got to hear, hear her speak.

Before we jump into that, I am Ashley Ruhl, I am the narrative Director of Star Wars the Old Republic, and I am joined by Caitlin Sullivan Kelly, who is the lead writer on the project and so we give you space to introduce yourself Samantha and let’s talk about who you’re playing in Star Wars the Old Republic.

Samantha (Darth Nul):

Hello everyone, I just have a small delivery that has just arrived here,
*Samantha holds up a physical replica toy of Darth Nul’s lightsaber.*
It’s mine no!

Ah yes I am playing Darth Nul, that’s crazy. I am in Star Wars, whats happening, I am so excited I am trying not to bounce off the walls right now! This has been a long time coming in being able to actually talk about it. So it’s been a wonderful secret to keep for so long and it’s just great to be able to get to talk about it with you guys. Thank you for having me on.

Ashley:

Ofcourse, yeah!

Caitlin:

Thank you for being here!

Ashley:

Yeah, we’re really excited to have you in the story and finally give Darth Nul a voice because she has been in the story for some time with Legacy of the Sith. Caitlin do you want to give a little bit of background for folks just tuning in, like where is Darth Nul in the story, in Legacy of the Sith?

Caitlin:

Yeah, it’s definitely been a long time coming. We first introduced, Darth Nul didn’t have a name but we first introduced the concept, the idea, way back in update 6.3 which was Secrets of the Enclave, where you chase Darth Malgus and and you find that he has been looking for relics and looking for information about something. And then over the course of several years, we actually learned that he has been looking for information about a very ancient Sith named Darth Nul. So little droplets of info here and there. We learned that she was once a Jedi. She once was a Master. She achieved the rank of Master in the Jedi, but she was thrown out because she believed that anyone who could potentially feel the Force should be trained accordingly and that that perspective didn’t go over very well with the Jedi. So she was kicked out. She took her followers with her where they then accidentally made contact with the Sith Emperor who hunted them down and took them all for himself. But Darth Nul kept that work going and worked on many inventions that could do what she did, make connections through the mind.

And now we’re getting to learn a lot more about her in the latest update in Galactic Threads.

Ashley:

And yeah, it’s it’s super cool to finally get get more information on her and like really 
delve into her character more. Sam, what was it like stepping into the boots of this Darth  
character and like what what was what was it like when you were first reading the script?

Samantha (Darth Nul):

Well, once I got over the shock of being in Star Wars, this is going to be a theme in this  
interview because I’ve grown up with it like a lot of people have, but it was around before I was born. So, it’s it’s sort of like physics for me, you know? It’s it’s like gravity in my life. Yeah, once I got over that it was just great because obviously you’re working backwards. You  
got the holocron, you’ve got the memories of a living person. So, we had this really rich  
life. I mean, she’s she’s traveled a bit. She’s changed sides a few times. She’s had a cult – who  
hasn’t? And and this is a really interesting mindset that she has in terms of just getting  
the work done no matter who the pay master is. If that’s if that if you feel that’s a fair analogy. Yeah, it was really interesting in terms of, you know, I tend to play quite heroic people. Maybe she is heroic. I’m sure she thinks she’s heroic in terms again getting the work done and giving people access to the Force that they might not be aware of, you know, and empowering people. But, it’s interesting. 

Yeah. Her methods and and her morality and that was just really fun to deal with. And the fact 
that we had these sort of different versions of her to play with. I don’t want to say much more at 
this point because I know we’re at the beginning of the story, but it was just it was really rich. 
You know, when I play video games, I tend to be a goody two shoes, so it was great to come in on this on this angle.

Ashley:

It’s nice to let loose as a Sith sometime.

Samantha (Darth Nul):

Right? That’s what I say when I’m getting arrested. Just role playing.

Ashley:

Yeah she has a lot – I remember when we were first trying to find her her voice was trying to take in all of those little pieces of that, too. Like just the scientist, the Sith, the person who believes they’re doing the right thing of trying to like really find what that person sounds like. and you but I think we landed somewhere that really gives her a lot of you’ve given her a lot of strength and determination while still allowing a little bit of sympathy to- to come through, I think.

Samantha (Darth Nul):

I think you hit the nail on the head too when you said that she doesn’t really mind who the pay master is as long as she’s getting kind of the freedom to do what she wants to do.  
And like Ashley mentioned, we were when we were discussing who this brand new character is in a game that has, you know, years of lore behind it, we now have this opportunity to come up with somebody brand new. And the thing that I think came forward the most in it was that she first and foremost is- is a scientist, is a searcher for of truth, a searcher of knowledge. And that above all else is what’s important to her. Like other people’s lives sometimes like who cares as long as she gets to find the truth at the end of it and work who cares if she’s working for the emperoras long as he gives her the tools to make these inventions. Who cares. I think that comes through a lot in like you said the various aspects that you play Darth Nul, the different versions of her.

Ashley:

And you said that you mostly play like heroic characters is it, do you find any challenge in in playing someone that’s a little bit more nuanced and and darker or is it like it does it feel like a good release getting to play that kind of character?

Samantha (Darth Nul):

Yeah, a bit of both because before you know I did the big game Balder’s Gate 3 I was playing a lot of scientists. I was playing a lot of very smart people who could run fast away from Daleksand and all sorts. I did a lot of work for Big Finish for Big Finish Productions who own a lot of the Doctor Who franchises. So, that was it was just really yeah it was like this this two-sided thing of yeah absolutely letting loose and and playing that in a person that feels justified. Let’s be clear like no one thinks they’re doing bad stuff. They think they’re doing things for the right reason. But also being quite intelligent and calculated about it was like a really nice call back to someother roles that I’ve played. But again, like you said, it was really fun to to to explore these different aspects of her, especially when you know, I’ve been so entrenched in Star Wars lore and hearing Sith voices and there’s sometimes a particular darkness and bitterness to them and we also had to do the Jedi version.

So, I’m glad we sort of worked backwards with her in a way because I think if I’d started with the Jedi Master version, she might have been a bit too soft. And then you’ve got kind of got nowhere to go or it’s just this completely, it might even sound like a different person. So it was really nice working out how we justify where she went and I think for me at least she sounded like you know you sort of typical pompous Jedi. I thought okay I think I’m quite happy to start there because there has to be potential for like you know her to have a cult, to her to be operating outside you know Jedi rules and all of that. So there was always this ambition in her. And a lovely theory I’ve heard recently, maybe it’s not theory, but just on on my little rabbit holes of the internet is that the idea that the Jedi makes a super powerful Sith because they control their their relationship to the Force is control of emotions and and everything else. And the Sith is all about power. So when you mix them together, it’s kind of terrifying because you got use someone using emotion but is very precise with it. And I really like that with a a sort of mind control type of skill that she has.

Ashley:

Yeah. Yeah. For sure. And I haven’t heard that theory, but that makes a lot of sense.

Samantha (Darth Nul):

Make it so.

Ashley:

Yeah. And that I mean that’s it’s interesting too like just looking at the way that Nul is. She wants to use the powers of both Jedi and Sith in like but also to bring them down in in one.

Samantha (Darth Nul):

She’s an anarchist as well. So there’s a lot to love about her. Give her a chance. She’s misunderstood.

Ashley:

She’s got big ideas.

Caitlin:

Let her cook. What if I just let her cook? Let’s see what comes out of it.

Samantha (Darth Nul):

I must I must say it was a really nice surprise actually to see that the holocron was the 
Jedi holocron. It was kind of heartbreaking in a way to see that. I was expecting, you know, 
the triangular. So I thought, okay, she just kept it with her. I got it.

Ashley:

Yeah. Well, and it was something we we talked about in the Old Wounds update where that that lightsaber that she has is a mix of Jedi and Sith techniques. And that was when they first were like, “Huh, that’s interesting. That’s that’s just not a normal Sith weapon. Hmm I wonder why that’s that is”.

Samantha (Darth Nul):

It’s those sort of details that I really love about Star Wars. I think is- I just Yeah, there’s been so many different interpretations and, you know, things like from the novels to the High Republic comics to the TV shows. It’s just I just love it. The more I find out about it, the more fascinating it is. It’s just so very rewarding.

Ashley:

Yeah. Yeah, there’s there like literally years of content that you can go through with Star Wars. 
But that actually was one of the questions I want to ask like what thematically about Star Wars as as a universe as a galaxy really appeals to you and is anything specific about SWTOR or The Old Republic that calls to you as a- as a performer or as a a fan as a player?

Samantha (Darth Nul):

Yeah, I’ll try and quickly sum up my relationship with Star Wars. I know we haven’t got forever, yeah, obviously I go on the original trilogy. That’s what that’s what happened when I was a kid and it was everywhere in media and I said it was just really part of my life into adulthood. Just, you know, and then more recently with the TV shows, love the Mandalorian and Ahsoka and just all this good stuff that we’re getting. And then I also so, so you start with the space wizards. Sorry if that’s pejorative, but that’s, you know, the way we see it. And for a lot of people in the Star Wars galaxy, they won’t really know about Luke Skywalker or what went on or the familial strife. They’ll just know that the Empire fell. I imagine they won’t know the detail of it. And what I loved about Rogue One and Andor is seeing just the regular person.

So we’ve got like yeah people with supernatural powers and the ordinary person banding together to make a change as well. So you’ve got these very different places to go and then yeah of course then you’ve got our universe which happens long before these events and so you’re finding out like the deep lore and and really like physics you know the rules where it comes from origins. It’s absolutely fascinating and then and then to come to our game the idea of roleplaying a character like just coming up with your own and there are so many it’s not just like Jedi Sith like within them there are these subclasses and and you can really explore these different things. And I know that people play the game again and again the story modes with with different configurations and different different sides of the Force. And so it’s just it’s just this wonderful sort of endlessly rewarding place to be. It’s a place I very much like living in anyway just as a viewer or or whatever, let alone performing in it.

So it’s it’s- you don’t dare dream about this sort of thing. you know, you watch it, you enjoy it, but you don’t think, “Oh, one day I’ll be in Star Wars.” And when I was doing conventions the last, you know, almost two years, the amount of times I’d be asked which you know, if there was any if there was any franchise you could go into, what would it be? And I was like, “Maybe. I’m already doing it.” I just didn’t want to pass it. 
You don’t want to jinx it and just go, you know.

Ashley:

I mean, if it happened, we’ll see.

Samantha (Darth Nul):

Indeed. Indeed. So, yeah, it’s just yeah, it’s magic and beyond like, you know, I don’t I don’t try to 
hope for specific work that I get, but that some are really really special and this is one of them. So, thanks again for having me and thanks for for trying something different as well and taking a chance. I do appreciate that that the opportunity to show these other aspects to me and and what I can do.

Ashley:

Yeah. Yeah. We really appreciate just your performance and the soul that you bring to Nul is incredible and we’re so we’re so excited we get to have you to to voice her and and bring her into our story.

Caitlin:

I’m I’m happy that we have somebody who is as enthusiastic about details as we are to bring her to life because it’s like Ashley said, it’s been a long time coming and the amount of conversations, not just she and I but as a as a as a group as a narrative team have had about like who this new person is who even though she’s long been gone is driving the course of events that are currently happening for the player.

There are so many different things that we’ve come up with ideas of like how she should be written and to have someone who could take the material and then basically like do exactly what we were imagining, but also bring your own your own ideas and put your own spin on things has been really enjoyable.

Samantha (Darth Nul):

Thank you. I appreciate your patience in the booth while I asked lots of detailed questions.

Caitlin:

I no, you started talking about detail and it’s just it warms my heart because that’s I that’s what I love about Star Wars too, is the amount of lore behind it and just I’m sitting here with wrapped attention listening to people talk about like well that’s why Jedi make such good Sith is because they have control and they get the power and that’s the part that really interests me about Star Wars. Is to be able to work with people to bring this new character who isn’t just a a cold-hearted Sith who has rage and power like a Darth Malgus, but who can straddle the fence of Jedi and Sith while also like Ashley pointed out, wanting to tear them both down has been a really interesting experience.

And you know, back in her day, back in Darth Nul’s day, she’d probably think she too was just one of a normal person, like a Luke Skywalker, like nobody will remember me. And then her actions just echo through the centuries to where we are now. I think that’s why our game appeals to players so much is, you know, you can be a smuggler and somehow still be talking to the spirit and soul of an ancient Sith in a Rakatan mind trap.

Samantha (Darth Nul):

That’s a new sentence.

Ashley:

Yep. Oh, yeah. We keep putting like Nul in different weird places and-

Caitlin:

Does keep showing up like first it could 
where…

Samantha (Darth Nul):

Who knows where she’s going to pop up next! It could be just behind you viewer. 
Check under the bed. Is she there?

Ashley:

She has some deep lore to give you.

So we have this, you know, incredible Jedi turned Sith turn, you know, like everything science, researcher character. But if there was another kind of character archetype in Star Wars that you would want to play, who would it be?

Samantha (Darth Nul):

Oh. Oh, the kid says a Jedi, of course. A really good one that can’t be corrupted and saves the whole universe. That’-that’s’s what I’d probably want to do. But I like a little rogue. I like a smuggler. I like using my words sometimes. It’s good fun. They’re they’re some of my favorite material is with those those roguey characters.

Ashley:

Just getting out by the skin of their teeth. Talking their way out of it until a happen stance lets 
them escape from the situation.

Samantha (Darth Nul):

Or a Jedi appears.

Ashley:

Yes!

“Oh, great. Thank you. I didn’t know how to get out of that one.”

Samantha (Darth Nul):

Exactly. Like come on, let’s go!

Ashley:

Cool. So, we are so happy that you could join us, Sam, and chatting about Darth Nul. And we want to thank Samantha Béart for taking the time to chat with us today and bringing Darth Nul to life. Our players are very excited to have you in in the story as we are. We are so excited. Very excited to see where it goes after this. So let us let let everyone know where they can find you so they can keep track of all the fun stuff that you’re doing.

Samantha (Darth Nul):

This is just the beginning, guys. There’s more coming next year, but particularly excited about Star Wars. Let’s let’s not that it’s any different than that. I’m on Instagram, unfortunately on Twitter and also I’m on BlueSky and I tend to announce things there. Come by, say hi. It’s nice. I’ve also got ‘It Takes a Village’, my show where I interview people from the games industry. We talk about co-advocacy and collaboration, all those good things and bit of behind the scenes stuff you don’t often get to see in this industry. So yeah, just check it out. I keep it updated and the shows are archived on YouTube. Thank you.

Ashley:

Yeah, thank you. We were so happy to have you. If you’d like to hear Sam as Darth Nul check out Galactic Threads, which is out right now! You should go play it. It’s awesome. 
And as a reminder, our next entry into the story, Master’s Enigma, will be coming out in 7.8.1. So stick around maybe just a little bit to maybe see more of Darth Nul in the future. Happy holidays everyone, may the Force be with you.

–Interview End–

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