Highlights
- Orin the Red, one of Baldur's Gate 3's antagonists, stands out thanks to Maggie Robertson's excellent performance, bringing forth a delightfully unhinged and murderous personality.
- Both Lady Dimitrescu from Resident Evil Village and Orin the Red seek approval and recognition from a greater being, which drives their evil deeds and actions within their respective games.
- Lady Dimitrescu and Orin the Red have tragic origins, with difficult upbringings contributing to their twisted and sadistic personalities. Understanding their past sheds light on why they turned out the way they did, Robertson reveals.
Baldur's Gate 3 has held an iron grip on countless gamers since its release earlier this month, in no small part due to the excellent performances of its voice cast who helped bring its heroes and villains to life. When it comes to Baldur's Gate 3's antagonists, Orin the Red especially stands out thanks to the delightfully unhinged and murderous personality brought forth by Maggie Robertson.
MINOR SPOILERS for Baldur's Gate 3 and Resident Evil Village AHEAD
Robertson is no stranger to playing ruthless villains, as she's well-known for fan-favorite Resident Evil Village antagonist Lady Dimitrescu: a towering 9-foot-tall noblewoman who possesses an elegant charm and a taste for blood that has only since been matched by Baldur's Gate 3's Orin. In an interview with Game ZXC, Robertson spoke about how her experience portraying Lady Dimitrescu guided her approach to Orin, as well as how these sinister characters compare and contrast. Despite some similarities though, Robertson believes "every villain is different, so it's always important to approach each one individually and find what is unique and specific to them."
Lady Dimitrescu and Orin the Red Seek Approval
One thing Lady Dimitrescu and Orin the Red have in common is that they're both driven in part by a desire to live up to the expectations of some greater being. In Orin's case, she's constantly striving to prove herself to Bhaal, the Lord of Murder. Similarly, Lady Dimitrescu is beholden to Mother Miranda, the leader of the Cult of the Black God who gave Dimitrescu her parasite-based powers. Many of the evil deeds carried out by these villains can be traced back to their subservience to an even greater evil.
Lady Dimitrescu’s violence is fueled by rage and anger, and this deep sense of hurt that is overlaying an immense capacity for love. It's that love that ultimately defines her actions within the game.
Orin’s violence is joyful. It's a form of self-expression to her. It's a form of pleasure. Similarly to Lady D, both of them, I think, strive and yearn for approval and recognition throughout the game. Orin believes herself to be Bhaal’s Chosen and strives to prove that to him throughout the game. But ultimately, her upbringing was so brutal: the only thing she knows is death. That is the only parameter she has to navigate her way through the world, whereas Lady Dimitrescu feels a lot more grounded in a sense of humanity. Orin’s humanity has been brutally ripped out of her from day one.
Digging deep, these characters also both have some semblance of a soft side that can be viewed sympathetically if one looks past all the unthinkable horrors. Lady Dimitrescu has a maternal bond with her daughters, even though they are essentially swarms of flies masquerading as humans. On the other hand, Orin has a twisted relationship with her blades, the only things in the world that bring her any semblance of joy. She can be seen caressing them lovingly in cutscenes, and Robertson felt that it was important to express this relationship.
Lady Dimitrescu and Orin the Red Have Tragic Origins
Both characters also didn't necessarily choose to be the way they are. Lady Dimitrescu's vampirism is due to a mutation that requires her to consume fresh blood to survive, and Miranda's cult lured her into becoming infected with the parasite. Although her choices after the fact are her own, it's easy to trace the path of her evil deeds back to some horrific circumstances.
I personally don't think villains are made, they're created. So really, when you get into the work as an actor, it's about always asking the question “Why are they the way that they are? What are the choices that define them as a character?”
Our choices are what define us, so that's really where you're going to find character when you're diving in. It's always interesting to look at that. When you learn more about Lady Dimitrescu's upbringing, it's brutal. She's had a really gnarly upbringing, and if that's all you know, then of course you're going to turn out this way. Of course your whole worldview is going to be skewed and twisted and manipulated into something dark and sick and sadistic. That's the only thing she knows.
Orin the Red is a similar case to Lady Dimitrescu, and players will discover a more tragic villain backstory as they progress through the game and explore Orin's domain beneath Baldur's Gate. Although it will be difficult to truly feel sorry for Orin after witnessing the depths of her cruelty, Larian Studios thoughtfully made her a far more compelling villain upon closer inspection.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is currently available on PC and is slated for a September 6 release for PlayStation 5.
