An Interview with Shohreh Aghdashloo: The Strong Female Warrior of Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the highly anticipated game, will finally be released this week on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Amazon Luna, and PC. Game Informer has exclusive coverage of the game, featuring interviews, previews, and more. We had the opportunity to speak with the renowned actor, Shohreh Aghdashloo, about her role as Roshan, Basim’s mentor in Mirage. Aghdashloo shared her experience portraying this strong female warrior, her cultural connection to the character, and her hopes for players to take away from Roshan’s story.
A Strong Female Warrior Representing Diversity and Justice
Aghdashloo described Roshan as one of the most powerful female warriors she has ever encountered. The character possesses a strong sense of justice and is willing to put her life on the line to bring justice to the town. Roshan also serves as a representative of diversity, ethnicities, and cultures, taking place in Ninth Century Baghdad during its golden era. This portrayal resonated with Aghdashloo as an Iranian actress, allowing her to bring a cultural connection to the character and immerse herself in the role.
Connecting with Basim and a Multi-Layered Relationship
Aghdashloo highlighted the multi-layered relationship between Roshan and Basim, the game’s Middle Eastern protagonist. While Roshan recruits Basim and believes in his potential as an assassin, their connection goes beyond a mentor-student dynamic. Aghdashloo emphasized that Roshan sees Basim as a son, and her commitment to justice is so strong that she is willing to put her own children in danger for the cause. This complex relationship adds depth and richness to the narrative of Assassin’s Creed Mirage.
An Unexpected Role and the Evolution of Video Games
Aghdashloo discussed how she got involved with the game, stating that she was offered the role of Roshan. She expressed her delight in how video games have evolved over the past 15 years, moving beyond simplistic gameplay to intricate storytelling. The immersive and realistic depiction of Ninth Century Baghdad in Assassin’s Creed Mirage amazed her, as it closely resembled the historical period. Aghdashloo emphasized the importance of the game makers and voice artists bringing authenticity and truth to the project to capture the audience’s attention.
The Distinction between Film, TV, and Video Games
When asked about the difference between acting in film, TV, and video games, Aghdashloo explained that in voiceover work, everything must be channeled through the voice since physical movements are limited. While actors have to undergo hours of hair and makeup for film and TV, voiceover work allows them to focus solely on acting. Aghdashloo also shared her initial surprise and curiosity when seeing her character’s movements and hearing her voice in the game, but ultimately embraced the unique experience of playing Roshan through her voice alone.
The Impact of Roshan’s Journey and the Power of Art
Aghdashloo expressed her hope that players will not only have fun playing Assassin’s Creed Mirage but also be inspired to ask themselves important questions. She emphasized that art should not simply teach, but prompt individuals to reflect and think about the world. Aghdashloo wished for players to contemplate issues such as justice, equality, and the need to learn from history. She believed that regardless of her own intentions, the game would inevitably provoke these thoughts and make players consider their role in creating a more just society.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be available on PlayStation, Xbox, Amazon Luna, and PC on October 5, with an iOS release planned for next year. Stay tuned to Game Informer’s exclusive coverage hub for more previews, features, interviews, and videos related to Assassin’s Creed Mirage.