As the annual Golden Joystick Awards approaches, more information about the event is being shared. For example, Neil Newbon was recently confirmed as a guest presenter for the award ceremony. He’ll hand out the award for Best Supporting Performer. He’s quite the fitting host since he took home the prize in that very same category during the Golden Joystick Awards in 2023. The big win was all thanks to his performance as the beloved Baldur’s Gate 3 vampire, Astarion.
An Award-Winning Role
Along with his big win during last year’s Golden Joystick Awards, Newbon took home the prize for Best Performance during The Game Awards in 2023. During both ceremonies, Newbon managed to come out on top even when competing with other big stars like Laura Bailey, Idris Elba, and Yuri Lowenthal. While every one of these actors is a winner in their own right, the praise for Newbon’s performance as Astarion was all too powerful.
While playing Astarion, Newbon was able to showcase the full array of human (or elf) emotions. From sly and menacing to sweet and sensitive, his talents brought life to the Pale Elf. Newbon did this throughout the thousands of lines he voiced for this character, including unique ones players hear when playing as Astarion. Not only did he voice the vampire, he physically acted as Astarion thanks to the powers of motion capture. Newbon has said he grew so used to being Astarion that he even adopted the character’s mischievous giggle. His pure dedication and talent when it comes to video game acting are the reasons why he’s a perfect candidate to hand out the award for Best Supporting Performer at the Golden Joystick Awards.
Who’s On The Ticket
Now, who exactly might Newbon be handing these awards out to? Well, it’s a list of six especially talented actors who showed off exactly what they can do throughout 2024. The types of characters they’re being appreciated for are featured in an impressive diversity of games. The character list ranges from a wise-cracking character in a delightfully British game to an oil rig worker just trying to survive horrific creatures. Without further delay, here are the nominees.
Best Supporting Performer Nominees
- Abbi Greenland & Helen Goalen as The Furies in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Briana White as Aerith Gainsborough in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Dawn M. Bennett as Aigis in Persona 3 Reload
- Debra Wilson as Amanda Waller in Suicide Squad
- Matt Berry as Herbert in Thank Goodness You’re Here!
- Neve McIntosh as Suze in Still Wakes The Deep
When & Where To Watch
While the voting for the Golden Joystick Awards is over, gamers can look forward to watching their favorite video games and actors take home awards. The 42nd Golden Joystick Awards takes place on November 21. The event takes place in London, England, but it will be livestreamed so people around the world can watch. That livestream will start at 8 a.m. PST/11 a.m. EST. Viewers will be able to watch it on all major streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Steam, and more. It can also be directly watched on the official website of GamesRadar+.
Not only will the talented Neil Newbon be helping out during the event, but other big names like Ben Starr, Alex McKenna, Patricia Summersett, and more will be there as well. This year, awards for several new categories will be handed out. This includes Console Game of the Year, Best Audio Design, Best Game Adaptation, and more. It’s an event video game enthusiasts won’t want to miss as awards season gets into full swing.
