Matt Ryan, the Welsh-born actor who portrayed the lead character Edward Kenway in the video game Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, has revealed that his childhood in Wales significantly influenced his performance. Ryan, who is known for his roles in both film and television, including the NBC series Constantine, drew upon his imaginative and playful experiences growing up in Swansea to bring the character to life.
In an interview with BBC Radio Wales, Ryan discussed the unique process of motion capture, which involved wearing a helmet with cameras and markers to track his movements and expressions. This method, he noted, evoked memories of his childhood, where he would run around the village green and imagine various adventures with a simple stick.
"Doing this game, I was doing a medium I've never worked before...motion capture, where you have the camera in front of your face on a helmet, and all the little dots on you," he explained. "It reminded me of when I was a kid growing up in Wales, running on the village green and down to the old mill. You'd pick up a stick and it could be a sword, a gun or anything. Your imagination was so vivid back then."
Ryan's connection to his Welsh heritage is evident in the character's accent, which was changed from the original northern English version to match Ryan's natural Swansea accent. This decision, he believes, added an authentic touch to the character, and he is thrilled to be revisiting the role after 13 or 14 years.
"To be revisiting this role 13 or 14 years on is quite a treat," he said. "It's been quite the experience. I'm excited for all of the players who have played the games before, and all the people to discover it, to jump in."
Ryan's love for Wales is evident in his efforts to return to the country as often as possible. He owns an old American camper van and takes his dog on adventures down the Gower Peninsula, relishing the opportunity to reconnect with his roots.
The actor's ability to tap into his childhood imagination and draw upon his Welsh heritage has undoubtedly contributed to the success of the Assassin's Creed franchise, particularly the beloved Black Flag installment. Ryan's performance as Edward Kenway showcases the power of personal experiences in shaping a character, and it is fascinating to see how his own background influenced his portrayal of a historical pirate in the virtual world.
