Digital Avatar Gives Voice to Richard III

Experts have unveiled a digital avatar of King Richard III at York Theatre Royal, providing a historically informed portrayal of the medieval monarch who reigned from 1483 until his death in 1485. The avatar, created by Liverpool John Moores University's Face Lab, includes a Yorkshire accent and speaks a speech delivered by Richard before his death, reflecting meticulous research involving various fields such as linguistics, forensic psychology, and archaeology. Philippa Langley, who discovered Richard's remains in 2012, emphasized the project's accuracy, claiming it features the 'most accurate portrayal' of the king to date. The voice was crafted by vocal coach Yvonne Morley-Chisholm and linguistic expert David Crystal, achieving approximately 90% accuracy in speech recreation. This project not only resurrects Richard's voice but also provides insights into his character, enhancing our understanding of this historical figure. Richard III, the last king of the House of York, was ultimately defeated at the Battle of Bosworth, marking a significant shift in English history toward the Tudor dynasty.