Tamaryn Payne

Tamaryn Payne is an English actress and voice artist born on 25 September 1988, best known for her role as Annalise Appleton in the British soap opera Hollyoaks from 2011 to 2013, as well as prominent voice roles in video games such as Mizora in Baldur's Gate III (2023), Lohse in Divinity: Original Sin II (2017), Qi'ra in Star Wars Outlaws (2024), and a pawn in Dragon's Dogma 2 (2024).^[1][2][3] Payne trained at the Arts Educational Schools in London, graduating with a BA in 2010 after earlier attendance at Jellicoe Theatre drama college.^[1][2] Her television career includes appearances in Casualty (2014) as Nina Gambol, Vikings as Widow Ordlaf (2017), and Vendetta as WPC Jenny Clarke (2013), alongside a film role in Sacrilege (2020).^[1][3] In theatre, she has performed at the Globe Theatre and received an Offie nomination for a comedic role at the Park Theatre.^[3] In voice acting, Payne has contributed to numerous projects, including additional voices in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023), Carabel in Nine Parchments (2017), and roles in Game of Thrones: A Telltale Series (2019) and A Year of Rain (2019).^[2][1] She narrated the audiobook of Anna Karenina for Penguin and Audible.^[3]

Early life and education

Family and upbringing

Tamaryn Payne was born on September 25, 1988, in England.^[1] Payne grew up in the Winton and Boscombe areas of Bournemouth, a coastal town in Dorset, England, during her early childhood. This environment provided a typical English suburban upbringing, characterized by local community life near the seaside.^[4] Her family included her mother, who resided in Boscombe, and her father, who lived in the nearby village of Bransgore. As a child, Payne regularly watched the British soap opera Hollyoaks, which later influenced her entry into acting.^[4]

Education and initial interests

Tamaryn Payne spent her formative years in Bournemouth, England, attending the local grammar school, Bournemouth School for Girls.^[4] During this period, she developed an early interest in acting through exposure to British television, particularly by watching the soap opera Hollyoaks daily after school with friends, which inspired her aspiration to perform on screen.^[4] Following secondary school, Payne pursued formal training in performing arts, enrolling in an acting BTEC program at Bournemouth and Poole College, where she honed her skills at the college's dedicated Jellicoe Theatre facility starting at age 17.^[4][5] She later advanced her education by enrolling at the Arts Educational Schools in London, earning a BA (Hons) in Acting upon graduation in 2010.^[2][5]

Acting career

Television work

Tamaryn Payne's breakthrough in television came with her recurring role as Annalise Appleton in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, where she appeared from September 2011 to February 2013 across 83 episodes.^[2] Introduced as a fresher at Hollyoaks Community College, Annalise was portrayed as a perfectionist student and clean freak who navigated the challenges of university life, including romantic entanglements in a love triangle with fellow students Rob Edwards and Scott Sabeka.^[6][7] Payne described the character as a "brilliant" mix of sweet and bitchy traits, which allowed her to explore a multifaceted role that contributed to the show's depiction of young adult dynamics.^[8] The role marked Payne's first significant on-screen presence in British television, establishing her visibility among soap opera audiences and highlighting her ability to portray relatable, high-pressure student experiences. Her performance as Annalise helped drive key plotlines involving relationships and personal control, resonating with viewers through the character's relatable struggles in a shared living environment. Payne later reflected on the experience as "so much fun," emphasizing the camaraderie on set and her fondness for the cast, though she expressed excitement about pursuing diverse projects afterward.^[8] Following Hollyoaks, Payne took on guest spots in other UK dramas, showcasing her versatility in supporting roles. In 2014, she appeared as Nina Gambol in the BBC medical series Casualty, featuring in the episode "Brothers at Arms," where her character was involved in a dramatic rescue scenario linked to family tensions.^[9] Three years later, in 2017, she portrayed Widow Ordlaf in the History Channel's Vikings, a period drama set in medieval Scandinavia; in the episode "The Reckoning," her character appeared in a poignant scene involving loss and fleeting connection amid the series' intense historical conflicts.^[10] That same year, Payne played Barbara Songhurst in an episode of the true-crime documentary series Murder Maps ("The Tow Path Murders"), contributing to reenactments of historical investigations.^[11] These appearances demonstrated her range in both contemporary and historical contexts, building on her soap opera foundation without major awards recognition during this period.

Voice acting and narration

Tamaryn Payne has established a notable presence in voice acting, leveraging her background in on-screen performances to transition into audio-focused roles that highlight her versatile vocal range.^[12] One of her prominent video game credits is voicing Mizora, the cambion patron in Baldur's Gate 3 (2023), a character central to the storyline of companion Wyll Ravenguard as his infernal manipulator and source of conflict.^[13] Mizora's significance lies in her role as a cunning devil who binds Wyll through a pact, influencing key narrative decisions and embodying themes of temptation and infernal politics within the game's Forgotten Realms setting.^[14] Payne's portrayal emphasizes a seductive yet commanding presence, drawing on a lower, velvety register of her natural voice to convey Mizora's manipulative charm and power.^[12] Payne auditioned for the role in early 2020. Voice recording and motion capture took place in October 2022, where she wore a full motion capture suit and performed in a pod under strict nondisclosure, initially unaware of the character's full demonic nature until later reveals.^[12] Directors guided her toward a "powerful and seductive register," allowing her to infuse the role with subtle annoyance and allure that resonated with fans.^[12] Payne previously collaborated with Larian Studios as the voice of Lohse in Divinity: Original Sin 2 (2017) and its expansions, portraying a possessed bard whose internal demonic struggle forms a core origin story arc.^[15] Lohse's character is significant for exploring themes of mental health, possession, and resilience, with her confident, spirited demeanor serving as a foil to her inner turmoil and allowing players to confront supernatural possession mechanics.^[16] To embody Lohse, Payne recorded thousands of lines, marking her first motion capture experience, which she described as initially "weird and scary" but ultimately empowering, enabling a deeper connection to the character's physicality.^[17] Her vocal performance captures Lohse's bright, assured tone with underlying vulnerability, culminating in the original song "Sing for Me," which Payne recorded as her debut single and which symbolizes the character's liberation from demonic influence.^[17] In 2024, Payne lent her voice to Lady Qi'ra in Star Wars Outlaws, reprising the crime syndicate leader from Solo: A Star Wars Story as a key narrative figure who aids the protagonist Kay Vess in underworld dealings across the galaxy.^[1] Qi'ra's significance stems from her strategic role in Crimson Dawn, providing guidance and resources that drive the game's open-world crime adventures and tie into broader Star Wars lore. Payne's interpretation highlights Qi'ra's poised authority and cunning, differing from on-screen work by relying solely on vocal nuance to convey expressions without facial visibility, allowing greater focus on tonal shifts for emotional depth.^[12] Beyond video games, Payne has narrated several audiobooks, showcasing her range from youthful energy to mature intensity across genres like thriller and young adult fiction.^[18] Notable credits include The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell, where her assured delivery enhances the suspenseful family drama, and Into the Crooked Place by Alexandra Christo, contributing to a multi-narrator ensemble that brings a magical underworld to life with her versatile, engaging style.^[19] Her narration work, including contributions to the Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series (2014) as additional voices, demonstrates an ability to adapt to epic, character-driven narratives with clarity and emotional precision.^[20]

Other pursuits

Mindfulness and activism

Tamaryn Payne is an accredited mindfulness coach with the British Psychological Society, where she has developed her expertise in guiding individuals toward greater awareness and presence.^[21] She completed her training as a mindfulness meditation teacher through Mindfulness Now and the UK College of Mindfulness Meditation, enabling her to facilitate structured practices that emphasize breath awareness and natural connection.^[21] Payne shares her teachings via guided meditations on platforms like Insight Timer, including sessions such as "Mindfulness of Breath," which focuses on cultivating focused attention to achieve a state of calm and clarity, and "Mountain Meditation," designed to foster stability and perspective amid life's challenges.^[22][23] Additionally, she leads Mindful Nature Walks, integrating environmental immersion to promote holistic well-being and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.^[21] In her activism, Payne has been a committed climate advocate since the inception of Extinction Rebellion (XR) in 2018, using her platform as an actress to amplify calls for urgent environmental action.^[24] She played a key role in launching Culture Declares Emergency in 2019, a movement that mobilized over 190 arts and culture institutions and individuals in the UK to declare a climate emergency and pledge systemic change.^[25] Payne co-founded Earth Ensemble, XR's dedicated theatre company, which stages performances to highlight ecological crises and inspire collective response.^[24] Her efforts extend to public demonstrations, such as the 2019 Rebellion Against Big Oil action, where she performed as a character symbolizing fossil fuel pollution to denounce corporate environmental harm.^[26] She also contributed to Letters to the Earth by reading participant submissions at the National Theatre launch of Culture Declares Emergency, underscoring the emotional and cultural dimensions of the climate crisis.^[27] Payne integrates mindfulness deeply into her daily routine, viewing it as a tool for personal resilience that counters the stresses of activism and acting.^[21]

Gaming and streaming

Tamaryn Payne launched her Twitch channel in late 2023, debuting with streams of Baldur's Gate 3 as a way to explore gaming later in life after having little experience with video games during her childhood.^[28][12] Her initial streams emphasized her novice status in gaming, creating an approachable space for viewers to join her journey through interactive role-playing experiences.^[29] Beyond Baldur's Gate 3, Payne has streamed other titles, including plans to play Divinity: Original Sin 2, broadening her content to include cooperative and narrative-driven games that align with her interests in storytelling.^[12] She maintains a schedule of regular broadcasts, often featuring just chatting segments alongside gameplay to foster a relaxed community atmosphere.^[30] Payne actively interacts with her gaming audience through live Q&A sessions and real-time discussions on her experiences in the industry, building connections with fans who appreciate her transition from voice acting to streaming.^[31][32] These engagements highlight her role as an emerging gaming personality, where she shares insights and responds to viewer questions during broadcasts.^[12] In 2025, Payne extended her presence offline by participating in DreamHack Atlanta from October 31 to November 3, hosting a pay-to-meet voice actor booth for fan meet-and-greets from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.^[33] This event underscored her growing involvement in gaming conventions, allowing direct interactions with attendees excited by her contributions to interactive media.^[34]

Filmography

Television roles

• Hollyoaks (2011–2013): Payne portrayed Annalise Appleton, a regular character in the British soap opera, appearing across multiple storylines involving family dynamics and relationships.^[1][33]
• Casualty (2014): She guest-starred as Nina Gambol in the episode "Brothers at Arms," depicting a patient entangled in a family emergency at the hospital.^[35]
• Vikings (2017): Payne appeared as Widow Ordlaf in the episode "The Reckoning," a minor role in the historical drama series set during the Viking Age.
• Murder Maps (2017): In the episode "The Tow Path Murders," she played Barbara Songhurst, contributing to the true-crime reenactment documentary series.^[11]
• Dupris and Durrell (2020): Payne guest-starred as Cynthia Stacy in the episode "An Unexpected Caller," part of the comedic mini-series parodying the entertainment industry during lockdown.
• Jonas and Jacinta (2022): She appeared in this LGBTQ+ web mini-series, supporting the narrative of friends organizing a themed wedding.^[36]

Following her prominent role in Hollyoaks, Payne transitioned toward voice acting opportunities in animation and video games.

Film appearances

Tamaryn Payne has appeared in a select number of independent films and shorts, often in supporting roles that highlight her versatility in horror, thriller, and drama genres. Her film work, while not as extensive as her television contributions, includes several low-budget British productions where she portrayed characters ranging from everyday figures to those entangled in suspenseful narratives.^[1] In 2007, Payne made her screen debut in the horror-comedy Small Town Folk, directed by Peter Stanley-Ward, playing the role of Shaz, a local villager in a quirky tale of outsiders stumbling upon a cannibalistic community.^[37] Her next role came in 2010 with the short drama I Luv Matt Johnson, where she starred as Zoe, a 17-year-old navigating obsession and unrequited affection in a coming-of-age story. In 2013, she featured in two thrillers: Vendetta, as WPC Jenny Clarke, a police constable assisting in a revenge-driven crime investigation led by Danny Dyer, and Stalled, portraying Evie, a survivor in a zombie-infested office building during a claustrophobic horror siege.^[38][39] The following year, 2014, saw her in the romantic comedy short Do You Know This Girl?, directed by James Webber, as Liz, a potential love interest in a tech-savvy man's quest to reconnect with past romance via social media.^[40] Payne's 2019 output included the short Binge Watching, a sci-fi exploration of virtual reality and empathy, where she played Eva, a character challenging societal biases through immersive technology.^[41] In 2020, she appeared in the folk horror feature Sacrilege, directed by David Creed, embodying Kayla, a friend whose weekend getaway turns nightmarish amid pagan rituals and betrayal.^[42] Her most recent film credit is in the 2023 animated sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, providing additional voices to enhance the ensemble of feathered characters in this Aardman Studios adventure.^[43] Given the scarcity of major feature roles, Payne's filmography underscores her primary emphasis on television series and voice acting projects.^[1]

Video game credits

Tamaryn Payne has provided voice work for numerous video games, often portraying key characters in role-playing and adventure titles. Her credits span a variety of genres, from survival horror to epic fantasy, showcasing her versatility in performance capture and narration. 2014

• Game of Thrones (Telltale Games, multi-platform): Pit Fighter.^[1]

2015

• Kholat (IMGN.PRO, PC): Additional voices.^[44]

2017

• Nine Parchments (Frozenbyte, multi-platform): Carabel.^[45]
• Divinity: Original Sin II (Larian Studios, multi-platform): Lohse.^[46]

2018

• Q.U.B.E. 2 (Toxic Games, multi-platform): Amelia Cross.^[47]

2019

• A Year of Rain (Unperfect Games, PC): Voice.^[48]

2021

• Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One (Frogwares, multi-platform): Additional voices.^[49]

2023

• Baldur's Gate III (Larian Studios, multi-platform): Mizora.^[50]

2024

• Dragon's Dogma 2 (Capcom, multi-platform): Voice.^[51]
• Star Wars Outlaws (Ubisoft, multi-platform): Qi'ra.^[1]

Payne has occasionally streamed gameplay featuring her voiced characters, connecting with fans through platforms like Twitch.

Audiobook narrations

Tamaryn Payne has established herself as a prominent narrator in the audiobook industry, lending her versatile voice to a range of genres, with a particular emphasis on fantasy and mystery titles. Her narration work often features multi-cast performances, showcasing her ability to embody diverse characters through distinct vocal inflections.^[52] One of her notable fantasy credits is Into the Crooked Place (2019), the first book in Alexandra Christo's duology, published by Feiwel & Friends and released as an audiobook by Macmillan Audio on October 1, 2019. In this urban fantasy set in a magical underworld, Payne voices multiple characters alongside narrators Taj Atwal, Leroy Bonsu, and Zaraah Abrahams, bringing depth to the story's con artists and buskers navigating a war-torn magical realm.^[53] The sequel, City of Spells (2021), continues the series and was released by Macmillan Audio on March 9, 2021. Payne reprises her multi-role narration in this tale of unlikely allies preventing a magical war, highlighting her skill in conveying emotional intensity and interpersonal dynamics.^[54] In contemporary fantasy, Payne narrated The Nightjar (2019) by Deborah Hewitt, published by Tor Books and released as an audiobook by Macmillan Audio on September 3, 2019. She voices protagonist Alice Mayfield, a young woman discovering her ability to see magical nightjars—guardians of the dead—in a hidden London, infusing the narrative with wonder and tension.^[55] Payne has also contributed to classic fantasy reinterpretations, such as The Princess and the Goblin (2022) by George MacDonald, an audiobook adaptation released by Dreamscape Media on November 15, 2022. Her performance captures the whimsical yet perilous adventure of a princess confronting underground goblins.^[56] Beyond fantasy, Payne's mystery narrations include several entries in Nancy Springer's Enola Holmes series for young adults, published by Listening Library. She narrated Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche (2021), released on January 5, 2021, where she embodies the clever teenage detective solving a kidnapping case. Additional credits encompass Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade (2021, November 2), Enola Holmes and the Boy in Buttons (2022, July 12), Enola Holmes and the Mark of the Mongoose (2023, March 14), and Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin (2024, October 1), each showcasing her adept handling of period dialogue and suspenseful pacing.^[57] Payne contributed to the multi-cast narration of the thriller novel One More Lie by Amy Lloyd, released in 2019 by HarperCollins, voicing Charlotte in a story of deception and family secrets.^[58] Payne also narrated the classic novel Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, released in 2020 by Penguin Random House Audio.^[59] In 2025, Payne participated in the multi-cast narration of Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell, a psychological thriller released on June 24, 2025, by Simon & Schuster Audio.^[60]