(Newswire.net — January 21, 2015) Thomson, Illinois — An actor known for his “king-sized” portrayals – such as the voice of Boss Nass in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace – is the narrator of a major new series of children’s audio dramas.
British actor Brian Blessed is the voice of author G.A. Henty in the two dramas, In Freedom’s Cause and Under Drake’s Flag, each of which places children of all ages squarely in the middle of major historical events. In Freedom’s Cause tells the true story of 14th-century Scottish hero William Wallace and his fight for liberty, and Under Drake’s Flag recounts the adventures of Sir Francis Drake, the first Englishman to circle the globe.
Both are based on books by Henty, who wrote more than 100 adventure-filled historical novels during the 1800s.
“It’s brilliantly written [with] great insight into history,” Blessed said of In Freedom’s Cause, explaining why he took the role. Blessed added that he considers himself an adventurer.
“I’m 50 percent actor, 50 percent explorer,” Blessed said.
Blessed’s booming voice made him a natural for many roles, including 1999’s Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, in which he was the voice of Boss Nass, the oversized leader of the Gungans, who lived under water on the planet Naboo. (Jar Jar Binks was Gungan.) During the movie’s climax, the Boss Nass-led Gungans joined forces with Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) and the army of Naboo to defeat the Trade Federation, which had invaded the planet.
In Freedom’s Cause also stars Skandar Keynes (Edmund of The Chronicles of Narnia series), Billy Boyd (Pippin of The Lord Of The Rings), James Cosmo (Campbell, Father Christmas of Braveheart and The Chronicles of Narnia, respectively) and Golden Globe winner Joanne Froggatt (Anna Bates of Downton Abbey).
Radio host Ian Freeman called it an “audio movie that plays out on the screen of your mind.”
“It’s like Braveheart, only historically accurate,” Freeman said. “In Freedom’s Cause brings history alive for kids and adults in a wholesome way. I would call it the best produced audio that I’ve ever heard specifically for storytelling.”
For more information about In Freedom’s Cause, visit InFreedomsCause.com.