New technology has allowed researchers to recreate what King Richard III of Britain may have sounded like based on a medieval manuscript. Unlike modern-day royals, his voice had a more common and earthy twang. The project involved a 10-year effort from a team of specialists including dentists, physiotherapists, and linguists to create an avatar that reflects the historical accuracy of Richard III’s speech. The reconstruction revealed that the king did not have the physical deformities that Shakespeare portrayed him with, grabbing global attention when his skeleton was found in a parking lot in 2012. The project utilized evidence from the skeleton to recreate his face, body, and voice, revealing a more accurate picture of what the monarch may have been like in real life. British actor Thomas Dennis was chosen to play the king’s avatar after a decade-long search for a suitable candidate.
The project has been praised as a step in exploring lesser-known aspects of historical figures and inspiring further innovations in historical research. Experts involved in the project, such as linguist David Crystal and historian Philippa Langley, highlighted the importance of using available evidence to create a more accurate portrayal of Richard III. The success of this project has opened up possibilities for similar reconstructions of other famous historical figures, sparking curiosity about who else could be brought back to life through cutting-edge technology.
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