Nee'in' 'elp Wif A Cockney Accent

This was posted on the student board but I'd like to see if anyone older had any suggestions.

I'm playing a character with a Cockney accent in a short scene that is doubling as my final exam in an acting class in a few weeks and was wondering if anyone had any advice as to how to get the accent right.

I think my problem is that, although I'm substituting "F's" for "Th's" (like " 'ow di' your fafer use i'?" for "How did your father use it?"), I don't think my speech is completely comprehensible. I'm sounding like a drunken Vinnie Jones. But I'm sure I can probably get this because I've proved pretty good with accents in the past but I just need some assistance in recommending a movie or an OBC to watch or listen to as to how to just get the ball rolling.

Watch Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins.




Just kidding.

If memory serves, substituting an "f" for a "th" is only used with the unvoiced "th" (i.e. with, thought, thanks...), but not for a voiced "th" sound (i.e. that, father, there...).

The West End board might be a good resource for this question.

Otherwise, I usually recommend the 1938 film version of Pygmalion, which is available on DVD in the Criterion Collection.

---