good english accent help

[astonishing]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 9:50am

can anyone give me some pointers on english accents? I'm trying out for a show soon and the part I want calls for a good english/british accent. I've been watching some movies and copying the english accents of some people and I am pretty good at it, i just was wondering if their was anything else i should keep in mind.
for example; say "mother" like "matha"

Updated On: 6/14/05 at 09:50 AM

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 9:52am

okay here's one:

I was doing research as well for my english accent a few months ago when I needed one for a show, and here's a pointer: do NOT try mixing different accents. Like, many people have different kind of english accents, you know? Don't try doing it all at once, it does NOT work well. I have learned from my mistake, luckily before the show started real rehearsals.

Good luck!May I ask what show?

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 9:55am

You should research what type of accent you'll need. 18th century upper class is very different than 18th century working class, or "cockney." There are countless different types of accents. Just watch the film "Closer" and you'll notice the difference between Clive Owen's and Jude Law's.

You can buy cds and cassettes that will teach you phonetically.

[astonishing]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:08am

I'm not exactly sure what type of english accent. The show is Peter Pan + I am trying out for wendy (although I am 16 and I'm not sure if this is too old...?) I assume it wouldn't be cockney because the Darling family was rich, right?



Updated On: 6/14/05 at 10:08 AM

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:11am

You could easily get away with mocking a standard British accent (from any film, very few Americans will ever know the difference) unless this is a professional production, in which case you would want to perhaps take lessons from a voice coach or buy tapes to learn a specific type of British speech.

[astonishing]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:12am

it's a regional company...


also, am I too old to audition for wendy? I don't look much younger than I am but I do have an ingenue type look. Updated On: 6/14/05 at 10:12 AM

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:26am

The Darling family are middle to upper class - think Judi Dench or Julie Andrews! Apart from the many differences in pronounciation, a lot of it is in the intonation - we tend not to go up at the end of sentances and the tone is kept quite level (though not lifeless).

However, as bwaysinger says - most Americans woouldn't know a British accent if it smacked them in the face with a glove, so you can probably get away with spoofing accents you hear on the television if you so desire . . . Why not try some of the exercises from the OBC/OLC of My Fair Lady - 'The rain in Spain', 'hurricanes hardly happen' etc

Best of luck!

[ashley0139]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:29am

There are a lot of tapes/books/etc that can help you with this kind of stuff. Very helpful. When I did Secret Garden, I had a coach for that. She's been doing English accents for years.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:35am

oh hey I was Wendy and Mrs. Darling (separate shows) so here's my advice:

nope you are not at all too old to play Wendy! Like everyone else said, think soft English accent, like a mini Julie Andrews.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:50am

If you have time, rent a few videos. Listening to the accent over and over will get it ingrained in your head. While watching the movies, rewind and say the lines with them.

Emma Watson in the Harry Potter movies.

Haley Mills in "Pollyanna" or "Whistle Down the Wind"

Helena Bonham Carter in "A Room With A View"

[astonishing]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 10:52am

thanks ! i will most definitly do so.

[AWM]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:00am

There are so many different accents to chose from,

I wouldn't reccomend saying 'Matha'..instead of Mother...I'm English and don't know anyone that speaks that way.

Julie Andrews ..in her later films such as Princess Diaries....should give you the accent you need to play Wendy (upper middle class).

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:09am

Hehe. People don't even know bad Cockney when it smacks them on their arses. I was asked to do a Cockney accent for a demo. If I ever become famous, my pathetic attempt at this dialect is going to fetch oodles on Ebay.

[cathyhyatt]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:55am

hard 'd's and 't's
(in other words make sure you fully pronounce them because as Americans we tend to not do that.)

soft 'r's
if you were saying 'numbers' you would pronouce it 'numbas'

I can't think of any other pointers right now. You just really have to practice...read anything, even a magazine in a British accent. You also should record yourself and listen to your voice. But above all practicing is the best thing.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 12:09pm

One thing to think about:

The British accent that you are going for is more "proper" than the American accent. The vowels are more elongated than American vowels. They are given more "weight". It's hard to describe without hearing.

Many Americans pronounce a "t" in the middle of a word as closer to a "d". The British give it its full "t" sound.

For example:

Harry Potter

Americans will say "Podder" where as Brits will say "Potter" (with a stronger T).

[mandy2loveRB]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 1:48pm

I grew up in London...and what I did after I came to the US is "shadowing." My Japanese friend told me about this. I saw thousand of movies and CNN news (thought very neutral American English) and just repeat what they are saying, maybe 1 second behind! It helped. So...I guess, like others suggested, you can see films (Don't see "Billy Elliot" or "Full Monty" or "Backbeat": Strong accent and dialect ) and BBC news on telly if you can get that.

And...yes, it is pretty much about intonation, and less strong vowels. And...not "buller," but "butter" Speak slowly. You will be fine.

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 1:50pm

where is the accent from? There's loads of different accents in the England. If it's Received Pronunciation (like how Eliza speaks after her lessons) let me know and i'll give you some advice!

[DefyGravity23]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 3:40pm

Hey astonishing! I'm going to audition for Wendy for an upcoming production of Peter Pan too. I'm 17 so I was afraid I'd be too old as well, but then again everyone always tells me I look about 14. I don't think 16 is too old though. In the movies of Peter Pan I've watched she looks about 15, and directors often like to cast older (at least from my experience) because older kids tend to be more experienced. Anyway, I was starting to practice english accents too(which is why I clicked on this post). You guys have some great suggestions! In the Cathy Rigby video version of Peter Pan they use english accents. You could take a look (or listen?) at those if you can get your hands on the video. Just a tip.

Good luck with your audition Astonishing!
Updated On: 6/14/05 at 03:40 PM

[justthefacts2]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 7:33pm

How good an ear do you have? Can you pick up accents by listening to them? Rent "Chariots of Fire" (just had a new DVD edition made) and watch it over and over again. Those accents would fit perfectly for Wendy or any of the Darlings.

[astonishing]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:20pm

thanks DefyGravity!

btw, if you don't mind me asking...where are you auditioning?

[cturtle]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 11:46pm

if you get BBC AMERICA on your satellite or cable, definitely turn it on and leave it on ... you'll be talking like a brit in no time!

[RyanWestbrook]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 12:04am

make sure you keep the placement of the words on the tip of the tongue and everything should be very forward in the mouth!! There
not that many rules to a basic English accent! Samuel French has
some great accent tapes and books that go along with it that work
very well!

[trpguyy]

Posted: 6/15/05 at 12:25am

You're definitely not too old. I was in a professional production on Peter Pan last usmmer and our Wendy was 19 years old. It's amazing how tight curls can make a girl look so much younger.