Need to learn how to do an upper class British accent?

Question

Hi everyone I have to find a way to learn how to do an upper class British accent (described to me "rather like Joanna Lumley's natural voice but younger like Keira Knightley's") for an audition. I don't have any money for a voice coach or even books - what do I do? Any tips? Any free online resources I should use? Just listening to the accent does not seem to change how I use my voice.

Answer 1

The best advice I can give is to search in yahoo under "Received Pronunciation>" It's also commonly called RP English.Some websites can give a small tutorial on what sounds to drop when speaking.Mainly it's the use of the "R". When speaking Standard British,the location of their sound is mostly nasal, think of it as speaking through the nose.It's hard to direct you without giving you phonetical examples.On some of the RP English websites,they'll give you a word and the phonetical pronunciation.That may help you.Otherwise,the best actors to listen to would be Emma Thompson,Alan Rickman, Ian McKellan,Derek Jacobi,Jason Isaacs,Kate Winslet. If you're looking for upper class British, dont use Keira Knightley and most definitely not Gwyneth Paltrow. If you're strapped for cash, you can go to your local bookstore and look through their dialect books.You dont have to buy them but you can sit in the bookstore and maybe take notes out of them as to how to use your mouth,placement of sounds,etc.

Answer 2

Don't just listen to the accent, if possible watch the speaker and mimic the way they hold their mouth. You'll notice the mouth is somewhat tighter or pinched as they speak, and the sound is focused in the front of the mouth. Emma Thompson is a great one to watch, especially if it's Shakespeare. Also, look on the internet for clips of Princess Diana speaking and watch how she held her mouth while speaking.

Answer 3

you should watch movies with british actors in it. When the say something listen really hard. Then pause the movie and try it. Then rewind the movie and see if you got it right. And just try to watcha lot of british films. If you have any friends who happen to be british, tell them of your dilema, and kindly ask if you could mimick there accent for awhile, and any tips and pointers are more than welcome. If you don't happen to have a british friend then continue with the british movies. Break a leg!

Answer 4

Get tuition from the British Council Library

Answer 5

i learnt mine when i was about 6. i accidentally did it when trying to copy hermione's voice in the movie. now im the only person in my grade who can do a proper accent without living in england at all during my life.