I very strongly believe you are making a mistake. If you add an accent you will SOUND as if you are putting on an accent all the time, because that is what you'll be doing. In other words you will sound fake. Because you will BE fake. You must forget the idea of copying American or British sounds, and only choose whichever country you GENUINELY feel nearest to, as you need to know more ABOUT that country, (its politics, its books, etc). Nobody in the modern world will be listening to your damned accent, nobody who could be a true friend will care, they will only be hoping (and liking it if) you speak CLEARLY which nobody in any country does much nowadays! And with some warmth in your voice. So stop thinking about some 'perfect' accent as a pleasant SOUND will arrive naturally AFTER you have learned to speak clearly. And obviously do the accent of the country you plan to be in most. Jhn.

@NewYorkActingCoach Hello sir, thank you for wasting your time protesting. I am from Colombia, because of proximity we have always had the United States as a reference in all cultural influences (movies, videos, entertainment, music, business, etc.) now, personally I have had a lot of solidarity with the United Kingdom because of music (rock) and English history. In Latin America it is difficult to see if you speak English with a Latin accent, unconsciously you go for the "native" sound. If I heard this tone, when I tried my best "British" Streisand, it did sound exaggerated, when I heard it in American it didn't sound like anything.

WONDERFUL QUESTION! There are no 'rules' . Nobody can say that we MUST give every second of our time to being an actor! Because the experience of being a Mother may help you to ACT the part of a nurse, a doctor, or teacher and lots of other parts. But you do need to find out what acting-work 'suits' you, what 'agents' there are where you live, and go to classes, or get coaching privately (even Skype with the right coach can be a good way to learn things). John

The 'trick' is to KNOW the lines, to find or decide the meaning behind them, then they are IN you . "Hello" may mean "You're late!" or "You're my favorite friend" or " "I'd forgotten you were coming!" Everything we ever say has another meaning. You just have to work it out somehow, or TRY different ways. John.

@@NewYorkActingCoach ty

Yes, you're right but - if you dn't mind me saying - the 'R' sound is not meant to stand out, - the accent's accuracy is not as important 9because there are so many different UK accents) and what matters most is that we peak fairly clearly, and - for actors - that we know the meaning that is behind the lines we have to say. THat is what makes people listen, and we don't want them thinking about our accent too much. But you make a good point. J.

We each have our own talents of getting the best from people's voices,, and my approach is entirely for people intending to be actors,, with whom the sound of a voice needs variety or it can easily be a bore, and what matters most is that they truly - and deeply - understand what they are talking about! That matters almost as much as clarity does for an actor. Churches are empty all over the world, and politicians are failing to get votes, and actors are failing to get jobs, because the don't know HOW to speak! J.

Well, if you've got used to an accent for the part, remember that every line of a part cannot, of course, be about an accent, so may people would say that what an audience needs to know is what the lines really mean, so to keep working on the actual script.. But,in fact, the secret, mysterious path to finding the truth of any part can be found in many ways, so maybe you've already found it! J.

Thanks! It's not easy to talk CLEARLY about verse, any more than it's easy to make SOME people enjoy dancing ! But a little practice gets most of us GOING, and the only thing I'd ADD to my video here is that we have to GET the love, the freedom, the strength of a line's meaning. We have to grow up and see that - as with the wonderful rapping of Mos Def makes one feel he is a FRIEND speaking to us, as soon as he starts. Rhythm is a seventh SENSE . J .

​@@NewYorkActingCoach Thank you again for your gracious response. I pray I can instill these lessons in my writing, in my speech, and life! The Rhythmic life!

First you have to practice it, so you get used to it. You need to get to the point where the audience (or the camera when you're filming - is not in your mind. Secondly your mind needs to be full of what the lines are really about, or this change will not happen. A line of "Hello" may already really mean "I'm tired", and a line like "I'm getting angry" may be a joke. You need to study your lines for hours and hours, or you're not an actor, you're just repeating some words ! John

@NewYorkActingCoach I understand you, but I find it difficult to convince my mind of this. Some people said that there are exercises that professional actors follow at the beginning of their careers so that they do not focus on the audience. It is called emotional balance, if I may say so. I hope you explain it to me because I have searched a lot. I did not find it on the Internet

Well there are lots of people with unusual ideas of how to 'open actors up' and the technique you describe is unknown to me. IT may be brilliant I simply don't know. All I do now is that experience DOING it, playing parts - in ANY small theatre company or small film - is essential. John

That's so true, and - of course - one can gets better at it. I find that my first 'take' for a voice-over is often the best if I've not actually looked at it yet! But there's something 'personal' about us being able to do this, perhaps, something to do with enjoying what seems to be 'coming next' almost more than what we're doing now! Shakespeare was probably talking about himself when he let Hamlet say 'The readiness is all' ! J.

@@NewYorkActingCoach I really like that idea of enjoying or being eager for what's coming next. It's that excitement, that joy of discovery which is always at its peak on first sight of new words. Thank you for responding, your videos are very helpful.

Yes, music-making seems a similar ordeal ! But if actors knew at the start that they were going to end up playing very small tv parts once a year they might still 'want' to do it. What's so sad is that if they only worked harder they might end up playing leads. Work uncovers depth. And here's hoping your main opus is in sight too.! J .

Well, I don't discourage anyone's way they wish to speak, but my first thought is that non-Peterborough-eans may actually like your accent, and that what attracts people is when we are 'ourselves' ( ! ) Also that nowadays any accent is interesting, and that what matters to most people is if we speak clearly. Nobody cares whether a politician, an actor or a priest sounds American (even in the USA) what makes them get votes, stardom and a full church, is speaking clearly ! All I have on the subject. Maybe people actually like your's. Best, John.

Great, Liking the exercise - of course - makes it easier to do them regularly (or others like them) and a clear voice relaxes casting directors from the start. Just remember that having a meaning BEHIND all - or most of - the lines is what makes actors stand out even more, (As well as giving the voice some VARIETY). J.

Thankyou. J.

Of course you're right. But many actors feel 'stuck' -trying to work out all the things you mention, and need something to start them off, to get the ball rolling, that can just spring into their mind an emotion or thought, without it being the product of obvious, logical, boring thought. It can inspire actors who are working on a character on their own, that's my point. John.

Thanks for very kind words! I still think that - nowadays - an accent doesn't need to be perfect, that all accents are a mixture, and that audiences and friends DON'T REALLY CARE what accent we have: and that what matters is that we speak clearly, with some touch of kindness in our voice, and - if we are actors - with the real meaning BEHIND any lines. That is what makes a star. J.

@@NewYorkActingCoach Wow! Profound I agree that our specific dialect is of little concern compared to the value clear speaking and kindness in our voice. Thank you for you excellent dialect coaching and brilliant observation on what makes us a star, John!

🤣🤣🤣😆😆😆😆😂😂😂😂

Thanks, and you're welcome to suggest subjects. Helping actors privately with their individual problems is easy, but all of them have different problems.. My more recent video VOICE COACH is one which all successful actors have worked out for themselves,, and people who play smaller parts in films and plays nearly always have the problem I explain in that video. So it's been watched a lot. But what subject would you suggest? John

Thanks. You may find my more recent video 'VOICE COACH" - on KZbin with my name, or on my website. John.

To answer you well, I'd need to see what kind of overacting you mean. But 'no' is the answer if an actor wants to be taken seriously playing 'normal' parts as well, and there is still a subtext behind the rather mad characters of - for example - Hugh Grant, and his wild subtext is based on truth. Osric, in Hamlet, shows off, but when 'we' show off we aren't over-acting, we're just wanting attention. So my short answer is to find a coach with experience, or a clever director who KNOWS you. John.

Wow answering in a 10 year old video Respect

@@NewYorkActingCoach Thank you for your answer. I was thinking in terms of some of my comedy heroes. For instance Ade Edmonson in his Biography describes how he often went really over board even from a young age, then dialed it back in. You can see from his many slapstick type roles he would be over acting in my humble (young ones / Bottom) . Another person in the same genre, Jim Carrey, again going full monty into roles - Ace Ventura/Cable guy. Both guys have done more serious roles, Ade in Holby city (Uk TV) and Jim notably different in eternal sunshine for the spotless mind. Am i wrong thinking what they were doing for their comedic roles could be termed over acting, or perhaps they captured the characters perfectly?

@@JonnyFlashard It's just great that you're TRYING to work this out, and not just diving into any mad way of saying some lines. BECAUSE the 'discovery' of a truthful but also 'wild' character may take some time. YOu need to find the character (amazingly) is inside you. My MadEnglishman.com character came to me from one very, very, very unusual story told to me when I was 20 years old, and if you want to work on any of this in person (with me) then use the Contact page on my website or [email protected] OR just try it in different ways on your own, endlessly. Plan a short performance somewhere, but try it 200 hundred ways until it feels right. John

Thank you. John.

The problem is that movement is often just a mistake. It 'signals' something unnecessarily, (like clenching a fist when one is angry !) The 'path' to feeling comfortable when speaking is to know what the lines really mean, so if you find a coach that doesn't help you with 'subtext' - well I'm not usually unkind but you might want to run away. Or, OK, ask them why! It is the CENTER of acting. J.

@@NewYorkActingCoach And, can we assume that movements should naturally follow because you are now acting as if you are that character.

@@Cameron-ue7lu Well the movements MAY follow, but it is up to you to decide if you are happy with your performance, or to ask a coach (or your director (if they don't think the question is weird) for their opinion. I'm not saying you need to come to me, but if you go to a coach make sure they have real experience. J.

@@NewYorkActingCoach alright. Thank you for explaining! I actually meant the “ work of face &body” in terms of pantomime:) Do you think it differs in approach from acting with lines ?

@@Teadekun I'm not sure what you mean by "work of face and body" - if it is things like Mime, or any expression without the voice (and not including dancing) I can only say that truth and intelligence make any movement more interesting, and that Repetition of anything is not usually a good sign. I'd need an example of whom you' admire in this kind of work, so I can't be more help here. Find a coach near where you live, or - if you find nobody you trust you could ask for online help from my website. John.

Very kind of you! The 'fun' part of this is that if we speak clearly, - with any accent - and any kindness in our voice, we can win some elections and court cases, fill theatres and churches, and comfort our friends. You might be amused to try my more recent video - VOICE COACH - on my website or KZbin. Best to you. J.

*dead… crying out loud

I don't know if you're joking or actually feel the exercise makes your accent sound odd. But nowadays every single person's accent has interesting 'differences', and nobody cares about them as long as we speak CLEARLY, and with some note of kindness in our voice! So if you found the exercise didn't help you sound clear, I wouldn't give it much thought. And if I just didn't get your joke, well, I'm glad it made you laugh! John

Very kind. A more recent video of mine might interest you, - just called VOICE COACH (which may just come up on KZbin, or is on my website Windsor-Cunningham.com) I strongly believe nobody cares much nowadays about which 'accent' we have, as long as we speak clearly (and find SOME fun in it all eventually!) John.

Totally welcome! In fact my more recent video (on KZbin and my website) - called VOICE COACH - may be more useful, I'm not sure. The point of it is that people don't much care what accent anybody has nowadays, what they need is that we only speak clearly, and that video could possibly help a few people! Best anyway. John

I coach on Skype all over the world, quite successfully with some actors, - I suppose because there are no distractions when we are working through scripts. But going to a class with other 'upcoming' actors my be more helpful. Just make sure you do one of them, or put your energy into something else! John

@@NewYorkActingCoach ok so can we start our classes on Monday am ready to work hard🙏🙏

@@Andrewfilmaniac Yes, Monday is fine. But we should not fix everything up here. You just need to send me an email - to [email protected] - saying what country you are in and what you want to learn most. I will then send you details and something to read to me at the session ,and a list of possible times, and what they cost. John.

Andrew, you need to send me your email address, just a few more details FROM your email, not from here. Please contact me using my email address which is [email protected] saying what you want to learn, acting for film or for stage? And what country you want to work in. Thank you. John.

@@NewYorkActingCoach ok I'll send in a few minutes🙏🙏

Your lower lip is getting an incredibly fast massage. You can swerve the place where the 'vibration happens to your throat, but any area may 'loosen' your voice. Imagine today's politicians (it being election-time) not shouting but being able to just say a few words with simple clarity, with passion, heart, love, color, and meaning, simply making us NOTICE their words, instead of us having them THROWN at us - ! - or actors performing Shakespeare or a love-scene in a film as if they liked the TASTE of their words! John.

Very kind. Thanks. John

Thank you. And if you're an actor, remember that nobody nowadays cares where we are 'from' and what accent we have, what they need is that we speak clearly and with some note of kindness in our voice. Leading actors, successful politicians and any people who just want to make their partner like being with them, do that. John

@@NewYorkActingCoach my pleasure and thanks a million for the advice and nice words which has a great impact on our confidence. I do enjoy your accent and your fascinating work 🙂🙂🙂

You ask a good question. Becoming an actor means going to a good drama school, not always easy to get into, which can cost a lot of money, and even then most actors spend lots of time out-of-work, and do other jobs to survive, and often not being happy and not improving their acting ! So you need to want it, to work hard on the details of scripts, and see if you have the talent to play parts which 'suit' you. Going to a few acting classes may be fun, but a whole life of struggle may be too much,, unless you work hard at it. John.

Well done! There are exceptions to all of the 'rules'. My more recent video, just called VOICE COACH, (on KZbin and my website), shows how connecting wordZup makes a voice sound more smooth, which can make somebody want to live with you just to hear the 'ease' of your voice all the time, and if you're a politician gets you votes, if a priest it fills your church, and if you're an actor it gets you jobs, because it stops unnecessary words from sounding important by accidentally putting a pause before them. John Windsor-Cunningham

You're welcome. I know voice exercises can be seriously boring - and I've turned down the chance to teach them at drama schools because it's hard to get actors excited about them, but if an actor gets into a HABIT of doing them when doing some exercise, (or in my case every single time I'm in the elevator alone at my apartment block, and, with a mask on, as I walk down a street, when people only think I am talking on the phone), then after MONTHS of it you may find people who want to live with you (or at least listen to you) JUST because of the sound of your voice. John