Accents are everywhere in the voice acting industry.
Coaches offering accent training or accent reduction. Game developers, animators and other content creators seeking to make their project authentic or stand out with the accents they use.
It's no surprise that British accents are ranked as some of the most globally likable accents out there (Babbel). Wikipedia also records the UK as having the largest number of these regional accents, some even in different towns only a few miles apart. It's more than any other English-speaking country - even that of the US, which has around 25 different baseline accents compared to the UK’s 50+. So that's a lot of British accents to explore.
When it comes to casting or auditioning for British voiceover roles, touchstones or celebrity references are often given to help deliver the audition as close to the caster’s vision. Sir David Attenborough, Alan Rickman, and Kate Winslet are just some that are frequently referenced.
Once you get beyond the need for a kind of ‘Baseline British sound,’ there is a myriad of ways to consider breaking down the various British regional accents. Purely for simplicity’s sake, I have put them in North, South, and Other designations, emphasizing some of the most used alongside some of the lesser-known ones. Accents & dialects both involve a way of pronouncing words and phrases, while dialects also include grammar and vocabulary.
Southern Accents
Received - pronunciation (RP)/ BBC English / Kings English has many existing variations but seems to be the most popular and broadest label used in US / International voiceover audition requests. In the UK, RP is considered a more regal voice but at the same time, is the most generic way to group a British accent besides using just the word, British on it's own. Many Foreign Language schools teach RP as it is accepted to be the most polished British pronunciation. Prestigious London acting schools offer courses in RP and Neutral Standard English (NSE). There is also a “softened modern version of RP”, known as Standard Southern British English (SSBE) which is more commonly used in UK castings.
British accents are evolving and casting sites now have a category of Estuary English (think Adele or Ricky Gervais). It is a mash-up of RP and Cockney and has become more prominent in recent years. It is deemed a modern British sound, and most users are under 60. You will hear it in shows like ‘The Only Way is Essex.’
According to the Guardian, Multi-cultural London English (MLE) is the dialect spoken by young, working-class Londoners and its youth who have grown up in areas with a high population of Asian, Caribbean, and African immigration. This accent is recognizable in some young British rappers and musicians. Again, this label is used primarily by some UK casters.
London & Cockney accent descriptions in casting calls seem to be used interchangeably, but they are not the same. All Cockneys are from London but not all Londoners are Cockney. Cockney originated in east London and often uses rhyming cockney slang with different vowel sounds and silent letters. Many international casting sites have a cockney voice category. This is usually just reminiscent of a London tough guy with a Ray Winstone type of accent and not officially pure Cockney. In its true nature, it would be difficult for the general population to readily understand.
Then we can head to Southwest England to the West Country. It is the closest to the old British language of Anglo-Saxon, which was rooted in Germanic languages. For casting purposes, it can be couched in terms of being a Pirate or farmer-like accent. Although actor, Robbie Coltrane was Scottish he voiced Harry Potter’s Hagrid in a West Country accent.
Northern Accents
Most Northern British accents were thought to be influenced by the influx of workers relocating to the area during the Industrial Revolution This might be one of the reasons the accent is at times associated with the British working population. Many current UK Brands and franchises like to cast northern voices as they resonate an honest and grounded candour. They are also commonly used in gaming for rank-and-file soldiers or civilians.
Brummie (Birmingham), Geordie (Newcastle), Lanky (Lancashire), Mancunian (Manchester), Scouse (Liverpool), Yorkie (Yorkshire) all have distinctive pronunciations, use of vowels, and slang. The casting of Northern British voices is worldwide but most common from British-based casters. There is also a category of General Northern English (GNE) which is a regional standard accent used extensively by middle-class speakers. Sean Bean and Jane Horrocks come to mind with their endearing but resonating northern tones.
Other British - UK Accents
Scottish
Scottish accents are a popular accent that is used by casting sites all over the world. Over the last 20 years, male Scottish actors have come to the forefront like David Tennant, James McAvoy, and Alan Cumming. The accent conveys a historical element combined with wit and charm.
Many Irish people came to Scotland for work in the 17 -1800’s and their Gaelic accents had an influence in creating the Scottish accent. The Scots accent has four main dialects: Insular (Shetland & Orkney Islands), Northern, Central (The city-based Glaswegian accent is West Central), and Southern (Edinburgh is considered a softer Scottish accent). Each of these has dialect subsets within them. Their speed, vocabulary, pronunciation, and expression, all vary according to region. There is also a standardized variety called Scottish Standard English or Standard Scottish English (SSE).
Welsh
Welsh English accents, sometimes called Wenglish, have gained international recognition with shows like Gavin & Stacey and games like Elden Ring. Their elongated vowels, lightly rolled R’s, and high to low speech intonation are an addition that many global casters have embraced. Welsh English accents have a soft melodic, comforting tone. Although a small country, they have many regional UK English accents depending on location.
Northern Ireland
This UK accent has English, Scottish & Irish accents, all rolled up into one. Thought to be more nasally than a standard Irish accent, with shorter diphthongs. This accent is more widely recognized as a casting on British or Irish castings. The accent might also vary depending on the location. James Nesbitt and Jamie Dornan are popular actors from Northern Ireland who regularly use their native accent.
*Mid-Atlantic/Trans-Atlantic
This is the illusive American & British English that was spoken by wealthy Northeastern Americans that traveled abroad frequently. Default to Cary Grant, however, this might be an accent of an American that has picked up a Britishness in their accent or a Brit that has picked up a slight American accent. It also might be something indefinable that a caster is looking for – an international voice with a neutral accent that could only be defined when heard.
This is by no means a complete and comprehensive guide to British English accents and dialects, as that would need a whole book and a linguistics degree. It’s more of an accent taster to help you discover, cast, and be cast for the many beautiful British accents out there.
Ian is a native Brit with a standard southern British Accent (SSBA) but his parents were from London and he grew up in Scotland and has lived in various places in both Northern and southern England. Check out his accented demos here
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