American or British Accent?

I just saw Shadowlands by William Nicholson last night at the Novello Theatre starring Charles Dance and Janie Dee. It was based on the true love story between C.S. Lewis and an American woman, Joy Gresham, with whom he corresponded. Excellent work by the cast and a moving story. I had the pleasure of meeting some of the cast afterwards for a lively discussion about the play. Show info here: www.novellotheatre.com

I received an email today from another actress who may be moving to the UK:

Q: "It is a possibility right now that there is a chance that my husband and I may relocate to London and I find myself FULL of questions about what that would mean for me in the world of acting. One question that I am especially curious about is whether or not American actors in London must mostly use a British accent? As you know, for foreigners in the US, it is pretty much a requirement for them to have a perfect American accent in order to get work. Does the same hold true over there? I am especially curious about film and television work. Thank you so much in advance and a very special thanks for sharing so much of your knowledge and experience as an actor in London!!"

A: Keep your American accent! It's one of your most valuable assets here in the UK. It is the thing that makes you special, your USP (Unique Selling Point). Almost every TV and film role I go up for is American. In fact one of the reasons my agents took me on is because they didn't have any American actresses my age on their books. Casting directors want the real deal, so when American roles are available the breakdown usually says "Genuine Americans required". A lot of American commercials and TV pilots are cast over here, and producers specifically seek native accents. Now it's a real pain when an English person has a perfect (sometimes barely passable) American accent and gets the job over you, but that's the biz.

When British regional accents are required, they look for native speakers as well (Manchester, Scottish, Irish, Northern, Cockney, Birmingham, London etc.). As for your British RP (Received Pronunciation) accent - it's definitely worth perfecting, but you won't use it as often as your natural accent. I've only ever used it in stage productions (Macbeth, Twelfth Night the Musical, Failed States). The Actors Centre has some great accent/dialect tutors to help you on your way. They have classes and one on one sessions.

Good luck!

Dr. No - BBC Radio 4

I recently recorded two roles in Ian Fleming's Bond classic, Dr. No for Radio 4. It was dramatized for radio by Hugh Whitemore, directed by Martin Jarvis and stars Toby Stephens as James Bond and David Suchet as Dr. No. I play Miss Chung and Sister Lily, both Chinese henchwomen of the evil Dr. No. The programme is scheduled to air in April 2008. Exact air date(s) TBA. The Independent published a feature on the project entitled "Inside Story: Radio that's licensed to thrill". Read it here.

This was such a fun job to do and a fantastic cast to work with. It came to me in a roundabout way. When I lived in DC, I did a few radio plays for L.A. Theatre Works (LATW) and National Public Radio (NPR). During those jobs I had the pleasure of meeting Susan Loewenberg, the producing director for LATW. When I moved to the UK, it turned out that my British father-in-law is a friend of Martin Jarvis. And Martin also works with Susan on radio plays when he's in Los Angeles. Small world. Next thing I knew I was called in for a reading then I'm in front of a mic at Air-Edel Studios in Marylebone!

Getting a Visa

Happy New Year! I've received some emails lately from American readers who wish to transfer their acting career to the UK, and who have turned to this blog for ideas. I thought I'd include the most recent email (anonymously) as a Q and A, in the hope that the rest of you might find it useful.

Q: “Hello! It is so great to read about an American actress living and working in London. I am an actress living in NYC. I'm really hoping to make the transfer abroad, but I'm not sure how to start. I spent a year studying in England several years ago, and I've been thinking about moving back ever since. Now that I'm not a student I am a bit worried that I'll have trouble acquiring a visa, and I was wondering if you had any advice. How would you recommend beginning the process? Is it better to start while still in the US? Should I contact the UK Embassy in NY, or would you recommend that I take another approach? If you have a chance, I would love to hear what you have to say.”

A: I was in your position when I wanted to return to London after studying here during university. First ask yourself two things – how long do you intend to stay and what do want to do while you’re here? Then I’d visit the UK Visas website to see what kind of visa you might be able to get. If you intend to work, you’ll definitely need a visa. This is difficult to acquire. So in the first instance, I’d suggest coming to the UK on a visitor visa to scope out the scene and make some contacts. (This is what I did and I thought it was a valuable first step. But if you have some way of getting a work visa - family members that are EU citizens, a UK job opportunity - then by all means do it. You'll save yourself some time!)

If you have an agent, perhaps he or she can help to arrange some meetings with agents in London. Since you’re a US citizen you won’t need to get your visitor visa in advance. You can just get one at the passport control desk when you arrive in the UK. However, be prepared! You will need to show the immigration officer 1) that you want to visit the UK for no more than 6 months, 2) your return ticket to the USA or other evidence that you intend to return to the states at the end of your visit and 3) bank statements to prove you have the means to support yourself. During this time you CANNOT WORK, but you can SEEK work i.e. meet with agents, go on auditions, take classes at The Actors’ Centre, Pineapple Studios, etc. For more info on a visitors visa visit this page. You might also visit the British Embassy New York for more visa advice.