Actors work hard at accents—sometimes a little too hard. If you find yourself using too much effort, or focusing more on how you sound than what you’re saying, this is a formula that can help. And if you’re ever told to “pull back a little” on an accent, this might be the trick.
Three Times Through
Do each line three times, each time with a different point of focus:
Accuracy
Say the line slowly and surely, getting every sound absolutely right (“I. brought. a bottle. of. wine.”)Fluidity
Blurt out the line, connecting every word together. Be sure the line is spoken on an exhale, like you’re sighing through it (“Ibroughddaboddluhwine”). It should feel reckless and inebriated.Boredom
Bring a little boredom into the body and toss the line away. (“…i broughta bottlea wine…”)
The reason this seems to work is that it progressively increases your feeling of ease, without sacrificing accuracy. Step 1 satisfies the part of you that wants to be precise—you do it right, and you know you’ve got it down. Step 2 makes sure you’re breathing with the line (sometimes accents will sound/feel stilted because you’re holding your breath as you speak). Step 3 gives you permission to work with bare minimum effort, which makes us believe you’ve been speaking that way your whole life.
A word about boredom: it’s sort of a taboo word for actors, but giving yourself permission to play with boredom in the body is a great way to find ease. All of a sudden, you become more believable, because you’re using nothing extra.
Three times through, with progressive fluidity and ease. Try it and see for yourself!