Why Hire a Mature British Voiceover Talent?
- Ian Russell
- Sep 9
- 3 min read
Hiring a mature British voice artist can offer a unique set of benefits, blending professional expertise with the specific cultural and vocal qualities associated with older speakers.
The "Senior" voice range is categorized anywhere from 55 to 60 plus. Casting sites, agents, and the casting notices themselves will usually sort voices and specs according to ages. Most trained voice actors can age up or down 10-15 years easily, but a drive towards authenticity in the talent arena has made casting more exacting when it comes to ethnicity and age.
So why Hire a Mature British Voiceover Talent?
Hiring a mature voice can give a project a high degree of professionalism and experience:
Life Experience: Lived experience can make all the difference to a performance. A mature actor will likely have more real circumstances they have lived through and access to remembered emotions that help to bring a character or story to life. A perfect example is Christopher Lee, who was 91 when he recorded the Lego: Hobbit video game.
Know the Limits: A mature and experienced voice artist, can offer a wide range of tones and styles, from warm and conversational to serious and formal, and can often perform a variety of characters. They will also have the experience to know what they perform well.
Technical Proficiency: Many mature voice artists today own and operate professional-quality home studios, which means they can deliver clear, high-quality audio with quick turnarounds, saving you time and money on studio fees.
On-site Studio Recordings: Often these older voices are empty nesters or even semi-retired from another job, and so they can easily travel offsite to record sessions that aren't local to them.
Gravitas, Authority, and Trust
Mature British voices, especially those with genuine Received Pronunciation (RP) accents, are often perceived as authoritative, intelligent, and trustworthy. This makes them ideal for a wide range of projects, including
Corporate Narration: Adding a sense of credibility and professionalism to training videos, explainers, and company overviews.
Documentaries: Providing a distinguished and compelling narration for historical or scientific content. David Attenborough has made his voice the gold standard for wildlife and nature documentaries. He is 99 years young and still working. His Ocean documentary was released earlier this year.
Healthcare and Financial Services: Conveying empathy, wisdom, and reassurance for sensitive topics. Seniors give us real tried and tested advice that they may have been through or known someone else who did.
Luxury Brands: Lending an air of sophistication and class to commercials for high-end products and services. If the voice is older, it knows what it's talking about.
A Defined and Respected Sound
Mature British voices, like those of well-known actors such as Judi Dench, Patrick Stewart or Michael Caine, are widely recognized and respected. They are often cited as 'celebrity touchstones' This can be a powerful tool for branding, as it can:
Create an "Exotic" Feel: For American and other international audiences, a British accent can lend an air of culture and sophistication.
Target a Specific Demographic: As the senior population grows, a mature voice can be highly effective in connecting with this key demographic, who are often strong consumers with significant disposable income.
Character and Storytelling
Mature voices, particularly those with a certain texture or "gravel," can add a layer of character and life experience that younger voices may not have. This is particularly valuable for:
Audiobooks and Podcasts: A mature voice can sustain a listener's attention over long periods and is well-suited for storytelling.
Video Games: They can portray a variety of roles, such as wise mentors, powerful wizards, or historical figures, adding depth and authenticity to the character.
Animation: Gender or age boundaries are often stretched, with adults playing much younger types and role reversals with females playing younger males. Even so there is still an move towards true casting, especially for characters displaying a parental or mentor role, towards a younger character.
By combining the vocal qualities of a mature British voice with the professional skills of a seasoned voice artist, a powerful and impactful audio experience can resonate with target audiences.
Final Note
A Social Media site was - Casting- Male 60 for a videogame but they said they had trouble finding an older man for the role, so were requesting younger applicants to age up and apply. Given my age, I commented that I fit the spec, no ageing up required and after auditioning was then cast. That role, George in Burnhouse Lane, went on to win Best Male performance at the One Voice Awards USA 2023, showing in this case, casting for age made a difference.
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