How to become a voice actor

To become a voice actor, you'll need to develop your voice and acting skills, gain real on-the-job experience, and network within the voice acting industry.

What is a voice actor?

A voice actor is someone who uses their voice in TV, radio, film, theatre or to perform as an animated character. Voiceover artists might work on a wide range of projects, including: 

  • Audiobooks
  • Adverts
  • Animated films
  • Documentaries
  • Dubbed series
  • Video games

Voice acting vs voiceover

Voiceover is the technique of using an unseen speaker to narrate or explain things— usually in film and television. Voice actors are the people who actually record the voiceovers, though often "voice acting" and "voiceover" are used interchangeably. 

A voiceover is the use of an unseen narrator to explain things.
A voiceover is the use of an unseen narrator to explain things.

Step-by-step guide to become a voice actor

Once you're a voice actor

Once you have some experience and have built up a portfolio, consider hiring an agent to help you find more opportunities and negotiate contracts.

It's also important that you continue to train your voice. Work with a coach to refine your voice acting skills and make sure to ask for feedback and take it on board. Keep up with industry trends and continually work on improving your skills.

Educate yourself about industry best practice and learn from other people's experiences. Read books on voice acting, such as "The Art of Voice Acting" by James Alburger ,"Voice-Over Voice Actor" by Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt and “Voice Over for Animation" by Jean Ann Wright. Listen to relevant podcasts and participate in webinars to stay inspired and up to date.

We hope this has helped you understand how to become a voice actor. If you would like to pursue this career, you should consider studying acting further.