Beyond Reading: Why Acting and Intuition are the Global Voice Actor's Superpowers

Anne Ganguzza
2 days ago
4 min read

with Toby Ricketts

BOSSes, Anne Ganguzza is joined by multi-award-winning global voice actor Toby Ricketts to explore the mindset and techniques required for world-class, remote performance. Toby, who works across British, Australian, New Zealand, and American markets from his remote New Zealand studio, emphasizes that the true superpower for acting for global voice actors lies in intuition, emotional connection, and deliberately making unexpected choices to capture a listener’s attention.

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Chapter Summaries

The Remote Superpower: From Engineer to Global Talent

(04:15) Toby details his journey from quitting his job as a sound engineer to becoming a global voice actor working from his remote, self-built studio in New Zealand. He notes that the rise of online casting and connectivity tools like SourceConnect and IPDTL has made location irrelevant, turning his remote location into a thriving business that allows him to easily serve multiple international time zones.

Pushing Past the Reading Stage

(13:26) Toby explains that voice acting requires pushing past the basic ability to read. He posits that a good reader stops at the sentence level, but a world-class actor must push the reading function into the subconscious. This frees up the brain's "horsepower" to focus entirely on the emotional context, music, and unique acting choices that surprise and delight the client.

The Art of the Unexpected Melody

(14:25) The hosts discuss how to avoid the predictable "melody" that most people fall into when reading aloud. Toby argues that clients are not inspired by average work; they are inspired by being surprised and delighted. The actor's goal is to make unexpected choices (pauses, musicality, emotional pivots) that prick up the listener's ears and keep the emotional pace engaging.

Curiosity and Subtext in Corporate Reads

(15:53) Toby highlights curiosity as a powerful emotion, especially for long-format corporate narration. A curious read suggests the narrator is discovering the information alongside the listener, fostering an immediate connection. He also emphasizes that playing against the emotional context—using subtext like "salt and sugar"—can create a uniquely compelling and memorable performance.

The Moment Before and Taking Risks

(29:25) Anne and Toby stress the importance of the moment before technique to ensure the first word of the audition starts with purpose. Toby advocates for taking risks in auditions, noting that if the casting director wants a safe read, they will "bring you back to the center" in the session. The riskier choice is what gets you noticed in the first five seconds.

Honing Intuition: Feelings Over Sound

(32:17) Toby describes his method for honing acting skills: mimicking feelings, not sound. He advises aspiring voice actors to watch movies, feel the emotions they convey, and try to replicate those emotional states. He emphasizes that if the actor is genuinely feeling the emotion, it will naturally affect their voice, which is what listeners truly connect with.

Embodying the Brand's Passion

(20:18) The hosts discuss turning typically dry corporate reads (like corporate responsibility) into compelling stories. Toby advises voice actors to research the company's "About Us" page, find the founders' genuine passion or pride, and embody that emotional investment in the read. This perspective allows the actor to truly become the brand's authentic voice.

Top 10 Takeaways for Voice Actors:

Prioritize Acting Over Voice: The voice will follow the feeling. Focus your training on emotional connection, not just sound.
Become Subconscious Readers: Practice reading until the technical act is subconscious, freeing your mind to focus on acting choices.
Surprise the Client: Avoid the expected melody. Take calculated risks in your reads to delight and surprise the listener in the first five seconds.
Embrace Emotional Connection: Be willing to "feel" the emotions of the script. The involuntary cracks in your voice caused by genuine emotion are what move the audience.
Use Curiosity as a Hook: Adopt a tone of discovery, especially in narration, to put the listener on a shared journey of learning.
Create Your Moment Before: Always establish the scenario before speaking to ensure the first word of your audition is purposeful and connected.
Find the Brand's Passion: In corporate work, research the company's "why" (pride, mission, original passion) and embody that feeling to make the script authentic.
Physicality is Key: Use your studio space and a standing position when appropriate, as movement helps free the diaphragm and supports acting choices.
Hone Intuition by Osmosis: Watch great acting and mimic the feelings conveyed in scenes to develop your intuitive acting skills.
Do Less, Stop Trying: If you hear yourself "acting" or "trying," relax. The best performances come when the acting is effortless and the spell is unbroken.

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