Before you scroll any further…
“British accent” covers a lot of ground, and even we Brits don’t always agree on what to call them. So, to save us both some confusion, here’s a quick guide to the three accents I currently coach — and what they actually sound like.
COCKNEY
East End London
Think the Artful Dodger in Oliver!, Eliza Doolittle before the elocution lessons in My Fair Lady, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda, Jason Statham in practically every movie, and most Guy Ritchie gangster films.
And yes, Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins was going for Cockney. We don’t need to talk about how that went.
STANDARD BRITISH/MODERN RP
Contemporary Southern English
This is the everyday, contemporary accent you’ll hear throughout London and the South of England — polished and clear, but without sounding particularly “posh.”
Think Bridget Jones, Keira Knightley in many of her contemporary roles, and the kind of accent you’ll hear constantly in modern British film and television when a character is simply described as “British.”
This is also my natural accent.
TRADITIONAL RECEIVED PRONUNCIATION
Classic “posh” British
More formal and old-school — what many Americans are thinking of when they say “the Queen’s English.”
Think the Royal Family in The Crown, the aristocratic characters in Downton Abbey, period dramas, and the more traditional British sound often associated with classical theatre and Shakespeare.
Not sure which one your character needs? That’s absolutely fine — figuring that out is part of what I’m here for.
EVERY VOICE TELLS A STORY. MAKE YOURS UNFORGETABLE
I provide individual dialect coaching for actors and performers of all ages, with a relaxed, practical and personalized approach. Whether you're preparing for an audition, working on a role or developing an accent for a production, we'll work together to build an accent that feels natural, consistent and confident.
Virtual coaching available worldwide • In-person coaching in San Luis Obispo County
No two performers learn in exactly the same way, so I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to dialect coaching. I adapt each session to the individual, finding the techniques and explanations that make the accent click for you.
My sessions are relaxed, practical and collaborative. The aim isn’t simply to learn the sounds of an accent, but to become comfortable enough with it that you can stop thinking about the mechanics and focus on your performance.
my approach
how i can help
Audition Preparation
Focused coaching to help you feel confident and consistent before an audition.
Production Support
Dialect coaching for individual performers, casts and productions, including adults and young performers.
Character & Role Work
Developing an accent that feels natural for your character and supports the performance.
Accent Development & Consistency
Building the sounds and patterns of an accent and maintaining them naturally throughout a performance.
Script & Text Work
Working directly with your material on pronunciation, rhythm and intonation.
About Natalie
I was born and raised in London, with a British father and an American mother, and grew up with a love of theatre and the performing arts. Some of my happiest childhood memories are of being taken by my dad to see plays and musicals in London’s West End.
I moved to California in 2008 and eventually settled on the Central Coast with my family in 2014. My route into dialect coaching came somewhat unexpectedly through my two daughters, both of whom became involved in local theatre. While they were performing in a production of Matilda, I began helping members of the cast — adults and children — with their British accents and discovered that I absolutely loved it.
Since then, I’ve continued working with performers locally, including through my involvement with the children’s chorus for Opera San Luis Obispo’s production of The Mikado.
My background has always involved communication and working with people, and that carries directly into the way I coach. I’m warm, practical and adaptable, and I know that what makes an accent click for one person may make absolutely no sense to another. My job is to find the explanation, technique or ridiculous analogy that makes it click for you.
Most importantly, I want you to leave a session feeling that the accent is doable, feeling more confident in your performance — and having genuinely enjoyed the process.
Rates & Booking
Whether you’re preparing for an audition, developing a character or simply want to get more comfortable with an accent, sessions are tailored to you and what you’re working on.
Sessions are available virtually worldwide and in person in and around Paso Robles and throughout San Luis Obispo County.
Standard Coaching
30 minutes — $30
60 minutes — $50
Ideal for individual coaching, audition preparation, character work, script work and ongoing accent development.
In-Person Sessions & Travel
In-person sessions are held at a mutually agreed-upon public location in or around Paso Robles. Other locations throughout San Luis Obispo County may be arranged by request.
Sessions within 15 miles of Paso Robles are included at no additional charge. For locations more than 15 miles away, travel time is charged at $25 per hour (or $12.50 per additional 30 minutes of travel).
Meeting location and any applicable travel charge will always be agreed upon in advance.
Student Rate
30 minutes — $25
60 minutes — $40
Discounted coaching for school-age and college students.
Booking & Cancellation
Payment is due at the time of booking. Payment may be made by Venmo, cash or check. Once your session is confirmed, we’ll arrange whether we’re meeting virtually or in person and discuss any scripts or material you’d like to work on.
Please give at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice are charged at 50% of the session fee, and missed sessions are charged in full.
Genuine illness and emergencies will, of course, be handled with reasonable discretion.
Ready to work on your accent?
Whether you already know exactly what you need or you’re not even sure which accent your character is supposed to have, we can figure it out together.
TESTIMONIALS
“Natalie was an absolute pleasure to work with on Matilda. Her knowledge, patience and attention to detail made a huge difference in helping us develop authentic and consistent dialects for our characters. What stood out most was her ability to give clear, practical direction while making the process fun and approachable. She has a real talent for coaching, and I would highly recommend Natalie to any actor or production looking to elevate their work through dialect coaching.”
JON ESTES - ACTOR/SINGER
“I had the pleasure of working with Natalie when I was cast as Miss Honey in Matilda. I have never been good at accents and generally steered away from auditions if the roles involved them. Natalie was incredible! She immediately made me feel comfortable and tried different methods to help me learn certain sounds and words.
Natalie was patient, kind and flexible throughout the process. She expertly balanced proper technique and pronunciation with my character development, which helped me tell the story on stage. I received many compliments about my accent in the show, and I attribute that success entirely to Natalie. You will not regret hiring Natalie Gale for your dialect coaching needs!”
TARA BRINKMAN - ACTRESS/SINGER
“I worked with Natalie on a script that needed to be performed in an authentic British accent. Natalie was extremely helpful! She took the time to walk through the script line by line and showed me how to pronounce the words correctly. She is very flexible and adapts her coaching to the needs and skills of the learner. For anyone looking to learn a British or Cockney accent, I would highly recommend Natalie.”
SABA JAHANZEB - ACTRESS/SINGER
READY TO GET STARTED?
Whether you’re preparing for an audition, working on a role or simply want to develop a more confident and consistent accent, I’d love to work with you.
Get in touch below to book a session or ask a question.