Who is a Narrator?

A narrator is a person who reads a script aloud, live in person or through a voice over recording, for an audience. Using the spoken word as a vehicle of expression, narrators are able to captivate, amuse and delight their audiences as well as educate, persuade and instill information.

Each narrator possesses a unique voiceprint and no two voices are the same. Narrators also make definite choices when interpreting the text that is before them, resulting in content that is as individual as it is expressive.

Good Narrators Can:

1. Engage the listener

2. Make and keep a contract with the listener to suspend their disbelief

3. Give a consistent performance

4. Have intuitive timing

5. Develop multiple convincing and separate character voices

6. Be an authentic narrator with an independent voice

7. Interpret the author's intent

8. Transport the listener to a different time and place

9. Maintain a solid presence

10. Bring the story to life

Famous Narrators

While many narrators of our time are fairly unknown to the public, there are a number of celebrity actors who narrate and perform voice over work in addition to their on-camera careers. One such example is the legacy of the Thomas the Tank Engine series "Thomas and Friends" which has been narrated by a succession of famous names on both sides of the pond, including former Brits such as the Beatles' Ringo Starr, Michael Angelis, and most recently, Irish actor Pierce Brosnan in fall of 2008. American narrators have included the late comedian and writer George Carlin, Michael Brandon and movie / television star, Alec Baldwin.

Awards Given to Narrators:

The Audies

Golden Earphones

Listen Up! Awards

The Voiceys