Hollywood dialect coach Joel Goldes on mastering the art of accents

One of Hollywood’s most respected experts in this field is Joel Goldes, whose work has helped actors deliver authentic accents in films such as “The Woman King,” “Argo,” “The Big Short” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” He has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Viola Davis, Steve Carell, Will Smith and Brad Pitt.

Now, Goldes brings his expertise to the Philippines as the dialect coach for the Manila cast of “Come From Away,” opening this June 2025 at Samsung Performing Arts Theater. The Tony Award-winning musical tells the true story of 7,000 airline passengers who were stranded in Gander, Newfoundland, after the events of 9/11. The production requires actors to master a mix of accents, from Canadian to various American dialects, making Goldes’ role essential to the show’s authenticity.

In an exclusive interview with The STAR, he shared insights into his craft, the biggest challenges actors face when learning an accent and why the human touch remains crucial in dialect coaching — even in the AI era.

Teaching an actor a new accent isn’t just about mimicking sounds. It requires a deep understanding of how speech patterns work. Goldes’ approach to accent training is like a science, focusing on how the brain processes new sounds.

“Because we all have trouble hearing sounds that don’t exist in our native accent, I start with a vowel chart,” he explained. “This helps actors understand how the tongue moves to create different vowel sounds. Once they start making these sounds themselves, their brain forms new neural pathways, allowing them to hear and produce the accent more accurately.”

He emphasized that learning an accent isn’t about doing a “voice” — it’s about retraining the brain to recognize and produce sounds naturally.

‘Come From Away’ cast features Cathy Azanza-Dy, Garrett Bolden, Caisa Borromeo, Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante, Mayen Cadd, Steven Cadd, Becca Coates, Rycharde Everley, Topper Fabregas, Sheila Francisco, Carla Guevara Laforteza, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Gian Magdangal, George Schulze and Chino Veguillas. 

“Most people think of accents as something external, but it’s really about changing how the mouth moves,” he added. “If an actor can visualize the structure of the accent and understand how each sound is formed, they can internalize it more effectively.”

While Goldes has a structured method, he adapts his coaching based on an actor’s individual needs. Some performers have weeks to prepare, while others only have minutes before stepping in front of a camera or onto a stage.

“When I’m called to set at the last moment, I need to assess very quickly how an actor learns best and tailor my coaching to fit their style,” he said.

For many actors, one of the biggest challenges is impatience.

“Most actors want to perform the accent perfectly right away, but rushing the process leads to mistakes,” Goldes explained.

“I remind them to slow down, mark sound differences in the script, and rehearse deliberately. As their brains form new neural pathways, they can gradually increase their speed and accuracy.”

Another challenge is overcoming self-consciousness. Many actors feel nervous about sounding unnatural or exaggerated, which can make them hold back.

“I always tell actors: ‘You need to go too far before you find the right balance.’ If you don’t push yourself, you won’t know where the limit is,” he said.

With a career spanning decades, Goldes has been part of some incredible productions. His time coaching Viola Davis and the cast of “The Woman King” was particularly unforgettable.

“We filmed in South Africa, and just 500 meters from the set, we had zebra, wildebeest and springbok grazing casually,” he recalled. “One day, a sudden rainstorm stopped filming and our 200 background artists spontaneously started a Rain Go Away dance and song. The crew joined in — and the rain actually stopped!”

From last-minute accent fixes on set to watching actors transform into their roles, his job is full of surprises.

Joel has transformed Viola Davis as an African leader in the 1800s for ‘The Woman King,’ worked on Brad Pitt’s New Orleans accent for his role in ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,’ and brushed up Will Smith and his son Jaden’s sci-fi tones in ‘After Earth.’ 

With AI tools becoming more advanced, could a computer program eventually replace human dialect coaches? Goldes doesn’t think so.

“While AI might help actors with the basics of an accent, the SAG-AFTRA contract prohibits productions from altering an actor’s accent in post-production,” he explained.

“That means actors still need to learn it properly. Besides, AI can’t give real-time feedback or help an actor understand the emotional nuances behind speech.”

He hopes that Hollywood continues to value human coaching, as accents are deeply tied to character development and storytelling.

For “Come From Away,” Goldes is working with an all-Filipino cast for the first time. He has been deeply impressed by their adaptability and musicality.

“Filipino actors face the same challenges as any other group, but many are multilingual and musically inclined, which helps them hear and imitate sound differences more easily,” he observed.

“They have a great ear for accents, which makes my job easier!”

The biggest challenge for the Manila cast? Mastering the Newfoundland accent, which has a unique rhythm and pronunciation unlike standard Canadian English.

“Newfoundland accents have an Irish influence, with certain words being pronounced in ways that might feel unusual at first,” Goldes explained. “But the cast is doing an amazing job picking it up!”

Goldes’ expertise will be on full display when “Come From Away” premieres in Manila at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in June 2025. With its powerful storytelling, unforgettable music and now, expertly coached accents, the show promises to be a must-watch theatrical experience.

Don’t miss the chance to witness this inspiring true story brought to life — one that proves that even in the darkest of times, kindness and community can shine through. — Carlo Orosa