LIDOprofile - Gina Mellotte
Ever wondered who is behind the voices you hear on TV or on the radio?
Well, today we are delighted to introduce you to Gina Mellotte, whose beautiful voice you will have undoubtedly heard from her broad repertoire, which includes being the voice of the BAFTAs! Gina shares with us her experiences as a voice over artist, and we hope that you enjoy learning about it as much as we have.
How did you come to do what you do?
I’m a Voiceover Artist, and have been for about 20 years now. Before that I worked in TV Production but as time went on, I knew that that wasn’t really my ultimate goal. I’m not actually sure what was really. Family and friends used to say that I had a “good” voice, so I started to explore how I could use that in some way. Back then, in the late 90s and early 2000s, being a voiceover artist wasn’t as popular and known as a career as it is now. The more I discovered about the job, the more I became passionate about it. As soon as I started to get voiceover jobs, I knew this was going to be my career, despite being repeatedly told that if I wasn’t a trained actress I wouldn’t succeed. Those comments had the opposite effect and spurred me on!
What's the most exciting part of your job?
My job is actually very unpredictable, and every day is different. Because I’m self employed, I don’t always know what each day will bring. I have a few regular clients, but otherwise, I don’t really know how the day span out. Clients will get in touch requesting a VO that they need immediately, so I really have to be near my studio constantly! That element can be restrictive, but I love my job so I always manage that as best I can.
What challenges do you usually encounter?
Being self employed means that there can be uncertainty in terms of the consistency of work. I always have to keep that in mind, and plan for the more quiet weeks or months. There is no real way of knowing how things will go month to month.
What's your typical day like?
No one day is ever the same. I am lucky enough to have regular clients, which means that I’m working every day, but the hours change. I’m normally in the studio by 9/9.30am, and depending on the day of the week, I finish around 4/5pm, or earlier. If I am powering through a project I often won’t come out of my studio until after lunch.
However, in term time, I leave to get my daughter, Frankie, from school, at about 2.30pm, because I want to walk and clear my head after hours in the studio. It gives me time to get some fresh air and reset. Once we’re back at home, my husband Andy is there, and we all finish our respective work for the day. I try to then get some exercise in before we finally wind down, or before I need to get back to my computer to finish some admin or do a final check of my inbox.
What do you like doing in your spare time?
When COVID isn’t around, we are very social and love being with people as much as possible, and we treasure having family and friends to stay at weekends. We love going to pubs and restaurants. I adore music and want to listen to music a lot and dance, go to gigs and festivals.
I’m interested too in interior design, and although I’m not an aficionado, I like going to antique markets and reclamations to seek out unique pieces…. And dream of what I would really love!! We have a dog, so walks are frequent.
What’s your go to track or album at the moment?
“What’s Your Pleasure”, by Jessie Ware. It’s the most fantastic album! I walk to it or just put it on loudly at home or in the car. It’s has hints of old school 70s disco, which I adore!
If you want to find out more about Gina, or even book her, head to her website.
