# 10 Best and Worst Speaking Voices **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 17, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725 "2011-04-17T15:06:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/21 "2011-04-17T21:08:00Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > My addition to best male speaking voice- Tim Curry. God I could listen to that man read the phone book & be mesmerized. My sister gave me an audio book version of Curry reading A Christmas Carol. _swoon_ My instant reaction to the thread title was Melanie Griffith. Nails on a blackboard. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/22 "2011-04-17T21:14:11Z")
For best male speaking voice I would add Warren Miller (director/narrator of ski movies) and Terry O’Reilly (radio show host). I would also add Candace Bergen to best female voices. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/23 "2011-04-17T21:17:47Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > My sister gave me an audio book version of Curry reading A Christmas Carol. _swoon_ Oh… oh my. May have to look that one up to make it my own. ---
**Author:** ![surrounded\_by\_literalists](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8baadc/32.png) [@surrounded\_by\_literalists](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/surrounded_by_literalists)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/24 "2011-04-17T21:32:32Z")
I have to add Garrison Keillor as one of the best. When I was in college and couldn’t sleep, I would put on ‘Stories from Lake Woebegone’ and his deep, soothing voice just made all the tension in my body melt away. Also Liam Neeson. I saw him recite the alphabet on Sesame Street once and I swear I almost…it was Sesame Street for crying out loud! Dear lord, I want him to do it again. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/25 "2011-04-17T21:34:00Z")
I love listening to Clancy Brown, especially in villain mode (Mr. Krabs doesn’t count). He has this luscious purr that’s just…dreamy. Seconding Matthew MacFadyen, very hushed and soothing. Speaking of soothing, I was recently introduced to UK comedian Stewart Lee, and his voice could lull me to sleep (meant in the best way possible). Liam Neeson, too, regardless of what accent he’s using. For women, PJ Harvey (speaking, and singing too), Gillian Anderson, Nigella Lawson (the rest of her ain’t so bad either), and…well, my mother. It’s too bad the rest of you have never heard her, because her speaking voice is really lovely. 🙂 Edit: ^^^ Ha, good call on Liam Neeson! ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/26 "2011-04-17T21:45:57Z")
> [@surrounded\_by\_literalists](#): > > I have to add Garrison Keillor as one of the best. When I was in college and couldn’t sleep, I would put on ‘Stories from Lake Woebegone’ and his deep, soothing voice just made all the tension in my body melt away. \. I came in to say this. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/27 "2011-04-17T21:53:34Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > My sister gave me an audio book version of Curry reading A Christmas Carol. _swoon_ That reminds me of another great voice: Patrick Stewart. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/28 "2011-04-17T21:55:03Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > It’s too bad the rest of you have never heard her, because her speaking voice is really lovely. I was going to mention a secretary I used to work with. She had this amazing voice. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/29 "2011-04-17T22:17:05Z")
Any list that does not contain the late great Mark Lenard lacks logic. [Here’s an audio interview from 1986.](http://www.captphilonline.com/Destinies/ClassicDestinies_07_29_88.mp3) ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/30 "2011-04-17T22:19:35Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > Worst > > Rachel Maddow Is it just that you (presumably) dis-agree with her politics? Because, taken in isolation, she has a very pleasant, well-spoken alto voice. For instance, I quite like Mike Huckabee’s voice, and find him pleasant to listen to, he seems like a very affable person…it’s only when I listen to the _words_ he’s saying that I have a problem. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/31 "2011-04-17T22:21:13Z")
> [@janis\_and\_c0](#): > > I came in to say this. I agree that he has a wonderful speaking voice. His singing voice is, at best, regrettable. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/32 "2011-04-17T22:26:19Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I agree that he has a wonderful speaking voice. His singing voice is, at best, regrettable. I find his singing unlistenable. My favorite female speaking voice is [Shohreh Aghdashloo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7DaZvSgcgk), though I could understand why some people might find her voice on the opposite end of the spectrum. The combination of accent and timbre just makes her someone I could listen to for days. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/33 "2011-04-17T22:54:28Z")
Worst: The late Howard Cosell, Jay Leno Best: Sofía Vergara, Jodie Foster > [@runner pat](#): > > Reported. Damn, runner pat; were you a hall monitor in high school by any chance? I envision you reading the Dope with a whistle between your lips. 🙂 mmm ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/34 "2011-04-17T23:22:17Z")
No love for George Takei? I could listen to him reading the phone book. ---
**Author:** ![Tyrannosaurus\_Volcano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a4c791/32.png) [@Tyrannosaurus\_Volcano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyrannosaurus_Volcano)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/35 "2011-04-17T23:45:51Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Worst: The late Howard Cosell, Jay Leno > > Best: Sofía Vergara, Jodie Foster > > Damn, runner pat; were you a hall monitor in high school by any chance? I envision you reading the Dope with a whistle between your lips. 🙂 > mmm I find Cosell’s voice inherently funny and good-natured, not to mention resonant and sonorous albeit the nasality and borderline grating Dead End accent. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/36 "2011-04-18T00:02:48Z")
Joaquim de Almeida. I’ve heard him narrate a couple of short animated films, and he’s fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/37 "2011-04-18T00:16:36Z")
So strictly following the OP, you want me to produce 60 names? That would be mundane and pointless. Instead, I’ll say [H. Jon Benjamin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6YIP2pXtzI&NR=1) but I won’t specify my catergory. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/38 "2011-04-18T00:27:38Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > No love for George Takei? I could listen to him reading the phone book. He was mentioned in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/39 "2011-04-18T00:44:34Z")
Mike Rowe, the host of _Dirty Jobs_, has a great speaking voice. Vanna White, the _Wheel of Fortune_ letter-turner, has a dreadful speaking voice. I’ve always thought the qualities of a person’s speaking voice was underrated in the entertainment field, at least by the average person. Everyone talks about looks, but many of those good-looking actors also have a great voice. Folks might not always think about it consciously, but it colors your perception anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Tyrannosaurus\_Volcano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a4c791/32.png) [@Tyrannosaurus\_Volcano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyrannosaurus_Volcano)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725/40 "2011-04-18T02:33:40Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > So strictly following the OP, you want me to produce 60 names? That would be mundane and pointless. Like I said, you don’t have to strictly follow my suggestions. :rolleyes:🙂 But if someone does so—especially if they did it in a certain order—that would have been excellent. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-and-worst-speaking-voices/578725.md?page=3)