SHOWBIZ 7s: A voice-over actor’s favorite roles

Diz White is one of those people you find around Hollywood who does about 5 million different things. She's a comedian and voice-over artist, actress and playwright, and most recently author of "The Comedy Group Book: How to Run One!, How to Get Laughs!, How to Make Money!" Plus she's pretty to boot! We're interested in all of White's many facets, but especially interested in her voice-over work. It's such a strange world! Here are her seven favorite roles:

1. "My first voice-over assignment was my most favorite. A couple of days after I was born, the doctor in the hospital asked my mother to go home early and take me with her because my voice was so loud it was disturbing all the other babies. (True story.)"
2. "Another favorite voice-over job was with Woody Allen although it was unpaid. It happened on the night he bought me a drink. I was sitting at the next table to his in Elaine's restaurant in New York. A friend in my party mistakenly took Woody's very expensive bottle of wine out of his ice bucket, which was right next to ours, and filled my glass before realizing she had picked up the wrong bottle. So Woody bought me a drink--he just didn't know it but then he noticed his bottle was empty. I created a diversion by holding a napkin over my mouth and performing the sound of a shrieking parrot. Everyone thought there was one loose in the restaurant--and we were able to make a getaway. Woody, if you are reading this, send me a bill."
3. "Performing the voice of Jackie Kennedy in the two-hour PBS documentary "Jackie Behind the Myth" was one of my all-time favorite jobs. Even though I am British my grandfather was an American and I can do American accents. Jackie's, however, was quite a challenge with those very interesting cadences. Especially as they were using her real voice right next to mine. I loved performing in this excellent documentary, which is frequently rebroadcast on PBS. It shows how Jackie Kennedy enriched the cultural heritage of the U.S. by her substantial contribution to the arts. She saved Grand Central Station almost single-handedly, among many other examples."
4. "A voice-over job I did with Mel Brooks was a hoot. I was being directed by Mel to dub in the screams of the lead actresses in his film "Dracula: Dead and Loving It." He stressed that he wanted a very loud scream to start off. To tease him I discussed the fine points in a tiny little voice and he looked very doubtful as I stepped up to perform my first scream. I let out such a bloodcurdling screech that it almost melted the microphone. Mel was taken aback. He blurted out, 'Is that how you sound in he bedroom?' I replied, 'Mel, you'll never know.'"
5. "Another time, a while ago, when the wolf had taken a good bite out of my door, I pretended to be French to get a voice-over job that required me to dub with a French accent. I had to keep up the accent for five days. Everything went well until the last day when the producer came by unexpectedly and overheard me, huddled in a corner of the sound studio, doing a phone audition for my next job in broad cockney."
6. "When I was called to work on "Shrek," the casting director asked me if I could do 'medieval speak,' as the voices had to be authentic. Keeping a straight face I said, 'Yes, I know exactly how medieval speak sounds.' She seemed satisfied and didn't question the fact that everybody stopped speaking medieval 500 years ago."
7. "I just loved doing the voice of the slugs in "Flushed Away," it was such a sweet sound. And there were so many of them. They were like little pets. In the end we gave them names. I never thought I could get fond of a slug."

"The Comedy Group Book," will be available in April, published by Smith and Kraus. Join Diz White for a reception at Samuel French in Studio City along with a panel of industry experts on Thursday, April 12 at 7:00 pm as they celebrate the new release. www.dizwhite.com