I Can Sound Like Ryan Reynolds. But Should I?

The Double-Edged Sword of Sounding Like Ryan Reynolds

It’s one of the most common pieces of feedback I get. After some auditions & bookings over the past few years, I've been told, “You’ve got a real Ryan Reynolds vibe.” In casting specs, his name comes up constantly as a reference for a desired vocal quality: "conversational, witty, dry, and trustworthy."

And honestly? It’s a huge compliment. More importantly, from a business perspective, it’s been incredibly useful. It's a handy piece of casting shorthand that helps clients immediately understand my vocal brand. It’s even helped me book multiple jobs, like this one:

I'm the creepy whisperer!

But the compliment comes with a question I constantly have to ask myself: Just because I can sound like him, should I? The answer is a tightrope walk between leveraging a strength and falling into an impersonation trap.

The Upside: A Foot in the Audition Door

Having a voice that aligns with a popular, in-demand celebrity is a significant advantage.

• It’s a Search Term: Casting directors and producers literally search for "Ryan Reynolds type voice over." Having that quality puts me on a shortlist before the audition even begins.

• It’s Instant Clarity: When I say my sounds like Ryan Reynolds, clients get it immediately. It saves a ton of time trying to describe my voice with abstract adjectives. It’s a shared reference point.

• It Books Work: When a brand wants to capture that specific blend of humor, authority, and relatability that he's known for, my voice is a natural fit. The video above is a perfect example of a client looking for that exact vibe, and I was thrilled to deliver it for them.

The Downside: The Impersonation Trap

Here’s where it gets tricky. There's a Grand Canyon-sized difference between having a similar vocal quality and doing a direct impersonation. The latter is a path fraught with peril.

• Legal & Ethical Lines: Doing a direct celebrity impersonation can get you into hot water. Brands can’t use a celebrity's voice to endorse a product without paying that celebrity. Trying to trick the public is a big no-no.

• It’s a Gimmick, Not a Career: Relying solely on sounding like someone else is a creative dead end. I’m not a party trick; I’m a professional voice actor. My job is to interpret copy, create a character, and serve the script—not just mimic another actor.

• It Limits My Brand: If I market myself only as "the guy who sounds like Ryan Reynolds," I risk being typecast into a tiny box. My range is far broader than that, and it's my job to showcase all the other characters, tones, and styles I can deliver.

The Strategy: Leveraging the Reference, Not the Identity

How do I walk the line? It comes down to a clear and honest strategy. I don't hide from the comparison, but I control the narrative.

My approach is to treat the "Ryan Reynolds" quality as a single, powerful tool in my toolbox—not the entire toolbox itself.

When I see a casting notice asking for that sound, I don't give them a cheap impersonation. I give them my authentic performance, filtered through that specific lens of witty, conversational delivery. The sound might get me the audition, but it’s my acting, my timing, and my unique interpretation of the copy that will book the job.

So, should I sound like Ryan Reynolds?

Yes. When the script calls for that energy and the client is looking for that specific vibe. But I’ll be doing it as Tom Dheere, bringing my own experience and performance to the booth. It’s a reference, not a role. And that distinction makes all the difference.

Thanks For Reading!

To learn more about me, hear some samples, or download my demos, just go to www.tomdheere.com.

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Tom Dheere is a voice actor with over 25 years of experience narrating just about every type of voiceover you can think of. He also helps other voice talents navigate the voiceover industry as the VO Strategist. When not voicing or talking about voicing, he produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.