Arabella Gibbins: The Voice Coach Building a Career Beyond a Famous Family Name
Arabella Gibbins is often introduced as Florence Pugh’s older sister. That may be how many people first hear her name, but it tells only a small part of her story. Arabella has worked as an actor, singer, voice-over artist, teacher and voice coach. Her career has taken her from stage performances to classrooms and one-to-one coaching sessions.
Today, she helps actors, singers and public speakers feel more at ease with their voices. The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts lists her as a Teaching Fellow, while her communication coaching reaches people outside the arts. Her background shows how a love of performance can grow into something else: helping others find the confidence to be heard.
Quick Bio
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Arabella Gibbins |
| Profession | Voice coach, actor, singer, voice-over artist and teacher |
| Known for | Voice coaching, performing arts and teaching |
| Grew up in | Oxford, England |
| Literature studies | University of Bristol |
| Acting training | The Oxford School of Drama |
| Postgraduate qualification | MFA in Voice Studies with Distinction |
| Current teaching role | Teaching Fellow at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts |
| Siblings | Florence Pugh, Toby Sebastian and Rafaela “Raffie” Pugh |
| Notable stage work | Big Bad, a one-woman show that won an Origins Award |
Early Life and Education
Arabella Gibbins grew up in Oxford. When she was 13, her family moved to Spain. She attended an international school there and later went to school in Gibraltar. Living and studying among people with different accents helped build her interest in language and speech.
She returned to the UK to study English Literature at the University of Bristol. It was an early step towards a career built around words, expression and communication. Later, she trained as an actor at The Oxford School of Drama.
Acting gave Arabella experience of using her voice in front of an audience. A performer needs more than clear speech. They must hold attention, express emotion and keep their voice steady through rehearsals and shows. Those demands would become useful in her later work as a teacher.
Arabella then completed an MFA in Voice Studies with Distinction at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. By that point, she had already spent years teaching singing. Her further study helped her bring together her interests in acting, vocal technique and education.
Her career did not change direction in a single moment. Singing lessons, acting work and voice training gradually became parts of the same professional life.
How She Built a Career in Voice Coaching
Voice coaching can sound like a job meant only for actors. Arabella’s work shows that its reach is much wider. A singer may want better control. An actor may need to meet the demands of a role. A manager may need to give a presentation without losing their train of thought.
Arabella works with performers, presenters and other speakers who want to use their voices more effectively. Her coaching covers areas such as public speaking, vocal confidence, projection and clear communication. She also teaches singing to people at different levels, from beginners to experienced performers.
At London Speech Workshop, she is listed as a Principal Communication Coach. Her work there includes helping people who feel anxious about speaking in public, as well as those who want to communicate more clearly in professional settings.
Her approach comes from years of performing and teaching. In an interview with the actor training organisation Both Feet, Arabella explained that she sees herself as a guide. The student must make their own discoveries. For her, one of the most rewarding parts of the job is watching someone take a risk and become more comfortable expressing themselves.
That idea sounds simple, but it can make a real difference to a lesson. Someone who fears public speaking may need room to practise without feeling judged. An actor trying a new accent may need careful feedback and time to experiment. Arabella’s role is to help each person make progress from where they are.
Her teaching changed during the move to online lessons in 2020. Exercises that depended on sharing a room did not always work through a screen. She adapted her plans, gave students more breaks and found new ways to listen and respond. The experience showed that voice coaching depends on attention to the person as much as technique.
Acting, Singing and Teaching at LIPA
Arabella Gibbins has continued to work as a performer alongside her coaching career. Her professional credits include acting, sketch comedy, presenting and voice-over work. She has also worked as a singer-songwriter and performed backing vocals.
One of her notable stage projects was Big Bad, a one-woman show presented at the VAULT Festival in 2018. It won an Origins Award for Outstanding New Work. Taking a show onto the stage requires the same skills she later helps others develop: preparation, control and the ability to connect with an audience.
Her voice-over work has taken her into a different kind of performance. On stage, an actor can use movement and facial expression. In a recording, the voice carries much more of the story. Working in both settings has given Arabella varied experience to draw on when she teaches.
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, known as LIPA, lists her as a Teaching Fellow and describes her as an actor, voice-over artist and voice coach. Her teaching background also includes work with other actor training groups and educational institutions. LIPA has recognised her with a School of Performance Excellence Award.
For students, the value of that background is practical. Arabella knows what it feels like to rehearse, perform and record. She can teach vocal skills while understanding the pressure of having to use them in the moment.
Florence Pugh and the Creative Family
Arabella is the older sister of actress Florence Pugh. Their brother Toby Sebastian works in acting and music, while their younger sister Rafaela, often called Raffie, has also acted. Performance has long been part of the family’s public story.
Florence’s international film career has brought more attention to her siblings. It is natural for readers to search for Arabella after learning about the Pugh family. Yet the sisters have built different careers. Florence is known chiefly for her screen roles; Arabella has combined performance with years of teaching and voice coaching.
The family connection has occasionally crossed into their professional lives. Arabella’s coaching material includes an endorsement from Florence. Still, Arabella’s work is best understood through her own training, stage credits and the people she teaches.
Her career also offers a wider view of success in the performing arts. Some people work in front of large audiences. Others teach the skills that help performers and speakers reach those audiences. Arabella has done both.
Conclusion
Arabella Gibbins has made a career from both using her voice and helping others use theirs. Her path runs through acting, singing, voice-over work and teaching, with each part adding to the next. Her family name may attract attention, but her work as a performer and coach gives readers a fuller story to discover.
Also read:Janice Acquista: What Tika Sumpter Has Shared About Her Mother
(FAQs)
Who is Arabella Gibbins?
Arabella Gibbins is a British voice coach, actor, singer, voice-over artist and teacher. She is also the older sister of actress Florence Pugh.
What does Arabella Gibbins do now?
She works in voice and communication coaching and is listed as a Teaching Fellow at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. She also teaches singing.
Where did Arabella Gibbins study?
She studied English Literature at the University of Bristol, trained as an actor at The Oxford School of Drama and completed an MFA in Voice Studies at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Does Arabella only coach actors?
No. Her work also includes coaching presenters, professionals and other people who want to speak with more clarity and confidence.
Has Arabella Gibbins performed on stage?
Yes. Her stage work includes the one-woman show Big Bad, which won an Origins Award for Outstanding New Work.
