MovieChat Forums > Woman in Gold (2015) Discussion > Horrible American Accents

Horrible American Accents

posted 8 years ago by bthwaithe
7 replies | jump to latest

Why do films and tv shows insist on hiring British actors to play Americans? Their accents were horrible. It's not like Americans are allowed to work in movies and tv shows pretending to be British. Here's an idea -- why not hire an American --or at least a North American -- to play the part of an American? We have drama schools. We have a national repertory theater group and a national Shakespeare company. We can play Americans with our real American accents. Where are young actors supposed to appear and establish careers? The young Robert DeNiros, Christopher Walkens, Meryl Streeps, Glenn Closes -- how can they establish themselves in American film and television?

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] archer1812 8 years ago

What are you talking about. The only British actor who played an American was Johnathan Pryce who played the part of Rehnquist, which was a small part with few lines. But he did an excellent job.

[–] AtoZ2014 8 years ago

Is this about Helen Mirren? She's lived in LA for decades, maybe only part time but still... Anyway, her accent has a bit of Austrian thrown in as well.

[–] AtoZ2014 8 years ago

Is this about Helen Mirren? She's lived in LA for decades, maybe only part time but still... Anyway, her accent has a bit of Austrian thrown in as well.

[–] aleach26 8 years ago

I assume the OP was referring to Charles' Dance - I tend to agree. I can't see why an American actor wasn't cast in his role.

[–] smalltowngirl124 8 years ago

I think the US is far more generous in letting actors from other countries playing American roles, like Batman and Superman, both of whom are American icons. Even Abraham Lincoln was played by an Englishman. It seems the Brits are a bit more stingy. I can't imagine they'd ever let an American play James Bond. I will agree though, Charles Dance's accent was painful! I'm not sure what kind of accent he was going for.

It's just the damp of the first spring rain; I do not believe this darkness will endure.

[–] SkiesAreBlue 8 years ago

They should have hired an Australian actor. We do American accents really well. As for American actors trying to do English accents, well, Dick Van Dyke did a great job, didn't he?

SkiesAreBlue