# American accents as performed by non-Americans **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 29, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082 "2012-08-29T23:01:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/61 "2012-08-30T22:35:42Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > I always bring up Melanie Lynskey in these threads - probably most well known as Rose from Two And A Half Men. She’s from [New Zealand](http://youtu.be/bxdBjKPsL9A). Oh, Melanie Lynskey is a good one. I bet a lot of people don’t realize that she’s not American. And her former costar Kate Winslet also has a very good American accent. Like Lynskey, she probably plays an American as often as she does someone from her native country. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/62 "2012-08-30T22:56:05Z")
And here are all the main stars of the Harry Potter series trying their best to be American. Who does it best? [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moPRTR5ABE0) ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/63 "2012-08-30T23:34:45Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > And here are all the main stars of the Harry Potter series trying their best to be American. Who does it best? > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moPRTR5ABE0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moPRTR5ABE0) ha! twilight DOES blow! I think they all did well, what a bunch of professionals. ---
**Author:** ![D-bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@D-bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D-bear)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/64 "2012-08-31T00:35:43Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > No votes for Gary Oldman? No one brought up Scottish actor Alan Cummings. [Here he is explaining the accent](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVWzinzVDHo&feature=related) and [here he is using it.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biWQ14AlEtY&feature=related) He also pulls off straight pretty good for a gay guy… ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/65 "2012-08-31T00:56:44Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > Lucy Lawless (sounds like a porn name) Now I must have Lucy Lawless porn. And there is _none_ available. Damn you sir. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/66 "2012-08-31T00:59:27Z")
> [@charmstr](#): > > I lived in Scotland for a couple of years in the late 1970s and was floored at the awful American accents that flourished on British television, mostly but not always in comedies. In the sitcoms, the American invariably had either a ridiculous “Texas” or a ludicrous “1940s New York Jewish” accent. I got news for you. In Texas or New York, those accents _aren’t_ all that ludicrous. They’ve become proud badges of allegiance, respectively to the far right and the far left. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/67 "2012-08-31T01:45:52Z")
> [@Invisible\_Chimp](#): > > In [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ofg6tJpW0Q&feature=relmfu) scene from “The Riches,” I can’t tell if Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver are bad, or if I just think they are bad because I know I they are both British. Eddie’s not so good, but I think Minnie is actually doing a pretty reasonable lower class Southern accent there. It’s not perfect. there are some slips here and there. But it’s a better Southern accent than a lot of American actors can pull off. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/68 "2012-08-31T02:32:16Z")
When I saw _No Country For Old Men_, I would have never guessed that **Kelly Macdonald** was a native of Scotland. I’m from the northeast, however, and unqualified to say whether or not she sounded like a true Texan. I’ve noticed over the years that British actors have a difficult time saying “goddamnit” in an American accent. Dunno why. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/69 "2012-08-31T03:05:37Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > And here are all the main stars of the Harry Potter series trying their best to be American. Who does it best? > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moPRTR5ABE0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moPRTR5ABE0) Tom Felton was the only one who didn’t put an “r” on “mozzarella”. I’d vote for him as the best faux Yank. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/70 "2012-08-31T03:12:50Z")
Gabriel Byrne: Dead Man, Polish Wedding, Weapons of Mass Distraction also, I think, Ben Kingsley in Dave and Weapons of Mass Distraction Been a while, not sure if I am remembering these movies that well. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/71 "2012-08-31T03:31:31Z")
This should go in the “Obvious things you missed” thread, but in Monty Python’s “Bicycle Repairman” skit (guys in Superman suits all exclaiming, “Bicycle Repairman! But how?!”) for the longest time I couldn’t figure out why all the cast members were talking so weird. Then I realized that was their impression of how Americans talk. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/72 "2012-08-31T03:55:32Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > This should go in the “Obvious things you missed” thread, but in Monty Python’s “Bicycle Repairman” skit (guys in Superman suits all exclaiming, “Bicycle Repairman! But how?!”) for the longest time I couldn’t figure out why all the cast members were talking so weird. Then I realized that was their impression of how Americans talk. Yeah, I was going to mention the scene in the boardroom (the second one, near the end) in _Meaning of Life_ has all of them doing terrible American accents. Though to be fair, being an over the top comedy, I don’t think they were really striving for accuracy! > [@tdn](#): > > Portia de Rossi was very convincing in both Ally McBeal and Arrested Development. It’s a little jarring to hear her speak with her native Australian accent. Watch her, ahem, ‘performance’ in _Sirens_. You probably won’t notice her accent much (cause she’s like 19 and walks around butt naked thru half the film!) And actually, she does give a great acting performance (so, surprisingly, does Elle MacPherson!) > [@For You](#): > > …also, I think, Ben Kingsley in Dave and Weapons of Mass Distraction Although it was still a British one, Kingsley is such a classy guy I was absolutely blown away by his cockney(?) gangster low-life accent (& performance) in _Sexy Beast_! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/73 "2012-08-31T09:30:32Z")
> [@Corcaigh](#): > > I’m LOLing at everyone admiring Hugh Laurie’s American accent, I thought it was awful, but maybe I’m just used to hearing him speak with an English accent? Oh, please - on _House_ his accent is spot on. Which is why so many Americans are shocked to discover he’s British. He’s good enough to fool the natives. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/74 "2012-08-31T09:38:55Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Now I must have Lucy Lawless porn. And there is _none_ available. Damn you sir. By the time you are done with the three seasons of Spartacus, you will have seen more of Lucy than her husband ever did. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/75 "2012-08-31T11:24:17Z")
Q: does Viggo Mortensen ever sound off? He’s from NYC but lived abroad for most of his childhood (back to NYC in his tweens); he’s got several movies where the characters are supposed to be from different American locations and others where the character is American but I don’t think any mention is made of where exactly from. His Spanish accents are superb, I’m wondering whether he’s as good in English. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/76 "2012-08-31T12:38:35Z")
I’m very, very forgiving of bad American accents when watching British TV, especially as I know we’ve given them some doozies, but one of the Doctor Who audio dramas, Minuet in Hell, was so bad that I couldn’t even stand more than a half hour of it, despite having paid 10$ for the download (yes, I listen to the Doctor Who audio dramas. I’m that much of a geek). The story had the governor of Louisiana draw out this horrible, teeth grindingly bad Southern accent that sounded more Appalachia hill dweller than Louisiana politician, and even as generic southern accent, it failed in the most appalling, grating manor. By all accounts it’s a good story, but I just couldn’t get passed that. I never thought Nicola Bryant was bad. Yes, you could tell she was British, but it wasn’t distractingly bad or anything. I saw on a commentary (yes, I listen to the Doctor Who commentaries too) that the producers made her say certain words with a Brit accent, because they were worried people wouldn’t understand her. (?) Someone on this board always says that Hugh Laurie’s accent sucks. No it doesn’t. He’s been going on talk shows for years, and people still tell him, “We really thought you were American.” If Americans think you’re American, then your accent works. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/77 "2012-08-31T12:53:27Z")
Very, very few Americans from urban areas have a “pure” accent, or who have lived in different areas of the country. Between those two categories that’s most of 'em. Between immigrant relatives, exposure to foreign speakers, and moving around it’s actually more common for Americans in urban areas to have a sort of base accent with occasional deviations or quirks. (I have a brother-in-law whose Brooklyn childhood sometimes manifests in his speaking, and my niece has picked up some Boston quirks after going to school there and living in the city for a number of years, as just two examples. I have a sister-in-law whose normal speech is a mix of Appalachian dialect and South Side Chicago for a more extreme example. I’m sure if she were an actor someone would describe her accent as a fake.) As a result, a foreign actor can have a few subtle slips now and again in an American style accent without breaking the illusion. I know people, interact with people every day who are born and raised in the US who don’t have “pure” accents or dialects so some slippage is, on a certain level, completely normal to hear. For that matter, my own accent/dialect has been affected by my living in St. Louis, West Virgina, the Detroit area, near Canada, in Chicago, and now on the border of rural Indiana. And probably other influences I can’t recall first thing in the morning. It’s broadly Midwest American, but it has odd quirks due to the other influences I’ve had. Viggo Mortensen does slip up on occasion, but for the most part you have to either been listening specifically for gaffs or have a very keen ear for accents and dialects. Barrowman in casual interviews can be like that except he’s not - he’s a product of living part of his childhood in Scotland and part near Chicago so his normal baseline doesn’t sound correct to purists. Hugh Laurie on _House_ doesn’t have gaffs that I’ve heard, though I’ll cheerfully admit I haven’t seen even half the episodes so it’s possible it happens on occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/78 "2012-08-31T13:00:47Z")
> [@Rollo\_Tomasi](#): > > Simon Baker from _The Mentalist_ used to sound okay a few years ago, but I guess he’s gotten lazy with it, because there a bunch of spots in a recent episode I saw where his Australian accent came right through. I don’t think he’s ever sounded American at all, especially since the character supposedly grew up in a carny. But I enjoy him so much, I told myself he created a more refined accent for himself to help him run his cons. I love his voice and accent, but it isn’t American. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/79 "2012-08-31T14:47:47Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > When I saw _No Country For Old Men_, I would have never guessed that **Kelly Macdonald** was a native of Scotland. I’m from the northeast, however, and unqualified to say whether or not she sounded like a true Texan. Yes, her accent was excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082/80 "2012-08-31T21:30:30Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Jamie Bamber - Battlestar Gallactica. I was stunned to hear his English accent in an interview. BBC America did a great promo for their _Law and Order: UK_ series (he plays one of the leads) that was based on his great American accent. Scenes of him from _Battlestar Galatica_ were cut in with text implying he had a secret: “They walk among us. They look like us. They act like us. But they’re not. Inside, they’re secretly…English”. Cut to scenes from _Law and Order: UK_ featuring Bamber speaking in his native accent. Very clever, I thought. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-accents-as-performed-by-non-americans/633082.md?page=5)