# Any UK films / TV where Americans use flawless UK accents? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2012, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032 "2012-03-28T11:28:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![elbravoiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@elbravoiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbravoiv)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/81 "2012-04-07T00:49:40Z")
man, u kidding? i’m from the dc-baltimore area, you would think he’s from around here…stringer bell is british-same thought he was from the hood… thomas carcetti, irish… american accent is easy cuz we just speak simple, deliberate and too the point ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/82 "2012-04-07T08:32:00Z")
> [@elbravoiv](#): > > american accent is easy cuz we just speak simple, deliberate and too the point wurd ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/83 "2012-04-07T14:20:23Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Obligatory reference to Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. What … he isn’t Breet-eash?? FWIW I thought Zellweger’s accent was spot on, although London is very diverse and I’m occasionally a bit mutton. I always assumed the bloke in Magnum was a Brit, so when it turned out he was (another) Texan putting on the Ritz I had to applaud his nous. Finally a hat tip to Christian Bale - unless I’m very much mistaken his British accent in that dragon movie was exceedingly accurate. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/84 "2012-04-07T14:23:28Z")
> [@JustinC](#): > > Finally a hat tip to Christian Bale - unless I’m very much mistaken his British accent in that dragon movie was exceedingly accurate. Are you trying to whoosh us? ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/85 "2012-04-07T14:40:28Z")
> [@JustinC](#): > > Finally a hat tip to Christian Bale - unless I’m very much mistaken his British accent in that dragon movie was exceedingly accurate. One would hope so. ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/86 "2012-04-07T17:27:19Z")
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Mike Myers as Austin Powers. Ok, technically he is Canadian, but don’t Canadians have the same difficulty mastering the Queens English as their neighbors to the south? Anyway, I thought he did a pretty descent English accent. He even did a Scotch accent as Fat Bastard, although I have no idea how accurate or good that was. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/87 "2012-04-07T17:36:06Z")
> [@NiceGuyJack](#): > > He even did a Scotch accent as Fat Bastard, although I have no idea how accurate or good that was. “Scotch”? You might want to rethink that. It’s a pejorative term. “Scottish” is the word. “Scotch” should only be used when talking about whisky. Or scotch eggs. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/88 "2012-04-07T17:42:05Z")
> [@NiceGuyJack](#): > > I’m surprised no one has mentioned Mike Myers as Austin Powers. > Ok, technically he is Canadian, but don’t Canadians have the same difficulty mastering the Queens English as their neighbors to the south? > Anyway, I thought he did a pretty descent English accent. Well, both his parents are British, so that must have made his affecting a British accent somewhat easier. ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/89 "2012-04-07T17:43:39Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > “Scotch”? You might want to rethink that. It’s a pejorative term. “Scottish” is the word. > > “Scotch” should only be used when talking about whisky. Or scotch eggs. Really? I didn’t know that. I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![nudgenudge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@nudgenudge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nudgenudge)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/90 "2012-04-07T17:43:46Z")
Don’t really see how “Scotch” is pejorative. Old-fashioned, yes, and therefore only used now in certain contexts. Anyway, back on the subject of Mike Myers, he’s quite good at doing “cod” Britsih accents, so he can sound something like a British actor playing it up a bit. He’s not so good at realistic British accents. Take _Inglourious Basterds_ - I was puzzled by why the actor playing the British intelligence officer was using such an over-the-top, weird-sounding posh accent. This was before I realised, oh my god it’s Mike Myers. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/91 "2012-04-07T17:44:54Z")
> [@nudgenudge](#): > > Don’t really see how “Scotch” is pejorative. I’ll do you a deal. Go to Scotland, wander into a pub, and start calling people “scotch”. Then let me know if it’s a pejorative term. 🙂 I saw a comedian run off the stage by the crowd at the Edinburgh Fringe a few years ago when he used that word by mistake. They really don’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/92 "2012-04-07T17:48:57Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Well, both his parents are British, so that must have made his affecting a British accent somewhat easier. Good point, but then there is that Scottish accent, although I don’t know how good it was. And he did a pretty descent job with a Dutch accent as well in the role of Goldmember. That is, Dutch speaking English. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/93 "2012-04-07T17:53:36Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Are you trying to whoosh us? > [@Candyman74](#): > > One would hope so. I actually thought he was American after watching American Psycho, and it was only several years later that I learned he hails from Wales. He’s probably my favourite actor today, partly because he works so hard (and convincingly) and also because we’re of the same age and have similar backgrounds. ---
**Author:** ![nudgenudge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@nudgenudge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nudgenudge)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/94 "2012-04-07T17:55:35Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > I’ll do you a deal. Go to Scotland, wander into a pub, and start calling people “scotch”. Then let me know if it’s a pejorative term. 🙂 > > I saw a comedian run off the stage by the crowd at the Edinburgh Fringe a few years ago when he used that word by mistake. They really don’t like it. I am Scottish. The idea that I would be insulted if someone inadvertently called me “Scotch” is ridiculous. Yes, it is not the usual adjective, but it is understood that natives don’t necessarily have total mastery of the circumstances in which “Scotch”, “Scottish” or “Scots” is more correct, and none of them are terrible _faux pas_. ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/95 "2012-04-07T18:00:17Z")
> [@nudgenudge](#): > > I am Scottish. Then you could tell us if Mike’s Scottish accent was any good. So? Were you convinced or was it obvious? ---
**Author:** ![nudgenudge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@nudgenudge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nudgenudge)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/96 "2012-04-07T18:09:30Z")
> [@NiceGuyJack](#): > > Then you could tell us if Mike’s Scottish accent was any good. > So? Were you convinced or was it obvious? Well again, it’s a cod Scottish accent, with some vowels that are a bit off. It’s not terrible - it’s a hell of lot better than Groundskeeper Willie of The Simpsons, for example. It’s about as good as most non-Scottish British actors would manage, but it doesn’t sound authentic. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/97 "2012-04-07T18:21:30Z")
> [@NiceGuyJack](#): > > Then you could tell us if Mike’s Scottish accent was any good. > So? Were you convinced or was it obvious? The accent Myers used for the father in So I Married an Axe Murderer is better than the ones he’s used elsewhere. Sounded very much like my dad, in fact. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/98 "2012-04-07T18:37:36Z")
> [@nudgenudge](#): > > I am Scottish. The idea that I would be insulted if someone inadvertently called me “Scotch” is ridiculous. Yes, it is not the usual adjective, but it is understood that natives don’t necessarily have total mastery of the circumstances in which “Scotch”, “Scottish” or “Scots” is more correct, and none of them are terrible _faux pas_. Well, fair enough. I’ve been told otherwise (I have Scottish relatives, and they always maintained that that was the case). My grandad once had a real go at me for saying “Scotch” (I was about 10 at the time). He’s been dead a long, long time, though, so you’re the only current opinion I’ve heard on it. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/99 "2012-04-07T19:06:34Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > This is Spinal Tap, spot on suburban London\* accents. Christopher Guest is [The Right Honourable The Lord Haden-Guest](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Guest), so even though he was born in New York City, he has a reasonable claim on being British. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032/100 "2012-04-07T20:41:14Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > I’d be harsher, it was awful. I initially assumed the character was an American with an affected accent because he liked the punk and/or Billy Idol scene. Then I found out he was supposed to be a Londoner … This was what I thought, too. I was not a fan of the show but wound up seeing it with friends several times in college, and IIRC my exact words upon my first exposure to Spike were “Who’s the bad Billy Idol impersonator?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-uk-films-tv-where-americans-use-flawless-uk-accents/617032.md?page=6)