SciFiSam’s already mentioned it, but BBC radio is far, far worse. I’m not even American and I chew my knuckles to the bone when I hear them.
Bridget jones:mad:
Yeah, there are actually a lot of examples of Americans playing Brittish characters.
He doens’t even do an accent when playing one of the best known Englishmen of all time (ie Robin Hood)!
Tom used a capital “I”, Northern Ireland may be culturally “irish” but Irish refers to the Republic of Ireland.
There is nothing quite so satisfactory as witnessing a good whoosh perpetrated on someone else, and for that, I thank you this morning.
“Irish” is always capitalized in the English language, whether referring to the Republic of Ireland or to the nation, geography, culture, history, etc., of the entire island of Ireland.
Winchester’s mother is British and he went to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art after high school. Even if we count him as American (I think he has dual citizenship), it isn’t surprising that his accent is good.
I agree that it was weird the first time I saw them interviewed together about the show and their real accents were not at all what I expected.
Technically speaking, there’s no reason for us to assume that a modern English accent is any closer to a 13th Century English accent than a modern American accent is.
Not that that excuses Costner.
It’s not the generic faux-American accent that bothers me, it’s the faux-Texan one (which is the only regional accent Americans have, apparently). It’s so very, very wrong.
Incidentally, I once taught a British children’s choir to sing with an American accent. They were stunningly good at it.
How about James Cromwell as Prince Philip, in THE QUEEN, faking it opposite an authentic Helen Mirren?
I’m not British but I think James Marsters (Spike in Buffy) did a pretty good Brit accent. I believe he based it on Tony Head (Giles)'s actual accent, while Head adopted a different one.
Ah, Buffy, that quintessentially British TV show!
He was pretty good I thought. James Cromwell had the manner, look and posture of Prince Philip down pat, too. It maybe helps the actor that Phil is a bit of a living caricature anyway.
I learned what Weetabix are from watching Buffy!
I think he gave up trying part way through filming. This does not matter, because Prince of Thieves is an excellent film.
He wasn’t as bad as Sean Connery, whose French accent in “Robin Hood” sounded awfully Scottish.
Director: Sean, the part of the movie you’re in is set in Scotland…
SC: Gud.
D: And everyone in it is Scottish
SC: Ah, Gud.
D: Except you. You’re Egyptian.
This. I first saw Paltrow in Sliding Doors (excellent film) and was stunned to discover later that Paltrow was not from London.
To the Australian guy - Who didn’t tear up when Meryl said, “A dingo ate me baby”?
He plays a much better Scottish Russian submarine captain.
Another vote for this being wrong. Geographically, politically or even linguistically, “Irish” is always capitalised.