Also, Colin Farrell, who’s Irish. I thought he did a good job as Officer Street in S.W.A.T. and as Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice.
Nicole Kidman also does a good job speaking with a convincing American accent. Yes, she was born in Hawaii, but grew up in Australia, and speaks with an Australian accent normally.
I think someone who tried to speak with an American accent for awhile, but gave it up was Gabrielle Anwar (English), who plays Fiona on Burn Notice. Fi is Irish, but put on an American accent in the early episodes. Her accent degraded over time so that I now hear faint traces of a British accent when Fi speaks.
The change is particularly noticable in the opening credits, where they show a clip from the pilot in which Fi says “Miami” in her earliest accent.
And it’s bit off topic, but there’s a brilliant moment in “Buffy” where James Marsters (A southern California native), plays Spike (a Brit), pretending badly to be a native Californian. For just one or two lines, he completely butchers his own accent, saying “Ayhm a freeend of Xandeerssseees.”
See, I lol’ed, and then I looked at your location and then I understood. No, dear. She does not.
ETA - Oh, I forgot about another awful one - Captain Jack Harkness is, I realize, supposed to be American by way of time traveling future, but he drops his accent all the time. I believe the actor is from the UK but moved to the States as a child - evidently it didn’t take.
He should get a pass on the accent. In the context of the film it’s obvious that Bert is actually a Pooka pretending to be human… just as Mary Poppins herself is a Sidhe noble.
Capt. Jack is an immortal alien time traveller and former con man from the 51st century. American? Not so much. (He was pretending to be American in the first episodes he appeared during the Blitz in London).
That’s why I said he’s “American by way of time traveling future” - but he continues to have an American accent throughout Torchwood. (Well, sort of an American accent.)
Yeah… “sort of” indeed. Makes sense, Scottish born moved to Illinois at 9… accent would be pretty established by then.
Off topic, but favourite bit of Barrowman trivia: He was considered for the role of Will in Will and Grace, but the producers felt he was “too straight” for the role. :smack:
I would say the American accent is easier simply because Britain is inundated with American pop culture and not vice versa. Actors also have a serious incentive to become involved in Hollywood where American actors have no comparable need.
See, that’s quite funny, because I suspect most Brits think he’s American by virtue of his accent, and not just from Torchwood. He appears on TV here a lot (chat shows, entertainment shows etc) and, whatever he’s speaking, it ain’t British!
“Britisher?” I am a Briton and the first thing I ever saw Gwyneth Paltrow in was Sliding Doors and I thought she was perfect. Pretty darn good accent too.
Seriously, I thought she was English. However, she was doing estuary English, which is not my native accent (I am from Yorskshire), so maybe I am still not the best person to tell.
i thought about barrowman, but didn’t post, thinking that not many folks even on the dope would have a clue who he is.
the torchwood ep where James Marsters starred opposite him had me grinning from ear to ear with the irony:
in this corner we have barrowman, who is a native scot, but uses mostly his american accent (rare to hear him speak in anything but an american accent), and then there’s marsters, an american playing a brit who used to play a vampire that also sported a british accent.
correct me if i’m wrong, fellow torchwood/buffy fans, but didn’t he use the same accent for both characters?
I’ve delurkified myself in order to give Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers, Life) some credit. I think he does a great American accent but maybe that’s just me.
As an American who has been told by many Brits that I have an excellent ear and do several British accents perfectly (years of trying and I still can’t capture a geordie, but I love the sound), I have to say I question your ear. Laurie is perfect, I’ve never heard a single slip.
Trust me, you don’t. We all tell Americans that to stop them telling us what a perfect British accent they do, and demonstrating it to us when we are trying to get bladdered watching the footy.
It’s a recommended tactic in the book the Foreign Office gives us when we travel here.
Ok, if it’s Jemaine Clement fromthis Outback Steakhouse ad then no, he doesn’t sound Australian. That’s probably because he’s from New Zealand. Kiwis sound exactly like Aussies in the same way that Canucks sound exactly like Yanks.
Makes sense, Scottish born moved to Illinois at 9… accent would be pretty established by then.