# Russell Brand's Ethnicity **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** actor-characters\ **Created:** [December 5, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978 "2010-12-05T00:02:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/21 "2010-12-06T05:47:21Z")
The main thing I noticed that has changed about his appearance com that early 2006 picture where dont ask said he looked very british is that he now arches his eyebrows, that is waxes or plucks them into an arched shape. It gives his face a womanly look at odds with his beard. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/22 "2010-12-06T11:09:19Z")
> [@Pierrot\_Le\_Fou](#): > > Obviously it is a slippery issue. Brand just looks more Spanish or Italian than British. Isn’t this like saying: Slippery issue. Shatner looks more Wisconsian or Maine-ish than Canadian? ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/23 "2010-12-06T15:22:43Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Don’t know about his ethnicity, but he just looks like he has a really bad case of BO. > > Yes, I realize you can’t see smells, but in his case I think an exception can be made. Absolutely! He makes my flesh crawl.😃 ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/24 "2010-12-06T15:32:03Z")
Some of you can’t imagine what the OP meant? Really? Cause to me, though I’m aware that Brits come in all shades, sizes and shapes, he has a pretty exotic look (smelliness aside) to me that suggests he has some Asian or Greek or whatever in him. Not trying to pick on anyone but when I picture a “typical” Brit, it aint Russell Brand that comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/25 "2010-12-06T15:52:28Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Some of you can’t imagine what the OP meant? Really? Cause to me, though I’m aware that Brits come in all shades, sizes and shapes, he has a pretty exotic look (smelliness aside) to me that suggests he has some Asian or Greek or whatever in him. Not trying to pick on anyone but when I picture a “typical” Brit, it aint Russell Brand that comes to mind. That’s as much to do with his clothing and haircut though… if you gave him a decent shave, put him in a cheap suit, wiped of the guyliner and smoothed his hair down he’d look like Tim from The Office. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/26 "2010-12-06T15:56:14Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Some of you can’t imagine what the OP meant? Really? Cause to me, though I’m aware that Brits come in all shades, sizes and shapes, he has a pretty exotic look (smelliness aside) to me that suggests he has some Asian or Greek or whatever in him. Not trying to pick on anyone but when I picture a “typical” Brit, it aint Russell Brand that comes to mind. But he has medium brown hair, pale skin and brown eyes. That’s an average Brit. What does come to mind for you? ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/27 "2010-12-06T16:06:27Z")
If you look at the picture of him without facial hair, a little way down this page - [newsofap.com](http://www.newsofap.com/hollywood_news_list.php?news_cat_id=33&start=100) - he doesn’t look anything very exotic. The reason he doesn’t come across as very ‘British’ is that his accent/delivery is completely unconvincing and that he’s a massive fucking show-off. Terribly vulgar. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/28 "2010-12-06T16:14:07Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > But he has medium brown hair, pale skin and brown eyes. That’s an average Brit. > > What does come to mind for you? Well, looking at some pictures of him, he \*is \*paler than in my mind’s eye. I always considered him swarthy. His eyes are very dark brown and seemingly almond shaped, though that could be an affect of the eyeliner. I don’t know how to explain it but his features make him look . . . exotic, for lack of a better word. When I think of a “typical” Brit, I picture pastier skin, lighter (usually a blue or grey shade) eyes and just an overall more “northern European” look. Sorry if I’m not explaing it well, and I certainly don’t mean to offend anyone. As a person of mixed (and unknown) heritage, maybe these things stand out more to me. Also, I have a British boyfriend and lots of British friends which of course doesn’t make me any kind of expert but has no doubt helped to form my perception. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/29 "2010-12-06T16:32:53Z")
> [@Staggerlee](#): > > If you look at the picture of him without facial hair, a little way down this page - [http://www.newsofap.com/hollywood\_news\_list.php?news\_cat\_id=33&start=100](http://www.newsofap.com/hollywood_news_list.php?news_cat_id=33&start=100) - he doesn’t look anything very exotic. > > The reason he doesn’t come across as very ‘British’ is that his accent/delivery is completely unconvincing and that he’s a massive fucking show-off. Terribly vulgar. His accent is a Grays accent - it’s not put on at all. > [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Well, looking at some pictures of him, he \*is \*paler than in my mind’s eye. I always considered him swarthy. His eyes are very dark brown and seemingly almond shaped, though that could be an affect of the eyeliner. I don’t know how to explain it but his features make him look . . . exotic, for lack of a better word. When I think of a “typical” Brit, I picture pastier skin, lighter (usually a blue or grey shade) eyes and just an overall more “northern European” look. Sorry if I’m not explaing it well, and I certainly don’t mean to offend anyone. As a person of mixed (and unknown) heritage, maybe these things stand out more to me. Also, I have a British boyfriend and lots of British friends which of course doesn’t make me any kind of expert but has no doubt helped to form my perception. I kinda get that, but when you actually look at him without thinking about the beard and stuff, his colouring is not just commonplace but _the_ most commonplace and his features underneath all that hair are really really ordinary. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/30 "2010-12-06T16:59:21Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > His accent is a Grays accent - it’s not put on at all. On top of that, it’s common for comedians to emphasize their own natural accent for effect. Many Americans will be famililar with the on-stage accents of Andrew Clay and Jeff Foxworthy (especially early in their careers). ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/31 "2010-12-06T17:22:58Z")
Whenever anyone from Essex gets famous and doesn’t have a posh accent, they’re accused of having a put-on accent. (Jamie Oliver gets accused of this all the time too). ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/32 "2010-12-06T18:23:30Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > Whenever anyone from Essex gets famous and doesn’t have a posh accent, they’re accused of having a put-on accent. (Jamie Oliver gets accused of this all the time too). It’s not just the accent, it’s the faux-dandy speech and extravangant mannerisms which are at odds with his “bloke from essex” status. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/33 "2010-12-06T18:34:19Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > It’s not just the accent, it’s the faux-dandy speech and extravangant mannerisms which are at odds with his “bloke from essex” status. Does he have ‘bloke from Essex’ status? I thought his whole schtick was being a cross between a dandy and a tramp, hence the strange speech and mannerisms - but the accent’s just an accent. ---
**Author:** ![Acorns.but\_not\_Bacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@Acorns.but\_not\_Bacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acorns.but_not_Bacon)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/34 "2010-12-06T18:34:31Z")
I don’t think he has ever marketed himself as just “a bloke from Essex”. His faux dandy speech and mannerisms are just part of his personality, it’s who he is. _Along_ with his bloke from Essex-ness. As a Brit it’s very easy to put on that kind of posh plum in the mouth accent unfortunately. I’m from Gloucestershire and our accents are officially pirate like, however I slip into the plummy type of speak because well…the English accent can be bit of a blank canvas. Also what’s with all this Russell hate? His Ponderland series was hilarious, I think Americans caught “the worst” of Russell, they haven’t seen the kind of depth he has when it comes to comedy. It can be hit and miss though. But trust me, Ponderland is brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![bob1212](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@bob1212](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob1212)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/35 "2013-04-25T09:52:19Z")
I’ve lived in Spain for 17 years and Russel Brand looks typically Spanish. By typically Spanish I mean he looks Southern European (italian, spanish, portuguese) i.e. dark white, which is what he is. I don’t mean to say that there aren’t plenty of Northern European looking Spaniards and Italians or plenty of Southern European looking Brits. Im not denying the fact that Im using the terms Northern and Southern European quite generally. I’m also not denying any part of history or insulting anybody’s brain. I’m just stating a fact… anybody who has been to Spain or Italy and can speak enough Spanish/Italian or has enough world knowledge to distinguish between the locals and the immigrants knows. It’s not really a debatable issue as far as I can see… Does he look white British? Sure… If you didn’t know his nationality would you guess British? Not with a bit of world knowledge behind you… Ps Im also not denying the existence of multiculturalism. There are plenty of black, Asian, Arab and mixed race Italians, Spaniards and Brits. Long live political correctness ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/36 "2013-04-25T10:02:09Z")
> [@bob1212](#): > > Long live political correctness You bringing up this topic again after no one posted to it for over two years certainly helps “political correctness” live longer… ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/37 "2013-04-25T19:24:16Z")
> [@Pierrot\_Le\_Fou](#): > > Obviously it is a slippery issue. Brand just looks more Spanish or Italian than British. Happens to some Brits all the time: they’re born on Scilly, but it’s misspelled on the birth certificate and the grow up Sicillian. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/38 "2013-04-26T01:31:19Z")
I’ve thought he’s cro-magnon. He looks like he was found, thawed out, and dressed in a suit. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/39 "2013-04-26T01:43:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think Brand’s problem is that he’s trying to impersonate all four Young Ones simultaneously. \ 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978/40 "2013-04-26T01:57:32Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Looks very English [here.](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-392247/Russell-Brand-A-modern-rakes-progress.html) In that picture he looks exactly like every single British rock star circa 1970. The rest of the posters on this page must be extremely young. For the haters out there, I can tell you that My Booky Wook and My Booky Wook II are very good. And bob1212, you don’t have any idea what political correctness is supposed to mean, do you? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russell-brands-ethnicity/562978.md?page=3)