Surprise Imposters

[jonny jeez]

Okay, so I know actors are meant to be able to "do accents" and stuff. But sometimes I'm totally surprised by just how different the actors real speaking voice is to their characters.

I was shocked to find that Michael Winchester ( who plays a character from the series Strikeback...something I just cant stop watching despite knowing that its complete fantasy...its just so exciting each week!) isn't a proper posh public school by and is in fact a proper septic.

In "british"

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfkIrkO3gFo&feature=related

as he really talks

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNSmNbM6IhM


I know a lot of fuss was made of Laurie's take on his US accent in "House" and I'm sure many Americans were equally surprised to find he was a Brit.

PS the main American character in this is also an Australian (or perhaps a kiwi, I'm not sure)


So who can you unmask as an imposter?

 

[MontyVeda]

Natalie Portman, star of V for Vendetta is not English... this is evident by the fact her English 'accent' frequently switches to Australian throughout the film... she's not Australian either.

Jason Statham is not American, this is evident by the worst American accent I've ever heard.

 

[jonny jeez]

Ooo another one.

lara croft. Whilst I'm fully aware Jolie is not British, her accent is very good.

 

[tadpole]

Ooo another one.

lara croft. Whilst I'm fully aware Jolie is not British, her accent is very good.

i didn't know she spoke in the firm bouncy.... sorry where was I

 

[accountantpete]

The Mentalist is a bit of a hot bed. Simon Baker does a good impersonation of an actor despite his Home And Away background and Owain Yeoman has a fantastic American accent for a Chepstow lad.

 

[swee'pea99]

I (shamefacedly) admit to having been well impressed by Renée Zellweger as a Brit in Bridget Jones...


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbv_hz3WzhU

 

[Ron-da-Valli]

Christian Bale passes as a Yank in many a film, such as 3.10 to Yuma with Russell Crowe.

 

[Crosstrailer]

After seeing Spinal Tap for the first time I was amazed to find that all 3 main actors were American (OK Lord Christopher Haden-Guest father was a member of the British aristocracy... )

Very funny film and their accents are first rate

 

[Drago]

Anthony Hopkins in The Fastest Indian and Nixon. Brilliant.

 

[penguinking9]

Philip Winchesters decent accent could be explained by his studying at LAMDA

 

[Globalti]

If actors are so good, how come nobody does received pronounciation (i.e. how almost everybody spoke up to about 1970, in Brief Encounter for example) in films and TV series set in the "old days"?

That TV series Downton Abbey is often slated for being unrealistic but in the ten minutes I ever watched it was the accents that were most incongruous to me.

 

[Maz]

THE most unconvincing British accent ever done by an American, HAS to be Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins...right folks?

 

[dellzeqq]

Cary Grant was English - as is John Mahoney, the chap who played Frasier's dad.

 

[Fnaar]

THE most unconvincing British accent ever done by an American, HAS to be Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins...right folks?

Gor blimey, Mary Poppins, you're roight there, aincha, luvva duck gor blimey.

 

[Spinney]

Gwyneth Paltrow in Emma - didn't realise she was a yank until much later. (Also in Sliding Doors)