LilMouse

The only time I can remember JRM being an American is when he played Elvis. I can't think of any other role where he had to use an American accent.
Usually foreigners are good at playing American. Except Sam Worthington or the chick who plays Hayley on TVD. They need work.

fluffybunny

I totally agree! I love Irish accents and JRM's southern accent is gorgeous. I'm glad he got to use his natural Cork accent in Bend It Like Beckham, amongst others.

I need to check out those actor's accents online then!

LilMouse

I really want JRM and Cillian to be in a movie together where they can use their real accents since they come from the same town.

It will be interesting if you can tell their American accents are terrible since you're not American. Because if you can tell they need work, then you know it's bad.

firewall

Ugh. I like Pheobe Tonkin, but her accent is TERRIBLE.

The worst of all is the Irish dude from Bridesmaids. I honestly didn't even know he was supposed to be playing an American because his accent is so effing ridiculous. It makes me rage.

My good friend is a Brit. We had this discussion and she said she didn't notice the bad accents.

LilMouse

I get irrationally angry any time she speaks. Why can't they let her be Australian?

Wait...he was trying to be American in Bridesmaids? I was convinced he was being Irish in that film.

It's like how we can't tell when fake English accents sound too posh.

firewall

I agree. It wouldn't change the story. (Well, her roots are in the south, but whatever... she's not fooling anyone).

IKR?! I think he was on Graham Norton with Ewan and he was talking about his "American accent." I was like, please be joking. He was on GIRLS as well and again, I swore he was playing Irish...until his parents arrived and were completely American.

I can tell sometimes. Not always. David Anders and James Marsters do incredibly convincing accents (and my Brit friend agreed on both counts).

fluffybunny

sorry, dp

fluffybunny

Yes, I always notice that! I rarely even hear anyone here talk like that! I understand how hard it can be for anyone to do different accents, wherever their from, and concentrate on their acting performance too. I do sometimes hear great UK accents from Americans, and I wonder if they might be British. BTW, we have so many different accents in the UK, that some people might not be aware of. Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham, Devon and Manchester for example, are all very different!

I'm not aware of David Anders, but I was impressed with James Marsters in Torchwood, when he had a UK accent. It sounded so natural.

LilMouse

They should have said werewolves come from Australia. Problem solved.

I just can't imagine American co-workers listening to him attempt the accent and not inwardly cringe or say something like "Dude, just forget it. Be Irish."

I was SO disappointed when I found out David Anders was not English
I still love him, though.

James is Spike, right? So many people have said he's great at it.

Yea, I totally get it's tough to act and keep up the accent. I give props to anyone who attempts it. But people who always attempt it and still suck...just stop.
What Americans do convincing accents?
Imagine being a voice coach and having to pinpoint all the different UK accents?

firewall

I know a little about the different accents. Manchester is like the Gallagher brothers, right? Those can be hard to understand sometimes.

You should check out ALIAS. I think you'd like David, aka Mr. Sark.

Or, be a mute. That would work, too.

I wasn't disappointed, just surprised!

Correct.

fluffybunny

I totally agree! It's so cringeworthy to listen to!
Regarding Americans who do convincing accents, I did think of some but I'm afraid I forgot. My short-term memory is affected even more with my antidepressants, and my brain is fuzzy. I will find some and write them down though!

Yes, that's right. I think part of it may be that whenever I hear a UK accent in an American film, they're almost always either posh or Cockney! Many people are probably not used to hearing other regional accents, so I can certainly see why they can be difficult to understand.

LilMouse

I second this. Mr. Sark is one of my favorites

Oooooh snap.

but everything is better with an accent

No problem

I keep thinking about Dick Van Dyke's English accent.

firewall

Well... my short term memory is crap and I have no such excuse.

Cockney!

LilMouse

I love Chitty Chitty Bang Bang more than Mary Poppins. And um, Curt bang banged a lot of people. See, on topic.

firewall

Never saw it.

That he did. Good save.

And, I mean, I can totally see why. Look. At. Him.