dgmayor

Didn't see it mentioned, probably because he's not huge, but Dominic West, who plays McNulty on HBO's "The Wire" is British and does a fantastic American (Baltimore to be precise) accent.

The Bus

I have to say that it's non-Americans doing American accents. I'm always surprised when I see someone like Kidman or Collette on Leno or what have you and I find out they're not American.

argh923

Hugh Laurie.

End of discussion.

Jon2

Even though I saw both, I can't say I noticed.

I do find it a bit humorous, however, since Lewis is British and the "Americans" (i.e. predominantly British colonials) at the time of Last of the Mohicans would have spoken with British accents. Or variations thereof that most modern ears would find indistinguishable.

wishbone

I think a lot of British actors (and those across the pond in that general area) tend to have a theater background so that probably helps in their character preparation and accents.

I remember hearing about this at the time of Bridget Jones' release:http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/2116/

It is interesting hearing Canadians speak as Americans with the occasional "aboats" and "zeds."

wendersfan

Hugh Laurie is good at many things, but he sucks at emulating an American accent (or at least he used to; I only got through S1 of House before I gave up on that show as utterly dire.

I absolutely cannot watch English TV shows which have natives playing American characters. Since the quality of actor is lesser for TV guest star roles, their ability to do accents is equally lesser, and it drives me up the wall. I imagine Brits feel the same way sometimes when watching American TV.

fumanstan

Really? It seems like most people are incredibly surprised to find out that Hugh Laurie is British.

stingermck

Christan Bale. Uses a different accent for each role. Thread done

f1shf00d

oh, man, did you ever hear that thing that Peter Sellers does on the special features for Dr. Strangelove? there's an audio bit where he goes through about 10 different British accents....you can really notice the variety of regional accents there.

Jericho

Gary Oldman is pretty impressive. I say he beats Hugh Laurie and Christian Bale. Take that!

wendersfan

As if the opinions of people who never watched Black Adder are worth anything.

movieguru

I vote for the British doing American accents.

patrick Stuarts has done an American accent well in several films, but never even tried to do a French accent in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Superman07

You're kidding right? Have you ever heard a British person speak? It's practically cringeworth to hear her at that role.

If you want an example of good, check out James Marsters as he is great at the British accent.

DealMan

So many little bit character parts go to relatively unknown British actors all the time and most of us never realize it. It's funny watching a movie like Doom and seeing some huge tattoo'd jack'd up black guy shouting "Die motherf**ker alien scum!", then seeing him interviewed in the special features and he's like [british accent] "well it was quite tough actually, with not having the necessary tea breaks and all...."[/british accent]

Draven

According to an earlier post, UKers apparently hate JM's accent

Could it be that some of this comes down to opinion?

FantasticVSDoom

Its about the same... People keep saying that there are so many different regions and types in British accents, but the same can be said about American accents as well. As long as they stop giving Angelina Jolie roles with accents Ill be happy.

Amel

Oldman definitely owns the Brit-with-an-American-whiteboy-wannabe-black-gangbanger-accent

Is today whiteboy day?

CKMorpheus

Hugh Laurie
Christian Bale
Rachel Griffiths
Gary Oldman

Drop

Grimfarrow, you are missing Portia Di Rossi. She does a mostly great one. If you listen close you can hear it though. The word "anything" and words like it are her tell.

I voted about even. I think there are just more British actors doing american accents then vice versa. Plus the British have it easy when doing a southern accent (McGregor in Big Fish). Americans don't have it easy doing any english or australian or new zealand accent. I'm pretty good at detecting missteps though.

Chritain Bale also has any unfair advantage because he really has lived over many parts of the world since he was young, so he has a huge familiarity. He also happens to be an exceptional actor that few can compete with.

othellobloke

I literally think anyone who thinks Christian Bale or Hugh Laurie do good American accents should be slapped. Anyone who's NOT ignorant and stupid can easily tell they're British. Christian Bale in Shaft? pssstttt. Hugh Laurie on House? Would it be easier for all the stupid Yanks to paint a Union Jack on his forehead?

I don't understand why people can't hear their fakeness. You can't really blame Americans who can't tell, mainly because American culture is brash, and arrogant, and most American don't know any better... but British people who think they do good accents are the lowest scum of the earth.

The only half decent Brit actor doing American accent is Gary Oldman in Leon / The Professional.

aintnosin

The funny thing about Kevin Costner as Robin Hood is that no one's accent in that movie is authentic. People didn't speak with the modern British accents heard in the movie in the 12th century. They barely spoke what we'd recognize as English.

zoomgirl

My votes go for:

Eamon Walker from OZ
Jamie Bamber from Battlestar Galactica

aintnosin

Gibson comes by both his Aussie and American accents honestly. He was born in the U.S. and grew up here, moving to Australia at 12.

cleaver

It took me years to accept that Idris Elba was British. Most of DVDTalk is presumably far better judge of American accents than British accents, but there are so many British actors who do terrific jobs. Most people you talk to don't know Gary Oldman and Christian Bale are British.

edit: OK, not most people you talk to, but most people in the United States who have seen Oldman or Bale in a movie.

The Bus

Rich Fulcher's "American" accent in The Mighty Boosh is absolutely awful. It could be on purpose, though:





Craig Ferguson's "English" accent in The Drew Carey show was done as extremely English on purpose: he was tired of people exaggerating Scottish accents.