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English actors playing Americans

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English actors playing Americans Empty English actors playing Americans

Post by MIG Mon 20 Jan 2014, 4:50 pm

I've noticed with some shows I've been watching lately that there are quite a few English actors playing some pretty big roles in big shows in the US. And they are actually playing Americans.
You have Damian Lewis and David Harewood in Homeland.
You have Andrew Lincoln and David Morrissey in The Walking Dead.
And the most recent I'm watching, you have Charlie Hunnam in Sons of Anarchy.
I'm sure in my youth it was much more likely to have an American playing a Brit. Is there a general shift in acting now where English actors are becoming better these days? Or are these one offs? Any more that anyone can think of?

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Post by TRUSSMAN66 Mon 20 Jan 2014, 4:57 pm

Must be to do with selling it abroad I expect......there are so many series these days.....

You used to have guys like Phil Silvers in your carry on movies to try to sell it to us...

Be honest I always thought Wooster boy's accent sucked in HOUSE........

But If the story is good who cares..

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Post by Rowley Mon 20 Jan 2014, 5:19 pm

I think it is payback for Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins.

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Post by Guest Mon 20 Jan 2014, 5:50 pm

Rowley wrote:I think it is payback for Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins.
Don't recall seeing THAT version.


Anyway, don't see what the fuss is about. For years Oprah Winfrey has been played by an old white guy from Kidderminster

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Post by Galted Mon 20 Jan 2014, 7:08 pm

DAVE667 wrote:
Rowley wrote:I think it is payback for Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins.
Don't recall seeing THAT version.


Anyway, don't see what the fuss is about. For years Oprah Winfrey has been played by an old white guy from Kidderminster

I think that's Eddie Murphy playing an old white guy from Kidderminster playing Oprah.

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Post by The Fourth Lion Tue 21 Jan 2014, 1:42 pm

Hugh Laurie in House. I wouldn't like to say whether his American accent was passable or not. That should be judged by Americans.

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Post by CFCNick Fri 04 Apr 2014, 3:25 pm

Sam Palladio who plays Gunnar in Nashville is English.

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Post by TRUSSMAN66 Fri 04 Apr 2014, 3:48 pm

Michael Caine's truly awful Texan accent in On Deadly Ground is probably the worst of the lot..

Always enjoyed Connery's Irish-American/Scottish accent in The Untouchables......

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Post by TopHat24/7 Mon 07 Apr 2014, 1:44 pm

There's never been a worse example of anything than Don Cheadle trying to play a Londoner in the Ocean's series.

As a general rule of thumb the Brits do a lot better job playing Americans than the other way round.

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Post by Guest Mon 07 Apr 2014, 1:49 pm

TopHat24/7 wrote:There's never been a worse example of anything than Don Cheadle trying to play a Londoner in the Ocean's series.  

As a general rule of thumb the Brits do a lot better job playing Americans than the other way round.
Gwyneth Paltrow in SLIDING DOORS?

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Post by TopHat24/7 Mon 07 Apr 2014, 2:04 pm

Haven't seen it lol

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Post by Guest Mon 07 Apr 2014, 3:44 pm

You're lucky...it was absolute sh*t but my then other half wanted to watch it.

Think it's about how a woman's life turns out differently depending on whether she catches/misses a train home (the sliding doors)

It's guff but I did get laid at the end (probably as a reward for my infinite patience and not smashing the TV in whilst screaming "this is bullsh!t" at the top of my voice but I'll take what I can)

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Post by westisbest Tue 08 Apr 2014, 9:54 am

Can add Josh Bowman to the list.
Plays Daniel Grayson in Revenge. Good american accent in that.




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Post by XR Tue 08 Apr 2014, 10:14 am

Jason Statham does a pretty good "Is he American?" accent.

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Post by Reborn-DeeMcK-Reborn Tue 08 Apr 2014, 10:14 am

Not English, but Colin Farall in Phonebooth was a bit hard to listen too, he sounded like that crazy guy in Police Academy at times
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Post by TopHat24/7 Tue 08 Apr 2014, 10:28 am

Just thought of one - best American I've ever known for producing a textbook indistinguishable English accent is the guy that plays Stonebridge in Strike Back.

Was genuinely shocked to find out he was American!

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Post by westisbest Tue 08 Apr 2014, 10:34 am

Philip Winchester.


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Post by 1GrumpyGolfer Tue 08 Apr 2014, 11:04 am

Martin Freeman is one of the lead characters in the tv series of Fargo. It's starting next week and will be shown in the UK about a month later.

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Post by The Fourth Lion Tue 08 Apr 2014, 8:34 pm

The rules for any British actor wanting to take the role of an American

Firstly, learn to replace adjectives such as excellent, wonderful, amazing, brilliant, tremendous, stupendous, incredible, inspiring, stupendous (and so on) with the standard Americanism for anything that is slightly better than ordinary:

A-a-a-a-a-w-w-w-e-e-e-some.

To pass yourself off as an American, you need know only this one word.  I sometimes wonder what word Americans use when they experience something that truly is awesome, rather than mildly interesting.

Secondly, remember that you should forget the finer nuances of the spoken word.  You are not using a mo-biy-ul phone, you are on a mo-bull. * Americans are lazy and can't be bothered with additional syllables so they shorten it all down  (they do it with spelling too...think colour - color).  Perhaps a good rule of thumb would be to imagine your tongue has been put on an anvil and pummelled with a large hammer until it is incapable of functioning properly.

Thirdly, insert as many references to excrement into your conversation as possible.  For some strange reason, Americans love to describe everything in terms of dung ("What sheeeiiiit is this?"   "This is messin' with my sheeeeiiiit". You get my drift).    Quite why human body waste should have become another of their fits-every-conversation word (a bit like a-a-a-a-a-w-w-w-w-e-e-e-esome) is beyond me, but you have to say it or you'll  have no credibility.

Thirdly, remember to forget the 's' on the end of plural words, such as mathematics.  Americans don't do mathematics, they do mathematic.  Hence the phrase  "You do the math".   If you suggest that they do their maths, you will have used one letter too many and will be immediately outed as being British.   Remember.... be lazy.  You'll fit in just fine.

And lastly, the ultimate sell out.  Football.  They use the horrible "s" word for football which I am ashamed to say, was invented by an Englishman and gave them all the excuse they needed to usurp the name of our noble sporting pastime and give their version of armoured rugby league an appellation it doesn't deserve.  If the acting role you undertake really.... REALLY.... requires you to use the 's' word, then artistic licence exonerates you, but it should leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Fortunately, your role will one day end and you should return to the land of your lingual heritage.   English is a beautiful language and speaking, reading and writing it should be enjoyed.   Actors going over there to make a living can be forgiven for compromising their birthright.... for as long as it takes.

They just shouldn't forget where they come from.



*yes, yes, I know they call it a Cell.... another example of laziness... but I think mobile is a good example.
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Post by Guest Wed 09 Apr 2014, 10:24 am

Don't forget to insert the term (I'm loathe to say "word") "UH" into each sentence at least three times.

"Hi, I uh, wonder if you could uh, tell me the way to the uh, restroom."

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Post by Reborn-DeeMcK-Reborn Wed 09 Apr 2014, 10:27 am

DAVE667 wrote:Don't forget to insert the term (I'm loathe to say "word") "UH" into each sentence at least three times.

"Hi, I uh, wonder if you could uh, tell me the way to the uh, restroom."

To be fair, that kind of sentence is easier to read that a Truss comment.
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Post by Guest Wed 09 Apr 2014, 10:34 am

Anyone notice the coincidental disappearance of TRUSS from the boards and then Floyd Mayweather posting footage of himself being massaged by a blonde in underwear at his home?

Truss flying home for the holidays, my foot. The Floyd Fluffer has been given his long awaited booty call.

"Put on them heels, that bra, that blond wig then get yo ass over here, son"

"You got it sir!"

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