Why are accents so important in shaping the performance of an actor? Does it really matter if he strays once in while? It does and we have vehemently protested in the past. Example? How many of us cringed at Anne Hathaway’s terrible English accent in Becoming Jane, so much so that it clouded an other wise good performance from a talented actress. And what about the masterful Italian American accent pulled off by James Caan who wasn’t even Italian American. Wasn’t that a huge contributor to the Oscar he won for it? So here’s the list of actors who have done their job so well that they fooled us into believing they were natives of the country whose accent they imitated.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Its hard to mistake Gwyneth for a Brit since she holds her accent so well on screen. Gwyneth gained prominence among the critics with her Academy Award winning performance in Shakespeare in Love. Those of us who didn’t know Gwyneth was American was certainly fooled into believing she was English. She deserves the number tenth spot for her flawless fake British accent.
Trivia: She does however have an English connection, being married to Coldplay front man Chris Martin who is from England.
Christian Bale
Most people are still unaware of the fact that Christian Bale is English. This mostly due to him retaining his accent during interviews. An actor who is known for his indelible commitment to his works, he does deserve credit for pulling off a good fake accent both on and off the set.
Trivia: Christian is in fact from Wales and is married to an American.
Heath Ledger
This was another actor that surprised me. I never knew he was an Aussie until I saw one of his interviews. A great actor who breathed life into all his characters and a flawless accent was without doubt a contributor towards that. Some of his finest works include Brokeback Mountain in which he successfully pulled off a country side accent.
Albert Finney
I was shell shocked to find out this actor was British. Just watch his performances in Erin Brockovich and Big Fish (I’m sure there are a lot more, considering his wide palette of works) and you’ll be just as impressed. Although I am slightly baffled as to why he is never included in lists like this.
Trivia: Born in Great Manchester, England, Mr Finney has been nominated for an Academy Award a whopping 5 times.
Johnny Lee Miller
Most people thought he was Scottish until he started appearing in more mainstream British movies. Reason? The spot on Scottish accent he wore for Trainspotting.
Gary Oldman
An actor who is dubbed the master of accents. He has mimicked everything from Italian American to Gangsta. Just watch his performance as Drexl in True Romance. And then go over and watch State of Grace,where he does an excellent Italian American. The flexibility he incorporates into the various accents he performs is one of the reasons why his performances are pure gold. In real life he is from London and spots a cockney accent.
James Marsters
Come on, who could forget the bleach haired vampire who went on to become one of the most memorable break out characters on television. Originally meant to have been killed off after the completion of his story arc in season two, he proved such a big hit with the audience that he was signed on for five more seasons and went on to finish the series as one of the main cast.
Trivia: His faux English accent which was modeled on the real life accent of his co star Anthony Stewart Head, who played the role of Giles, was so convincing that most people on set thought he was English. Talk about doing your job right.
Anna Friel
I have a slightly annoying habit of focusing on actor’s accents to see if they screw up and let their fake accents slip off. I sat for hours and hours watching Pushing Daisies and nothing. Anna Friel has really nailed the American accent and as far I can remember there aren’t a lot of British actresses who have managed to succesfully do that.
Hugh Laurie
Yeah. Like you were expecting someone else. The multi-talented British comedian who rose to stardom with his humorous sketches in shows like A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Jeeves And Wooster, was catapulted into the spotlight with his award winning performance in the extremely popular Fox Series House M.D. Several people appear shell shocked when they hear him speak in his British accent. One will fail to spot even a trace of British rigidity in this actor’s fake American. Which is why he rightfully deserves the number one spot on this list.
Trivia: Ironically Hugh doesn’t watch his own performance because he thinks he does a poor job with the accent.
Source:10 Best Fake Accents on TV and Cinema
Be The First To Comment
Sorry the comment area are closed