[AnetTeilor]

Hugh Laurie, Kevin McKidd, Michelle Ryan. Why do they all have to put on American accents? If the makers wanted an American why don't they just hire an American actor in the first place? Surely there must be plenty out there? If they're going to a hire a British actor why not let them keep their British accent?

[UvgpXK0J]

This brings up something I found hilarious. There was a Cheerios commercial that aired here a few months ago on Canadian TV. It features a British couple talking about the product. I found it quite good.[thumbup]

I saw the same commercial air on an American network and it was dubbed over it with Americans! Wasn't even dubbed well

No idea why they did that

[iodigmaFemZem]

Hugh Laurie, Kevin McKidd, Michelle Ryan. Why do they all have to put on American accents? If the makers wanted an American why don't they just hire an American actor in the first place? Surely there must be plenty out there? If they're going to a hire a British actor why not let them keep their British accent?

I always thought Hugh Laurie spoke with a british accent in house?

No idea who mckidd and ryan are

[WrigleyMike]

Either disguising an accent, or faking it is something many actors due for a show/movie. If they think you fit the part, and you only have an accent to worry about they pay for speech classes and you learn to talk a different way, its part of show biz and probably always will be.

[Tw1anJOO]

I don't know who these actors are.. I'll google them later but it's like asking why did they hire Angelina Jolie for Tomb Raider and made her have a British/English accent?

I think it just got to do with looks and charisma on the set, so the different accents throw off whatever the setting(environment) is. That's just me..

[AnetTeilor]

I always thought Hugh Laurie spoke with a british accent in house?

No he puts on an American one (apparently many Americans think he IS American)

I don't know who these actors are.. I'll google them later but it's like asking why did they hire Angelina Jolie for Tomb Raider and made her have a British/English accent?

That I can understand. The character was British but the production company was American. I would guess it would be easier to hire an American (and well known) actress

[rNr5Di3S]

You know what I find funny, on shows like Ripleys believe it or not, when they have english speaking people with accents they have subtitles. Like if people couldn't understand english they can read...

[Sertvfdnhgjk]

You know what I find funny, on shows like Ripleys believe it or not, when they have english speaking people with accents they have subtitles. Like if people couldn't understand english they can read...

I've never noticed that but damn thats funny[rofl][rofl]

[girlsround]

By the way, is it easy for an american to imitate a british/australian accent and vice versa?

For example I couldnt imitate a fluent bavarian accent if my life depended on it even though its german too. So I always found it interesting when english/american actors spoke the respective other accent. Of course I probably dont recognize that they're still off like a native english speaker.

[iodigmaFemZem]

Bloke out of "Rome"

Zoe (I believe) from "Eastenders"

That explains why I've never heard of them before... never seen rome or eastenders

[iodigmaFemZem]

By the way, is it easy for an american to imitate a british/australian accent and vice versa?

For example I couldnt imitate a fluent bavarian accent if my life depended on it even though its german too. So I always found it interesting when english/american actors spoke the respective other accent. Of course I probably dont recognize that they're still off like a native english speaker.

Not really... I can do a few different dialects.... but there are a heck of a lot more I can't than I can

[Tw1anJOO]

That I can understand. The character was British but the production company was American. I would guess it would be easier to hire an American (and well known) actress

You're right, it is understandable but what I meant by my post was they still could've hired someone who spoke British and looked like the tomb raider and I'm pretty sure they selected some other ( don't remember if she was british or not ) girl to star as the next tomb raider. I guess they learned their lesson haha.

I find movies that have actors speak in British or similar accent such as Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan or the guy from Crank/Transporter ( just to name a few ), cool.

I wonder if it's opposite in other countries toward american accents. Can't wait to hear the real deal when I'm staying in England for 6 hours..

[rNr5Di3S]

I think it's pretty easy to imitate certain English and Amerian accents, mainly because we get a lot of English and American TV shows. I really don't think the same can be said for American or English people imitating the Australian or New Zealand accent.

[XqrkN4a0]

I think it's pretty easy to imitate certain English and Amerian accents, mainly because we get a lot of English and American TV shows. I really don't think the same can be said for American or English people imitating the Australian or New Zealand accent.

In the eighties Neighbours was watched religiously in the UK. But Australians have a accent quirk where they state something but add the questioning tone to the end of their sentence, as if they are unsure of themselves. That quirk is now common in the UK because of Australian soaps.

[Sertvfdnhgjk]

In the eighties Neighbours was watched religiously in the UK. But Australians have a accent quirk where they state something but add the questioning tone to the end of their sentence, as if they are unsure of themselves. That quirk is now common in the UK because of Australian soaps.

So we screwed up the UK accent?

Goes and worships Neighbours. lol. I don't like Nieghbours, I prefer Home and Away, and I don't even like that TV show.

EDIT: I swear these TV shows are so repetitive. Thats why I don't like them.

[thierabess]

I think it's pretty easy to imitate certain English and Amerian accents, mainly because we get a lot of English and American TV shows. I really don't think the same can be said for American or English people imitating the Australian or New Zealand accent. its very rare that you will see a program on TV that has a realistic english accent from a non english person...

all the tv companys seem to think theres the posh accent from some rich person drinking tea in india and the london accent.

[frequensearules]

You know what I find funny, on shows like Ripleys believe it or not, when they have english speaking people with accents they have subtitles. Like if people couldn't understand english they can read...

oh reminds me of this [rofl]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHEX7jTkJqc

[HugoSimon]

oh reminds me of this [rofl]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHEX7jTkJqc

Hehe, that's a classic - remember that well [thumbup]

[disappointment2]

The character was British

Here is your answer, except put american there instead of british. While these actors might be well known in britain they are usualy unknowns in the US. Agents send them to try out for american parts because american TV shows are the fastest way of getting noticed by Hollywood, and Hollywood is where 99.9% of english speaking actors want to end up. I think the better question is why don't british singers sing rock with a british accent.

[gydrorway]

I think the better question is why don't british singers sing rock with a british accent.

People don't really sing with an accent, apart from Kate Nash but she's faking it.