There are so many British actors on American TV and film. Even though I personally think it takes jobs from American actors, from a marketing standpoint, I get it - there's lots of money to be made selling shows and movies overseas. And it certainly helps U.K. ratings to have U.K. actors in them.
However, I definitely believe if you're going to play American, you need to SOUND American. And there are a few British actors who just do it better than others. I submit to you my short list of British actors who rock the other side of the pond with their terrific American dialects (and a nod to to the coach who helped!).
Christian Bale: Holy Union Jack, Batman! This guy is a vocal chameleon! I think he can do anything - even a terrific variety of American dialects.
Daniel Day Lewis: The male equivalent of the master, Streep, in more ways than one. Olympic level American dialects and oh, the variety. He is a vocal artist.
Eamon Walker: This guy is amazing. There is no way you would ever know he was from London if you hadn't heard him speak. There are so many nuances to what he's doing right on Chicago Fire, I cannot expound in just a blog! Congrats to coach Tanera Marshall for helping to get him there.
Andrew Garfield: Even though he had an American father, he was raised in England and has an English mother. You would never know by his fabulous American dialect.
Kate Winslet: None better. She takes the prize for British women. She had played countless American roles now and her dialect is never just perfunctory - it's just plain PERFECT.
Hugh Laurie: Aside from the fact that he created one of the most fascinating characters on American TV, his dialect as Dr. House was one of the best-ever by an American on TV. He should have won an Emmy for that alone! Just listen to the shear speed and volume of dialogue he had on each episode of House to give him the prize...
Kevin McKidd: A special mention for Kevin McKidd because he is from Scotland and Scottish actors I have coached have a harder time with Gen American, on the whole. Watch Trainspotting or Made of Honor, then watch Grey's Anatomy. Amazing!
Damien Lewis: When I first watched Band of Brothers, I was shocked to find out he was a Brit. He continues to amaze me in all the American roles he plays - utterly natural. THE BEST casual general American dialect of any Brit today BY FAR - every little nuance is there. No one plays a regular American guy better than Brit Damian Lewis.
Renee Zellweger (First Bridget Jones Movie): My British friends tip the hat to Ms. Zellweger for her spot-on Estuary in the first of the Bridget Jones movies. This tough to pull off and she creates a accent that is believable and flawless in her delivery. NOW - I'm not sure what happened in the LATEST of these movies, as it's - not so much. Different coach? Who knows.
What British actors do YOU think do an American dialect really well? And we're not talking Aussies - that's a post for another day!
However, I definitely believe if you're going to play American, you need to SOUND American. And there are a few British actors who just do it better than others. I submit to you my short list of British actors who rock the other side of the pond with their terrific American dialects (and a nod to to the coach who helped!).
Christian Bale: Holy Union Jack, Batman! This guy is a vocal chameleon! I think he can do anything - even a terrific variety of American dialects.
Daniel Day Lewis: The male equivalent of the master, Streep, in more ways than one. Olympic level American dialects and oh, the variety. He is a vocal artist.
Eamon Walker: This guy is amazing. There is no way you would ever know he was from London if you hadn't heard him speak. There are so many nuances to what he's doing right on Chicago Fire, I cannot expound in just a blog! Congrats to coach Tanera Marshall for helping to get him there.
Andrew Garfield: Even though he had an American father, he was raised in England and has an English mother. You would never know by his fabulous American dialect.
Kate Winslet: None better. She takes the prize for British women. She had played countless American roles now and her dialect is never just perfunctory - it's just plain PERFECT.
Hugh Laurie: Aside from the fact that he created one of the most fascinating characters on American TV, his dialect as Dr. House was one of the best-ever by an American on TV. He should have won an Emmy for that alone! Just listen to the shear speed and volume of dialogue he had on each episode of House to give him the prize...
Kevin McKidd: A special mention for Kevin McKidd because he is from Scotland and Scottish actors I have coached have a harder time with Gen American, on the whole. Watch Trainspotting or Made of Honor, then watch Grey's Anatomy. Amazing!
Damien Lewis: When I first watched Band of Brothers, I was shocked to find out he was a Brit. He continues to amaze me in all the American roles he plays - utterly natural. THE BEST casual general American dialect of any Brit today BY FAR - every little nuance is there. No one plays a regular American guy better than Brit Damian Lewis.
Renee Zellweger (First Bridget Jones Movie): My British friends tip the hat to Ms. Zellweger for her spot-on Estuary in the first of the Bridget Jones movies. This tough to pull off and she creates a accent that is believable and flawless in her delivery. NOW - I'm not sure what happened in the LATEST of these movies, as it's - not so much. Different coach? Who knows.
What British actors do YOU think do an American dialect really well? And we're not talking Aussies - that's a post for another day!
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