I think there's a few examples of Americans doing a really good job of other accents. Not Schwarzenegger, but Zellweger (eh? see how I did that?) Renée Zellweger in Bridget Jones and also Gwyneth Paltrow in Sliding Doors did really good British accents (cos apparently I like 90's romantic comedies...who knew!).
But I think there's a few cringeworthy examples as well. Nothing comes to mind tbh, but when they do a bad job it can almost ruin a good movie! It's hard to take seriously, especially for people who have or are familiar with that accent. And it makes them look kinda lazy as an actor when they stuff it up. So I think because of a few bad examples, Americans are probably more scrutinised when they're trying to do an accent than other actors...maybe?
But it works both ways. Other actors look equally foolish when they can't pull off an American accent. I just think that's a lot less common because EVERYONE is exposed to the American accent. I honestly think that's why. In Australia, most people in the street can probably do a half way decent American accent because they hear it on TV constantly. So for that reason alone I think it's easier for foreign actors to switch to an American accent, but I think it might take more effort for American actors to be able to do it convincingly and realistically. - Not just a caricatured version or a generic hodgepodge version of an accent.
I never knew that Hugh Laurie from 'House" was British (that's pretty stupid, I know) until I saw an old comedy show with him and Stephen Fry. And there was also an Australian guy on House who kept his accent, I don't know if that was because it was written into the script or what...
Anyway. This answer is too long already...Ha* ;)
tl;dr I think my point is that the cultural dominance of the US and Britain is the main reason why foreign actors will switch to those accents but not so much vice versa.
Ahh yeah, for sure!! Once I saw him being "British" (lol) - it kinda clicked, and it's hard to see him being American again. I was missing out though, he was real good in blackadder and jeeves and wooster especially too!
IIN that USA actors don't adopt foreign accents for movies?
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I think there's a few examples of Americans doing a really good job of other accents. Not Schwarzenegger, but Zellweger (eh? see how I did that?) Renée Zellweger in Bridget Jones and also Gwyneth Paltrow in Sliding Doors did really good British accents (cos apparently I like 90's romantic comedies...who knew!).
But I think there's a few cringeworthy examples as well. Nothing comes to mind tbh, but when they do a bad job it can almost ruin a good movie! It's hard to take seriously, especially for people who have or are familiar with that accent. And it makes them look kinda lazy as an actor when they stuff it up. So I think because of a few bad examples, Americans are probably more scrutinised when they're trying to do an accent than other actors...maybe?
But it works both ways. Other actors look equally foolish when they can't pull off an American accent. I just think that's a lot less common because EVERYONE is exposed to the American accent. I honestly think that's why. In Australia, most people in the street can probably do a half way decent American accent because they hear it on TV constantly. So for that reason alone I think it's easier for foreign actors to switch to an American accent, but I think it might take more effort for American actors to be able to do it convincingly and realistically. - Not just a caricatured version or a generic hodgepodge version of an accent.
I never knew that Hugh Laurie from 'House" was British (that's pretty stupid, I know) until I saw an old comedy show with him and Stephen Fry. And there was also an Australian guy on House who kept his accent, I don't know if that was because it was written into the script or what...
Anyway. This answer is too long already...Ha* ;)
tl;dr I think my point is that the cultural dominance of the US and Britain is the main reason why foreign actors will switch to those accents but not so much vice versa.
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kingofcarrotflowers
9 years ago
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After seeing him in Blackadder it's strange to see him in house
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jeebley
9 years ago
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Ahh yeah, for sure!! Once I saw him being "British" (lol) - it kinda clicked, and it's hard to see him being American again. I was missing out though, he was real good in blackadder and jeeves and wooster especially too!