Cardinal Richelieu Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 I've been watching quite a few American TV series recently, and what strikes me is how many British actors appear as Americans. Avon Barksdale and Jimmy McNulty in the Wire, Lydia in Breaking Bad (who's actually from Glasgow), Rick from the Walking Dead, Brody out of Homeland, Dr House in er... House, and that's just off the top of my head. Anyone know why this is the case? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmothecat Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Largely because those characters wouldn't really work if they weren't played as Americans. You'd be wondering 'why is a British cop tackling a British gangster in Baltimore?', or 'Why is a US Marine, and American war hero British?' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1320Lichtie Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Largely because those characters wouldn't really work if they weren't played as Americans. You'd be wondering 'why is a British cop tackling a British gangster in Baltimore?', or 'Why is a US Marine, and American war hero British?' I think he means why don't they just hire American actors. But obviously it's not as easy as that. I had the opposite, watching Peaky Blinders and saw Sam Neill with a Northern Irish accent, thought he was pulling it off ridiculously well for an American. Turns out he is Norn Irish and used his American accent in everything else I've seen him in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Gaines Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Sam Neill is a New Zealander, not an Aussie as I though. Northen Irish descent though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1320Lichtie Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Sam Neill is a New Zealander, not an Aussie as I though. Northen Irish descent though. I read he stayed in Norn Irn till he was 7? But that was on Wikipedia so could be nonsense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Gaines Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Some Americans have world class accents btw. Spike on Buffy is a complete cracker, as is Wesley on Angel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacGafraidh Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Two others that deserve mentions are Tim Roth - Lie to MeKevin McKidd - Greys anatomy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1320Lichtie Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 I'm surprised Rick from the Walking Dead has done so well tbh. Just mind him from Teachers, went to a whole new level with his acting in TWD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Skidmarks Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Ross from Friends is from Niddrie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarkko Wiss Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 It's Stringer Bell (Idris Elba) who's English, not Avon Barksdale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcat1990 Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Pretty much everyone in Game Of Thrones. If we are extending to Ireland, Aiden Gillen is also in The Wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacGafraidh Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 some of the Reign cast are British also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellboy1991 Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Wayne Unser from Sons of Anarchy was born in Dumbarton! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmothecat Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Skin Diamond was brought up in Dunfermline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musketeer Gripweed Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 The casting of Kelly MacDonald as Irish in Boardwalk Empire was completely baffling to me. Either make the character Scottish or cast someone Irish. It's not rocket surgery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cardinal Richelieu Posted January 3, 2015 Author Share Posted January 3, 2015 Pretty much everyone in Game Of Thrones. If we are extending to Ireland, Aiden Gillen is also in The Wire. Jeezo. Never knew that Tommy Carcetti (sorry Jarkko, Aiden Gillen) is Irish. Wayne Unser from Sons of Anarchy was born in Dumbarton! Likewise! Absolutely fantastic piece of completely useless trivia. Anyone got any more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shengus Khan Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Rabbit, the Ukrainian gang boss from Banshee (real name Ben Cross) is English. Also, she's not British but the rather lovely Alison Brie (of Community and Mad Men fame) studied in Glasgow at the Royal Academy of Music and Arts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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