In a message dated 6/20/01 3:11:39 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< One thing. You often hear American actors trying to put on horrible
non-American accents, but you hardly ever hear Brits attempting
horrible American accents. >>
Really? I don't know what you're watching or listening to, but I hear bad
American accents in British media all the time. I don't think either country
has an advantage here.
That said, there are a few Canadian actors in the UK who are frequently used
as "Americans." (Shane Rimmer, a Canadian, was the BBC's "stock American" for
years and years - you may remember him as the US submarine commander in _The
Spy Who Loved Me_.)
There are some exceptions - Kenneth Branagh was spot-on perfect in _Dead
Again_ (and Emma Thompson was pretty close); Anthony Hopkins can do a
convincing American accent; I saw a production of _The Front Page_ at the
National Theatre in London where all the actors had been properly coached;
and there are others. But I've heard some Americans do convincing British
accents, too. Gwyneth Paltrow in _Shakespeare in Love_, for example.
It's not a question of where you're from - it's a question of talent and
industry; also, the proper dialogue coach.
(If you ever want to see an example of Brits doing appalling American
accents, watch the _Doctor Who_ episode "The Gunfighters." There are a few
decent ones - Shane Rimmer is in it, naturally - but most of them are West
London, not the Old West.)
Tom Beck
who can't do any accents, but can distinguish most of them
