If a British actor speaks American English in an American movie, is this noticed by native speakers?

Question

I mean if they pretend to be American.

Answer 1

Some are very good. Colin Farrell jumps to mind as someone who can not only do an American accent, but a regional American accent. Naomi Watts has a flawless American accent. Nicole Kidman's is good. Kate Winslet is great.

Ewan MacGregor always sounds a bit off to me. And surprisingly Emma Thompson, the one time I heard her do one was terrible.

Alan Cummings, who also does it very well, once remarked on Dinner for Five that the reason British, Irish, Scottish, etc actors have an easier time with the accent is because so much American culture is sent overseas that they're more exposed to the sound of our voices.

Maybe Kevin Costner should've watched more BBC before doing Robin Hood.

Answer 2

It depends - just as I am sure an American doing a British accent is noticeable.

For me, I knew Hugh Laurie as a British comedian first, so his accent stands out a little to me, even though it's very good. But he is more convincing than, say, Eddie Izzard who is trying an American accent on a new show and is not quite nailing it.

No pro actor is usually terrible enough that faking the accent REALLY stands out. It's hard to say - I think there's a certain degree of just being comfortable enough, of not quite getting some of the sounds right, that makes it evident to native speakers that someone's faking. But the reverse is true, too - meaning, Americans doing bad English accents stick out for me more, too.

Answer 3

Yesss, and it's all too painful for a yank to listen to! Picture everyone's favourite Englishman, Hugh Grant. He can no more fake an American accent than your granny in Dover. Add to this the fact that he has done all British males the world over the great disservice of causing all American females to imagine that Englishmen blink profusely and stutter when they speak, and that SOMEHOW this is adorable???
The answer is yes, it is noticed.

Answer 4

Depends on the speaker. Hugh Jackman in X-Men sounds quite American (yes I know he's Australian). Then again, Kevin Costner kinda stuck out as Robin Hood.

Answer 5

Depends on their talent for mimicking accents. The ones that do it are usually good at it.

Answer 6

Hugh Laurie does, and it is noticed, as he is the architype of an Englishman.

Answer 7

I doubt it because they probably would know its just a movie.

Answer 8

some yes, some no. depends on person