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Original poster

In being annoyed by AMERICAN actors and actresses playing BRITISH literary icons?

95 replies

purplemonkeydishwasher · 02/03/2007 15:46

Barrie - Johnny Depp
Potter - Renee Zellwger
now Austen - Ann Big teeth watsername!

just really really gets on my tits!!

OP posts:
Original poster
purplemonkeydishwasher · 02/03/2007 16:10

oh and mel gibson in braveheart too

harrumph.

OP posts:
KathyMCMLXXII · 02/03/2007 16:10

Oh Bran. Don't get me started on Braveheart

bran · 02/03/2007 16:08

I think you're being unreasonable, if they do it well then I don't care what the nationality of the actor is. I do get annoyed when an obviously unsuitable actor is cast because he/she is a box office draw. I also get really annoyed with historically inaccurate portrayals of true events to make the story more interesting/more sympathetic to one side.

ShinyHappyPeopleHoldingHands · 02/03/2007 16:04

I think you can almost always tell when a (not very well known) american actor is putting on a British accent.. they seem to round off their vowels just a little too much. Our actors seem much better and putting on american accents (Kate Winslet, Ewan McGregor) but maybe people from the US would disagree?

Having said that I thought the bloke paying Susan's British boyfriend in Desperate Housewives was putting his British accent on but my friend told me he is English...

mamama · 02/03/2007 16:01

No, annoys me too. Thought I was just being a miserable old grump.

Glad I'm not alone.

Pruni · 02/03/2007 16:01

Message withdrawn

Saturn74 · 02/03/2007 15:58

Are all the British actors too busy in Hollywood, being cast in the role of 'Baddy'?

KathyMCMLXXII · 02/03/2007 15:57

What about Aussie Nicole Kidman playing Virginia Woolf? Is that ok?
(I would say not but that's because it was such a transparent attempt to be highbrow, not because she's foreign.)

mammaduck · 02/03/2007 15:56

Yes she is.

Why do people keep casting her. It's a mystery to me.

ShinyHappyPeopleHoldingHands · 02/03/2007 15:56

Kevin Costner in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves!!! He doesn't even attempt a British accent even though his on-screen cousin Christian Slater does a creditable job.

He shouldn't have got the part if he wasn't willing to try..

American Robin Hood.. pah!

mammaduck · 02/03/2007 15:55

fart, even.

Although don't feel I am as hardcore old fart as purplemonkey, as could never truly hand on heart say I was 'annoyed' by darling Mr Depp.

You're a more principled woman than I, purplemonkey!

hana · 02/03/2007 15:55

but they are actors
who are 'acting'
they aren't meant to really be the person they are pretending to be....so I think you are being unreasonable!

KathyMCMLXXII · 02/03/2007 15:55

Ah but Gwyneth Paltrow is annoying in everything, Mammaduck

KathyMCMLXXII · 02/03/2007 15:54

Well Hollywood is full of British and Aussie actors playing American parts, isn't it?

I don't mind Depp & Zellweger but I am not keen on Ann thingy playing Austen, but that's just because she's annoying, not because she's American.

mammaduck · 02/03/2007 15:53

Nope. Annoys me too.

The one that really gets me is bloody Gwyneth "I can only speak in a monotone" Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love.

How many British classically trained actresses are there that could have done that part miles better than her? Ooh, about a million.

So if you're an official old far, dances, then I'm right there with you.

Sobernow · 02/03/2007 15:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Blu · 02/03/2007 15:52

Yes, but the British Toby Jones has just played Truman Capote!

Saturn74 · 02/03/2007 15:52

It annoys me too!

danceswithnewboots · 02/03/2007 15:50

I was thinking the same thing the other day, was wondering if I'm turning into an official old fart.

Ovun · 02/03/2007 15:49

no, it annoys the hell out of me as well. have just realised that, that is an American expression