MovieChat Forums > Idris Elba Discussion > His American accent is overrated. Don't ...

His American accent is overrated. Don't you think?


I'm just not so blown away by his American accent. There are so many other British actors whose American accent I find way more convincing, for example Martin Freeman (Fargo series), Hugh Laurie (House M.D. series), Emily Blunt (Sicario), Kate Winslet (She pretty much always plays an American),...etc.

GalijabreREMA

reply

This message has been deleted by the poster

reply

Summerield I don't mind Bale's but yeah Hardy's American accent really sucks, it's like the guy is constantly mumbling nonsense LOL

GalijabreREMA

reply

Are you serious? Did you see him in The Wire? I was stunned to learn he's British.

His American accent is fine, as good as any of those actors you mentioned.

reply

RobbieCalifornia No it isn't. Not by a long shot. His American accent sounds fake and in the Wire he only did his best, but still not so impressive.

GalijabreREMA

reply

Erg. Guys like Idris Elba and Colin Farrell have spot on American accents. The people in the list you gave (especially Hugh Laurie) are the worst at American accents. I guess it's what you think is a good American accent. Their talent at accents is why the two guys above are my favorite actors. Few people in Hollywood can do that, and these two are flawless at it.

reply

You got that right!!! I didn't know he was British at first.

reply

igregward LOL! You are so wrong about Idris Elba and his weak American accent. Idris Elba should take lessons from someone like Hugh Laurie when it comes to fooling anyone that he is an American :) Laurie actually fooled the people who were considering to hire him for House M.D. that he was an American, and those people didn't wanna hire a Non-American actor. Quentin Tarantino wouldn't cast Elba in Django becasue he was tired of listening to fake American accents during the casting. Idris Elba's American accent is really weak, sure he gave his best on the Wire but I heard right through his voice that it was all forced, weak and fake. His mentality is also way too British and that's why he can't get into any American character 100% as he should. As for Colin I admit his American is next to flawless. Gary Oldman does it best for me, especially in Leon.

GalijabreREMA

reply

Just watching him in No Good Deed. It's actually painful listening to his accent switch from partial British/American to American-ish... I mean, you can hear his cockney accent most of the time he speaks!! It's embarrassing.

It was worse in Prometheus. When he asks Charlie Theron "Are you a robot?" He doesn't even try and put on an accent.

Andrew Lincoln in The Walking Dead, now that's an impressive example of a Brit doing a good American accent.

reply

Seriously? If I hadn't already known that Elba was British when he did the Wire, I would have never good that he wasn't American at all. So,yes, he does do a good American accent. Sounds the only ones complaining that his American accent isn't good are other British people,lol.

reply

Tim Roth & Gillian Anderson

reply