Why is it that Americans end up playing really famous British characters or people in film/tv?

Question

Like bloody Anne Hathaway playing Jane Austen

Renee Zellwegger playing Bridget Jones (with that accent that no self respecting English woman has) and Beatrice Potter.

Or Kevin Costner playing Robin Hood

Any other suggestions?

Why does Hollywood have to try and Americanise everything?

Look at Lord of the Rings (which I hate) hardly anyone in that was British and it is actually a British book.

Or Johnny Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate factory?

At least the Doctor Who and Harry Potter series has managed to stick to the Brit casts.

Additional Details

I'm not being Anti-American, it's just insulting, especially when the actors can't pull it off, either be convincing or don't bother.

Sory but Johnny Depp can't do a good English accent, he did a really good Scottish accent in Finding Neverland though.

Can you actually name a really good performance by an American actor as a Brit?

Actually there are a lot of British actors these days that are famous in the States.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I know!!
See you point hun...
My boyfriend and I were having this discussion the other night... There is a new film coming out and there was this trailer for it and there was some American portraying the worst Geordie accent I have even heard in my life!

And I'm not prejudice against anyone.. but is it absolutely necessary that whenever you see a American sitcom (ie Friends, which I love) Why do the British (or someone pretending to be British) sound soooo snooty and horrible and act so upper class???!!
...It just ISN'T like that here at all is it....

xx

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

I know what you mean.

Answer 2

Well, then how about Britain makes their own movies about these things. Then it could be as British as you wanted.

Answer 3

I agree. I'm south african and I find that in alot of movies where there is a south african character in it,(blood diamond for example) they use an american to play them. And their south african accents are aweful.

Answer 4

cos they make the films,although, any star worth their salt, will be able to speak in the required language, or dialect.take johny depp for instance.

Answer 5

Two word answer. Box Office

Answer 6

How about the film U571? It was the English who carried out that operation yet history has been rewritten by Hollywood.

Answer 7

American films/producers targeting the biggest audience (American). Harry Potter has the English actors only because it was a requirement by the author.

Answer 8

How about Mel Gibson in Braveheart (one of the crappest Scottish accents I've heard) or Brad Pitt in Fight Club (I honestly thought he was playing an Irishman who had no tongue in his mouth) Who do you think they would ask to play Churchill? My money is on Michael Douglas!

Answer 9

Because Hollywood is IN America. There are successful British actors in Hollywood (Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant) so I really see no reason to complain.

I think the casting people find the best actor for the job, regardless of his or her nationality. An accent is much easier to fake than acting ability!

Also, keep in mind that Hollywood's main goal is MAKING MONEY. If they use a well-known American actor, they are likely to make much more money than if they used some unknown Brit.

Answer 10

even Dr. Who has got that American sidekick bloke who can't die or something like that. Anyway the answer to your question is that America has all the money so they can do what they please. It's like the last olympics - in gymnastics both Americans won (although 1 shouldn't have due to a technical) But would they have won if Capitalist America hadn't stolen the best coaches from around the world by being able to pay them what other countries can't. Same thing with movies, America has money so they can just take other people's ideas and do what they want with them on the big screen.

Answer 11

Cos they think they putting on a crappy English accent will gaint hem an oscar. BTW the English accent isn't crappy.. just the way they try and imitate it.

Answer 12

dunno

Answer 13

if you want to sell an english film of any kind it has to have american people to sell it to the biggest viewers of films, the americans. they are a fickle bunch and are less likely to see a film unless it has one of there own,

but to tell the truth the tide has been turning and you're seeing more british actors in american films than ever before,

Answer 14

It's all about box office draw. Popular culture panders to the lowest common denominator. Consider what the minimal accepted cultural standards are in the UK, then compare your national census with US population figures, education stats, and disparity of wealth, and ratchet standards downward several degrees accordingly. We produce cr*p because we breed and train oceans of people who expect cr*p. It's what passes for a system of government. In the case you're talking about, cr*p equals recycling the same few slavishly-worshipped celebrity faces instead of trying to sell a film based on a potentially unknown Brit lead.

Answer 15

It's because you need a big star in the lead to make a box office hit. I have to disagree with you about the Lord of the Rings (great film). The actor who I thought was the star of the film was British, Ian Mckellan playing Gandalf. Orlando Bloom played Legolas and there were several other British actors in it. The only one I would agree with you is Kevin Costner playing Robin Hood. Awful! P.S. I am British and thoroughly enjoyed all of these films.

Answer 16

to be fair, there are loads of british and australians doing american accents on film and tv. look at hugh laurie on house for a start...

Answer 17

Because if they are important the role must be played well.

Answer 18

It's sickening......