15 Actors Who Tried British Accents on Screen

From the high seas and the foggy streets of London, some of Hollywood’s biggest American stars have stunned audiences by transforming into quintessentially British characters on the big screen. With wildly varying degrees of success, these actors took their shot at the world’s most famous accent. Let’s take a look at 15 American actors who attempted British accents in some of their most memorable film and TV performances.

Heather Graham

Heather Graham stepped into Victorian London for a memorable appearance in From Hell, channeling an English accent as she got swept up in a Jack the Ripper thriller.

Johnny Depp

From the swashbuckling Jack Sparrow to a host of other eccentric characters, Johnny Depp‘s gallivanting English accent has become one of his trademarks. He first played the role of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner famously took on the heroic role of Robin Hood in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, where his take on the British accent became the stuff of cinematic legend. According to Tribute.ca, Costner easily learned to handle a bow and arrow for the part, but the British accent was a bit harder to pull off. Throughout the film, his accent comes and goes, with Costner frequently slipping back into his natural American voice.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman delivered a stirring lead performance in V for Vendetta, capturing audiences’ hearts not only with her emotional range but also with a convincing British accent. Portman tackled the challenge of sounding entirely at home among her English costars, working with a dialogue coach for a month before filming began and keeping her in character throughout production, per Pop Entertainment Archives.

Reese Witherspoon

In her starring turn as Becky Sharp in Vanity Fair, Reese Witherspoon turned heads by embracing the speech and mannerisms of Regency England.

Sean Astin

Sean Astin‘s indelible portrayal of Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy is fondly remembered not just for loyalty and heart but also for his distinctive Shire-inspired English accent. Astin worked extensively with dialect coaches to master the West Country manner of speaking required for the role, according to CBR.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow earned critical acclaim, including an Academy Award, for her sophisticated British accent and nuanced performance in Shakespeare in Love. As Paltrow herself described the multilayered challenge of speaking verse with an English accent in period costume, it was “a lot to keep in the air,” per Today.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway charmed fans with her portrayal of Jane Austen herself in Becoming Jane, diving headfirst into British period drama with poise and a pitch-perfect accent. The 2007 biographical film depicted the early life of the celebrated British author.

Angelina Jolie

As video game heroine Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, Angelina Jolie‘s clipped English accent became iconic, forever linking her image to the fierce adventurer. She brought a dynamic strength to the role, and as one reviewer noted, she “gets the accent spot on” in the 2001 action film, per The Action Elite.

Renée Zellweger

Renée Zellweger astonished audiences with her transformation into the charmingly neurotic Bridget Jones in Bridget Jones’s Diary. The film was a major box-office success, earning $282 million worldwide and securing Zellweger her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, as reported by Gold Derby.

Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. proved his linguistic flair playing Sherlock Holmes, perfectly blending rapid-fire dialogue with a clever British accent. Jimmy Kimmel praised the actor’s English accent in the film on an episode of on Jimmy Kimmel Live!  as “perfect.” per The Hollywood Reporter.

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan wowed a new generation as twin sisters Annie and Hallie in The Parent Trap, seamlessly switching between American and British accents. According to costar Dennis Quaid, her accent was so convincing that he didn’t realize she was playing both parts,   he told the YouTube’s Out of Order.

Peter Dinklage

Peter Dinklage‘s powerful performance as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones relied on a wry, understated British accent that helped breathe life into the cunning nobleman. Born and raised in New Jersey, Dinklage adopted “received pronunciation” British accent for the wealthy Lannister character, per Salon.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is known for disappearing into her roles, and her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady was no exception. In addition to capturing the former British prime minister’s mannerisms, she delivered a highly convincing British accent, a performance that earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, according to The Wrap.

Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker tackled a complex role in The Crying Game, immersing himself in British drama with an impressive London accent.

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