Animals were harmed in these films
Tilda Swinton naturally speaks with a cut-glass British accent, but you'd never guess it from her performance as a powerful American lawyer in this well-received movie.
In a movie famous for its shock twist, perhaps the biggest surprise of all for audiences was discovering that Toni Collette's American accent was not her own. She's from Sydney, Australia, but she sounds so convincing that you'd never guess.
British fans of Helen Fielding's best-selling novel were initially up in arms about the decision to cast an American in the role of Bridget Jones. But Zellweger did her research, going undercover to work in a London office. Her plummy British accent won over the critics.
Australian actress Margot Robbie was widely praised for her convincing Brooklyn accent as Naomi in 'The Wolf of Wall Street.' The thick accent was so good that many people assumed she was a Brooklyn native.
Winslet clearly put a lot of effort into nailing her accent after 'Titanic.' Her American accent in 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' was widely praised, with one BBC reviewer calling it "immaculate."
Welsh-born, English-raised Christian Bale was thoroughly convincing as the titular crazed American in the movie adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis book. He apparently stuck to the American accent on set at all times, only speaking in his real voice at the wrap party.
Is there anything Idris Elba can't do? The British star acts, directs, and even raps with aplomb, so it's a small wonder that he nailed the accent as South African revolutionary-turned-president Nelson Mandela.
English actor Peter Sellers rose to the challenge of playing three different roles in Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece. As well as acting in his natural British tones, he carried off American and thick German accents.
Meryl Streep's Oscar-winning performance as a Polish Holocaust survivor in 'Sophie's Choice' is a masterclass in how to do an accent well. It's widely regarded as of the most powerful acting performances of all time.
A British actor of Nigerian descent, Ejiofor had reservations about taking on the African-American lead role in '12 Years a Slave.' But his powerful performance received rave reviews and his accent was near flawless.
Critics mauled this "droopy, disappointing film," and not least because of Nicolas Cage's appalling Italian accent. It's frequently cited as one of the most cringe-inducing accents in cinema history.
Proving that Brits can do American accents just as poorly as the other way round, acclaimed actor Michael Caine received a mauling for his 'Texan' accent in this flop adventure film.
Anne Hathaway was only marginally more convincing in her role as British writer Emma in the movie adaptation of David Nicholls' novel. Brits rightly questioned just which part of the country her 'northern' accent was supposed to be from.
Even Cage is beaten in the bad accent stakes by D ick Van D yke. The American actor's attempt at playing a cockney chimney sweep has become synonymous with bad British accents.
Johnny Depp has managed some decent accents throughout his career, but this film about London's Jack the Ripper was not his finest moment. Neither he nor co-star Heather Graham convinced with their cartoonish cockney accents.
His character was from Rhodesia or modern-day Zimbabwe, and although DiCaprio scored an Oscar nomination for the role, viewers have had mixed reactions to his accent in the film.
Maybe Caine should take solace from the fact that even American stars can get the Texas accent wrong. Connecticut-born James Van Der Beek was laughed out the park for his accent in this sports-themed movie.
DiCaprio had committed previous crimes against accents. His Irish brogue in 2002's 'Gangs of New York' was widely mocked by audiences, especially in Ireland.
This movie raised questions about the accents across the board, but it was Jolie's attempts at sounding like she came from ancient Greece that were subject to the most withering critiques.
Australian actor Heath Ledger didn't have an easy role in playing a troubled Wyoming cowboy in 'Brokeback Mountain.' But his performance was heartbreakingly convincing in this awards-strewn movie.
Taking on the title role in a biopic about a murdered Irish journalist was serious business for Australian Cate Blanchett. The actress carried off a near-flawless accent, in a film which won rave reviews.
Young Irish actress Saoirse Ronan made an instant impact–for all the right reasons–with her portrayal as a troubled American teenager in Greta Gerwig's hit indie movie.
The casting director made some truly strange decisions with this movie. French actor Christopher Lambert's Scottish accent was the worst of a bad bunch in the movie, while native Scot Sean Connery played...an Egyptian disguised as a Spaniard. Of course!
Sources: (Insider) (The Independent) (Newsweek)
See also: Actors who were forced to play roles against their will
British actress Kate Winslet's attempts at a Philadelphia accent in 'Titanic' failed to convince, with audiences voting it among the worst fake American accents of all time.
At least DiCaprio could take heart from the fact that co-star Cameron Diaz bombed, too. The movie may have many fans, but her accent was ridiculed.
Streep's performance as former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher was note-perfect, winning her another Oscar. The icy accent was disarmingly close to that of the "Iron Lady" herself.
Fresh-faced Keanu Reeves' bogus British accent didn't go down well with critics, who widely panned his attempts at sounding like English nobility.
Nicolas Cage helped this movie soar into 'so bad it's good' territory, thanks to his hilariously bad attempt at an Alabama accent. The California actor's version of a southern accent drew ridicule from critics and audiences.
Could an Australian actress and an American actor convince as an Irish couple? No, no they could not. Their performances are widely cited as two of the worst fake Irish accents of all time.
Italian actress and dialect coach Francesca De Martini didn't exactly approve of Lady Gaga's vocal impression of Patrizia Reggiani, who famously hired a hitman to murder her ex-husband, Maurizio Gucci. “I feel bad saying this, but her accent is not exactly an Italian accent, it sounds more Russian,” De Martini told The Daily Beast.
De Martini had initially auditioned to be in the film, and though she was rejected, she was later called back to help Salma Hayek, who herself requested a coach. It was then that she heard Lady Gaga's accent. Gaga herself stirred anticipation around the accent after she told British Vogue that she stayed in character, with both accent and brunette hair, for nine months, but according to the dialect coach, that still wasn't enough. “There are so many different accents,” De Martini noted, adding that Al Pacino’s is more akin to New York-Italian, while Adam Driver barely has any at all.
Marilyn Monroe fans rushed to social media after watching Ana de Armas take on the iconic role in the Netflix film 'Blonde,' with many criticizing the Cuban actress for her accent. Many complained that Armas' accent is too heavy to sound like Monroe, and that it's taking her out of character, but Monroe's estate came to Armas' defense.
“Marilyn Monroe is a singular Hollywood and pop culture icon that transcends generations and history,” Marc Rosen, president of entertainment at Authentic Brands Group, which owns the Marilyn Monroe Estate, said in a statement to Variety, adding that everyone knows they are big shoes to fill. "Ana was a great casting choice as she captures Marilyn’s glamour, humanity, and vulnerability.”
Armas herself told The Sunday Times that it took her nine months to learn how to speak like Monroe, and she said the process was “so exhausting.”
Accents are tricky things to master, as many Hollywood stars know all too well. Get it right, and they can expect the plaudits to come rolling in. But get it wrong, and the film's entire reputation could be in ruins. Critics have a field day when an actor's accent fails to land, but some stars have the acting chops to pull off almost any foreign accent. From laughable cockney dialects and bad Irish brogues to completely convincing American drawls, there are a whole lot of great and not-so-great fake accents in film. How do your favorite stars rate?
Click through this gallery to discover the best and worst foreign accents in movies.
The best and worst fake accents in movies
Who got it right, and who got it very wrong?
MOVIES Films
Accents are tricky things to master, as many Hollywood stars know all too well. Get it right, and they can expect the plaudits to come rolling in. But get it wrong, and the film's entire reputation could be in ruins. Critics have a field day when an actor's accent fails to land, but some stars have the acting chops to pull off almost any foreign accent. From laughable cockney dialects and bad Irish brogues to completely convincing American drawls, there are a whole lot of great and not-so-great fake accents in film. How do your favorite stars rate?
Click through this gallery to discover the best and worst foreign accents in movies.