For language geeks like me, accent reduction is a term used to describe losing a foreign or regional accent to adopt a more popular one (e.g., American). It’s an important part of a person’s identity, but sometimes pronunciation that’s hard to understand can lead to miscommunication in professional settings such as business and academia.
In fact, many well-known actors use accent reduction to cast more movie roles. And sometimes even the most attentive film-watchers take them as born and bred United States citizens.
So when redditor Jma7400 asked fellow users who were some actors they couldn’t believe weren’t from the US, over 4000 people shared their eye-opening discoveries. Some of them channel their inner American so well, they deserve all the spotlight.
Without further ado, we invite you to scroll down and see these brilliant shapeshifters for yourself. While you’re at it, make sure to check out the conversations we had with voice and accent coaches Ashley Howard, Holly Renaut, and Sarah Valentine, who kindly agreed to let us in on the secret of how accent masking works.
#1
Gary Oldman
In fact, he had to relearn his natural accent with a voice coach.
I’d award him extra points for being such a great chameleon overall. There have been times that I had no idea it was him in a particular role.
Image source: ginger_minge, IMDb
#2
Hugh Laurie as House
#3
Gillian Anderson is a dual citizen and can do both American AND British accents!
Image source: omgwtflols, Eleven Film
#4
I’m always surprised. Idris Elba and Tom Holland come to mind.
Hearing Christian Bale in Ford vs Ferrari and me wondering what the f**k is this man doing with a cartoon Brit accent. Then looking it up and many people insisting that’s close to his real accent.
#5
I grew up with Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. I’d never heard him be anything else.
Imagine my reaction when I first heard his native Australian accent lol
Image source: Logical-Wasabi7402, IMDb
#6
Charlize Theron – a South African girl who deliberately developed an American accent and now can’t even pronounce her own surname properly anymore.
#7
Margot Robbie
Image source: Jealous-Werewolf-367, IMDb
#8
Melanie Lynskey. I seriously couldn’t believe she was from New Zealand and went straight to YouTube to hear her original accent. She embodies her American characters so well, especially in I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore
Image source: daytimeinsomnia, IMDb
#9
Toni Collette
Image source: Traditional_Ad_6801, IMDb
#10
Damian Lewis’s American accent is flawless
Image source: XXsforEyes, IMDb
#11
Christian Bale
Image source: Caseated_Omentum, IMDb
#12
All the Brits in ‘Band of Brothers’
Image source: salaciousserver, IMDb
#13
I knew she wasn’t American, but Kate Winslet’s Bucks county accent in the Mare of Eastttown was on point.
#14
Karen Gillan
She’s does a really good American accent. Even more impressive since she is Scottish
Image source: travelingpug, IMDb
#15
Charlie Hunnam (Jax Teller) from Sons of Anarchy
Image source: themeatspin, IMDb
#16
Heath Ledger in Lords of Dogtown had such an authentic Southern California surfer accent, like so specific and niche, that to this day I’m still surprised he was Australian. Rip.
Image source: capocutolo
#17
Henry Cavil
Image source: teacher_time23, IMDb
#18
Anna Torv
Image source: Many-Day8308, IMDb
#19
Ryan Kwanten in True Blood
Image source: FormedFecalIncident, IMDb
#20
Daniel Craig. I could have sworn he was a giant rooster from the South.
Image source: Redditowork, IMDb
#21
The character Carla Jean Moss in No Country For Old Men is played by Scottish actress Kelly MacDonald.
#22
Joseph Quinn (kid who played Eddie in Stranger Things)
Image source: seashell_eyes_, IMDb
#23
Antony Starr
Image source: NullTaste27, IMDb
#24
Matthew Rhys
Image source: credoinvisibile, IMDb
#25
Will Poulter
Image source: Zestypurple67, IMDb
#26
Andrew Lincoln (TWD)/ Lauren Cohan (TWD)/Hugh Laurie (House)/Rose McIver (Ghosts US)/Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets)
Image source: __BipolarExpress__, IMDb
#27
I would have said Gary Oldman, but then nothing about Gary Oldman surprises me anymore.
Idris Elba in the Wire had an extremely good accent
Image source: maninblueshirt
#28
Andrew Garfield
Image source: Consistent_Ad_2462, IMDb
#29
Aleksander Skaarsgard
Image source: ElectronicToe7910
#30
Florence Pugh
Image source: Business-Feeling6640
#31
Rosamund Pike.
Millie Bobby Brown.
Image source: magicianess
#32
Jodie Comer
Image source: DeiseResident
#33
The guy from Roger Rabbit
Image source: SpraePhart, IMDb
#34
Freddie Highmore from the good doctor
Image source: notdeleted6
#35
Juno Temple from the new season of Fargo (who I believe is English with a cockney/estuary accent). Insanely good Midwestern accent without overdoing it.
Image source: fulthrottlejazzhands
#36
I’m sure many will disagree but I think Nicole Kidman has a very good American accent.
Image source: rb577511
#37
Cillian Murphy
Image source: benw722
#38
Jason Clarke has played so many Americans in film that I didn’t know he’s an Aussie
Image source: matchesmalone1
#39
Kelly Reilly (Beth from Yellowstone)
Image source: Helpful-Substance685
#40
Linus Roache from Law & Order, although I feel like I should have known he was English just from his name.
Image source: seriouslaser
#41
Andrew Lincoln. Except it was the other way. Knew him from Love Actually. So seeing him in The Walking Dead was shocking.
Same with having grown up with Boondock Saints. My dumb self still somehow believed Darryl actor was actually Irish …. sigh
Image source: JAlfredJR
#42
John Mahoney
Image source: Discount_Friendly
#43
Luther from Umbrella Academy
Image source: cocoapuff1721
#44
I will give you two.
Rose McIver from US Ghosts.
Jacob Anderson – Louis de Pointe du Lac in Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. Formerly Grey Worm in Game of Thrones.
I lost my s**t the first time I heard them in an interview. Shocked. No clue.
Image source: types-like-thunder
#45
I just found out Delroy Lindo is British
Image source: radpandaparty
#46
Stringer Bell
Image source: nazzadaley, IMDb
#47
The guy that played Apollo in the Battlestar Galactica reboot – Jamie something I think – I don’t feel like googling his last name but the first time I watched an interview with him I didn’t hear a single word he said I was so flabbergasted at his accent and how well he hid it in the show. I’m surprised I’m haven’t seen him in more stuff, he was pretty good. Maybe he just doesn’t do the type of stuff I watch.
Image source: frogperspectives
#48
Mathew Rhys, The Americans.
Image source: Naugrin27
#49
Tom from successiom
Image source: auntie_climax, IMDb
#50
Tommy Wiseau.
Follow Us
