LatestPhotosVideosKardashiansWatch E!Shop
LatestPhotosVideosKardashiansWatch E!Shop

Actors Who Nailed Challenging Accents

14 photos
May 05, 2022 8:35 PM
LINK COPIED!
Pin It
The Staircase, Colin Firth
1/14
Courtesy of HBO Max

Colin Firth

In the HBO Max series The Staircase, Firth masters Michael Peterson's distinct way of speaking. His co-star, Toni Collette, was even impressed, telling him in an interview with E! News, "You nailed it! You sound exactly like him."


Pin It
2/14

Julia Garner

It's no surprise that Julia was able to expertly mimic Anna Delvey's unique way of speaking in the Netflix series Inventing Anna. The Emmy Award winning actress has been praised for her portrayal of Appalachian native Ruth Langmore in Ozark, an accent that is equally challenging, if not more.


Pin It
3/14
Apple TV+

Jared Leto

In the new series WeCrashed, the Oscar winner plays Adam Neumann, the charismatic Israeli businessman who speaks so powerfully that people believe whatever he says.

 


Pin It
4/14
Beth Dubber/Hulu

Amanda Seyfried

Though Elizabeth Holmes is an American like Amanda, the Theranos founder's deep voice presented a challenge for the Mamma Mia actress. "I had to work really hard to get there because I speak at such a higher level than she does naturally," she previously shared. "So even though she was deepening her voice more and more to what we all understand is for power's sake, to make an impact, I still couldn't get all the way there."


Pin It
5/14
Vince Valitutti/Hulu

Nicole Kidman

The actress combined her Australian accent with a Russian one to portray Masha in Nine Perfect Strangers.


Pin It
6/14
Michele K. Short/HBO

Kate Winslet

Born in the south of England, the Titanic actress had to work with a dialect coach to shed her prim and proper English lilt for HBO's Mare of Easttown. She told The Philadelphia Enquirer that it was "tricky" to perfect the Delco accent, but, as she put it, "I'm an actor who doesn't like to get things wrong."


Pin It
7/14
Gene Page/AMC

Andrew Lincoln

Though fans are accustomed to hearing Rick Grimes' southern twang on The Walking Dead, Andrew actually hails from Yorkshire, England.


Pin It
8/14
FX

Martin Freeman

In the FX spinoff Fargo, the British actor tackled the Minnesotan manner of speaking, which needs to be heard to be believed. 


Pin It
9/14
Laura Radford/BBCAmerica/Sid Gentle

Jodie Comer

It's no exaggeration to call the British actress a jack of all trades. In the BBC series Killing Eve, Jodie effortlessly switched from British to Russian to French accents in a matter of moments as she portrayed hitman Villanelle.


Pin It
10/14
Isabella Vosmikova/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Hugh Laurie

The British actor appeared in American titles so frequently in his early career, it's easy to assume that he bleeds red, white and blue. In reality, Gregory House's accent was as fake as the procedures he performed. 


Pin It
11/14
Des Willie/Netflix

Gillian Anderson

For years now, the actress has baffled viewers with her impeccable English accent, leaving some to wonder if she's British or American. The answer is both: She spent her childhood in London, but moved to Grand Rapids, Mich. when she was 12 years old. In 2013, she remarked that even she is a bit "baffled" when it comes to her identity.


Pin It
12/14
Dean Buscher/The CW

KJ Apa

He currently portrays all-American boy Archie Andrews in The CW's Riverdale, but KJ is actually from New Zealand. 


Pin It
13/14
Helen Sloan/HBO

Peter Dinklage

For eight years, the New Jersey-born actor portrayed Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones, so it makes sense that some people are surprised to learn he's not actually British. 


Pin It
14/14

Anya Taylor-Joy

The actress grew up in Buenos Aires, London and more cities, making it a challenge for Anya to nail down Beth's American accent in Netflix's limited series The Queen's Gambit. 


Next Gallery
2025 TV Premiere Dates
About UsContact UsSitemapCustomer SupportRSS Feeds

Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and ​celebrity gossip. Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows!

Ad ChoicesPrivacy PolicyTerms of Service

© 2025 E! Entertainment Television, LLC A Versant Media Company. All rights reserved.