Do You Like British Actors?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
January 18, 2010 8:11am CST
I suppose the most "famous" on TV in the US at the moment would be Hugh Lawrie. I'd like to know what Americans think of his accent. Any good? I can't help remembering him in shows like Blackadder as he talks posh, don't you know lol. I believe he's developed a real limp now which suggests to me he should do something else...and quick!
Are you familiar with actors such as Kenneth Branagh? He's done a few TV series and dramas over the years and the ones that stand out for me are "Shackleton", "Final Solution" and, of course "Wallander." The latter, in particular is so intense as is Brannagh's portrayal of the troubled Wallander. He can convey A LOT just by his facial expressions. Totally amazing actor. It must be great to be so talented!
There will be loads of other British actors out there, too numerous to mention, but who is your favourite and why?
1 person likes this
10 responses
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I enjoy watching British actors. They seem to have such a polished style. Unfortunately, I am one of those people that identify actors with their characters rather than learn their real name. I did know that Dr. House's real name was Hugh Lawrie because I was paying attention to an interview he gave but for the most part I have to mention actors by the role they played.
That being said I guess my favorite British actor in American film/TV would have to be the actor that plays Jean Luc Picard. And I'm not sure I spelled his middle name correctly. For those of you who are not Sci/fi fans he is the captain of the star ship Enterprise on Star Trek, the next generation.
1 person likes this
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
18 Jan 10
I had no idea that Patrick Stewart was British! We get everywhere don't we 
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@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Jan 10
Patrick Stewart is a Shakespearean actor no less, and you can't get much more British than that...and he's being made a Sir as well...and I've got his autograph, well on a Nemesis poster but that's good enough for me!
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
18 Jan 10
Yeah, Patrick Stewart, that's his name. I was going to mention that he has done Shakespeare but Janey beat me to it. Can you imagine the range to his his talent? Going from stuffy old Shakespeare to the captain of the Enterprise? He also did Scrooge. I doubt there is a role anyone could imagine that he could not do justice to.
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@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I'm a Doctor Who fan, so, needless to say, I'm a fan of British actors.
How about David McCallum? you going to count him? I've adored him since I was a teen!
Tom Baker was my first Doctor, but I've really enjoyed David Tennant, and John Barrowman is a treat to both the eyes and the ears!
Then there's Diana Riggs, wow!
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@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Jan 10
John Simm was in the latest Dr Who offering (as a Baddie) and I absolutely ADORE him in everything. I should imagine the Christmas special will be available as a BBC DVD in your country soon? You must buy it because it's awesome!
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@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
19 Jan 10
I love Jonathan Rhyes Meyers. He is a great henry VIII. Of course he doesn't look like the real Henry but i don't care. He's Irish and I love, love his natural voice.There are more actors I know from film like Michael Caine, Peter OToole and the late grat richard Burton who have/had great voices. I love all the british accents.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
20 Jan 10
He was god in Pride but I fell for him in Girl in Pearl Earring. He played Vermeer. He had long hair . Yummy!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Jan 10
I know what you mean about "great voices" as you put it. Colin Firth isn't in the same league acting wise as the people you mention...but he does have a lovely voice. He was so sexy in "Pride & Prejudice" it was untrue...he didn't even have to try which was why he was so mesmerising to watch!
1 person likes this
@leeloo (1492)
• Portugal
19 Jan 10
There is a surprising amount of British actors on US television that hide their accents and the same applies to film. Here are a few I can think of on television: Kevin McKidd(Dr Owen - Grey's Anatomy), Dominic Purcell(Prison Break), Stephen Moyer(True Blood), Ed Westwick(Chuck Bass - Gossip Girl), Brothers and Sisters has two both Rachel Griffiths and Matthew Rhys, Joseph Fiennes(Flashforward) along with his brother(Ralph Fiennes) are two superb actors, Stephen Fry(Bones) used his own accent among so many. Films along with the above mentioned great actors I find Clive Owen, Dame Judi Dench, Emma Thompson, Daniel Craig, Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Orlando Bloom, Paul Bettany, Kiera Knightley, Jude Law, ... amazing among so many.
@leeloo (1492)
• Portugal
20 Jan 10
The thing was when all the bad hype came out about Daniel Craig, I found it weird because he is a good actor and in Layer Cake he proved he could do a quite charming action hero that is needed for the Bond films. I think everyone wanted a bigger star someone like Clive Owen(if he had not turned it down I think he would have made it work in a different way). Well it is good when someone is unjustly judged and is vindicated, now everyone considers him one of the best James Bonds ever, maybe in a few more movies and he will become the iconic James Bond that everyone has to live up to. Well done.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Jan 10
I had no idea there were so many British actors pretending to be Yanks
I'd forgotten about Daniel Craig. I felt sorry for him when he was picked as the new James Bond and he got slated for not having the right colour hair (amongst other things) as he's probably the best James Bond..i.e. true to the character in the books that Mum used to read...than anyone before him. He has the most amazing eyes! Mum watched him in a really good TV series called "North and South" and he played a Geordie guy in it. I've not seen it but may get it on DVD one day. There's another actor called Damien Lewis who portrayed Major Richard Winters in Band of Brothers..and he's a Brit. He's done allsorts, mainly on telly but he was brilliant in Band of Brothers and I was quite proud at how wonderful he (and the series itself) was.
I'd forgotten about Daniel Craig. I felt sorry for him when he was picked as the new James Bond and he got slated for not having the right colour hair (amongst other things) as he's probably the best James Bond..i.e. true to the character in the books that Mum used to read...than anyone before him. He has the most amazing eyes! Mum watched him in a really good TV series called "North and South" and he played a Geordie guy in it. I've not seen it but may get it on DVD one day. There's another actor called Damien Lewis who portrayed Major Richard Winters in Band of Brothers..and he's a Brit. He's done allsorts, mainly on telly but he was brilliant in Band of Brothers and I was quite proud at how wonderful he (and the series itself) was.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
19 Jan 10
I am not very familiar with British Actors. The only ones I seem to know or assume to be British are those who starred in American movies since they are the ones who mostly get here in my country, Philippines.
I think for one, most of them are really handsome. Not to mention, very clean-looking! It's the accent that I can barely understand. We are used to hearing the American English way and the lack of 'R' and the curving of some vowels tend to really get tricky sometimes. 
It's a big difference when your ears aren't used to something?
I wonder if Mr. Bean is British, or English....whatever is the difference? Pardon my lack of knowledge about these stuffs. :)
It's the accent that I can barely understand. We are used to hearing the American English way and the lack of 'R' and the curving of some vowels tend to really get tricky sometimes. It's a big difference when your ears aren't used to something?
I wonder if Mr. Bean is British, or English....whatever is the difference? Pardon my lack of knowledge about these stuffs. :)@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Jan 10
Rowan Atkinson is an Englishman, England is part of Great Britain (or the UK) which also makes him British...so you're right on both counts my friend.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
20 Jan 10
Yeeehey! My wild guess kept me from flunking my geography this time!:)
@sunnycool (12714)
• India
18 Jan 10
hi Janey,
coming to television soaps---i have no idea about any british actors---while coming to movies i love to watch kate winslet
(she is an british actress right) and love the movie Titanic---not coz of its naked scene rather it was a great love story and it had an good feel though.
Another show i enjoy watching is Mr.bean show which is really funny and we can have a good laugh watching his episodes.So your little Indian friends knowledge is limited so i cant add anymore though i watch english movies more often--but i never tried to categorise them.great day.
(she is an british actress right) and love the movie Titanic---not coz of its naked scene rather it was a great love story and it had an good feel though.
Another show i enjoy watching is Mr.bean show which is really funny and we can have a good laugh watching his episodes.So your little Indian friends knowledge is limited so i cant add anymore though i watch english movies more often--but i never tried to categorise them.great day.@sunnycool (12714)
• India
18 Jan 10
yeah even i had seen those---she won an award for her role in the reader movie right but she is becoming older
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Jan 10
Kate Winslett is a national treasure, we all love her over here in the UK...and her acceptance speeches when she received all those awards last year was so sweet, we loved her even more after that.
@BarBaraPrz (47313)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Jan 10
I've always been partial to Michael Caine... He can play charming, or sinister, even comedic roles. He can do posh, and not so posh.
(When I read your post in my email, the line break came after "Hugh" and I thought you were going to say "Grant"... probably because they've been showing a lot of his movies on TV here lately.)
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Jan 10
Michael Caine is also an extremely nice man in real life, was on a radio show called "Desert Island Discs" over Christmas and he is so down-to-earth despite his fame.
@abruzzi10 (622)
• Latvia
18 Jan 10
Hey! First I saw this article I thought myself - hey lol, there aren't good UK actors... but than I remembered - Hugh Laurie.. OMG he's the best episode actor that ever have seen. Rowan Atkinson - great comedian! Actually I like him, not because he's stupid in his movies, but for that - he is great actor , he can change enormous in the studio, but in the life he is absolutely another person, agree? So there are lot of other cool actors from United Kingdom, so my answer is definitely - YES! I like them!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Jan 10
Thanks very much...and I'm glad you like Hugh Lawrie...he's ace!
@burrito88 (2774)
• United States
19 Jan 10
Amanda Tapping (Stargate SG-1 was born in England but moved to Toronto, Canada when she was 3 years old. That makes the English accent that she uses on Sanctuary all the more interesting.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Jan 10
Is that so? How interesting my friend and thanks for responding.
@RedRose86 (27)
• Cyprus
20 Jan 10
I love Kate Winslet!! She is so talended actress and beautiful woman. I like all of her movies.She is great!!!!!!!!!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jan 10
I'm glad you like her so much. So do I my friend, she seems to be a lovely person both inside and out...a rare thing these days! Welcome to MyLot
