Damian Lewis, yes or no?

Eichhörnchen · 01-20-15, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tchocky

Q: True or false - Ronnie Wood?

A: Eh, true.

Q: Actually it's false, Ronnie would not.

Huh??? No understand...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

it was filmed in the UK, so not surprising you have a lot of British actors. If you look carefully you can spot James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy in small roles. This was long before they became stars.

Yes, we enjoyed seeing some familiar British TV actors now turned into GI's, but I'm still surprised they didn't bus in an American actor for the "plum" role of Winters...

Bilge_Rat · 01-20-15, 02:17 PM

personally I thought Lewis did a great job in "Band of Brothers". That mini-series is my favorite war movie by far and I have seen it several times.

01-20-15, 04:03 PM

He was awesome and since BoB he is on my personal "top actors" list.
Was also great in 'Warriors', first movie I've seen with him.

u crank · 01-20-15, 04:10 PM

Yes. Have watched Band of Brothers many times and also read the book.

Lewis also played an American Marine in the Showtime series Homeland.

Skybird · 01-20-15, 06:51 PM

Why mistaking the actor with the role he plays?

The only important question is whether the actor is a good actor or not. And Damin Lewis as well as many others in that series did a hell of a good job.

Eichhörnchen · 01-20-15, 07:13 PM

Well I suppose the nub of my question was to discover, particularly from our American friends, whether there was any question as to why the role was given to a non-American, given that he would have to get to grips with the accent, and given that my American nephew once assured me that no Briton could fool an American that way. If the US audience found him convincing in the role then fine, but did they?

Sailor Steve · 01-20-15, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

given that my American nephew once assured me that no Briton could fool an American that way.

I wonder what your American nephew thinks of Hugh Laurie in House?

August · 01-20-15, 10:40 PM

Might be a fake accent but certainly more natural sounding than his native English accent would have been.

Take the BBC shows Wallander or Zen. Great shows but those English accents are so jarring.

Eichhörnchen · 01-21-15, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I wonder what your American nephew thinks of Hugh Laurie in House?

This made me smile. I know the show you mean, although I've never seen a whole episode, only clips: I don't know what US viewers make of Hugh Laurie as an American, or whether they are all even aware of his more familiar "cut-glass" English accent. Does he go down well or is he a bit of a joke? (I know the character he plays is a bit edgy and the show is, it seems, rather tongue-in-cheek). He's well-regarded here...

Egan · 01-21-15, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

Well I suppose the nub of my question was to discover, particularly from our American friends, whether there was any question as to why the role was given to a non-American, given that he would have to get to grips with the accent, and given that my American nephew once assured me that no Briton could fool an American that way. If the US audience found him convincing in the role then fine, but did they?

As far as I know, the reason for such a large amount of Brit actors in it - and there are a LOT - is partly because it was mostly filmed here and also because it is actually a joint HBO/BBC production into which the BBC put quite a bit of cash. They were supposed to have been making a show of their own based around a British battalion (about the 5th Seaforths, based on a book called 'Battalion by Alisdair Borthwick) but went with the HBO production instead.

Here's the cast list. It makes interesting reading.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0185906/fullcredits/

I think there are actually more British actors in it than American or if there aren't it's damn close. A couple of them live near me. I see the lad who played Babe Heffron occasionally in the supermarket I use, and I've seen a couple of the others around as well. Always cracks me up that Ross McCall who plays Liebgott is a wee guy from Port Glasgow along the Clyde coast.!

Eichhörnchen · 01-21-15, 06:48 PM

Really interesting: I'd just assumed it was an American production filmed here for reasons of location and maybe even budget. That puts a whole new perspective on things. Thanks for the link too: that's terrific.

Jimbuna · 01-22-15, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Egan

As far as I know, the reason for such a large amount of Brit actors in it - and there are a LOT - is partly because it was mostly filmed here and also because it is actually a joint HBO/BBC production into which the BBC put quite a bit of cash. They were supposed to have been making a show of their own based around a British battalion (about the 5th Seaforths, based on a book called 'Battalion by Alisdair Borthwick) but went with the HBO production instead.

Here's the cast list. It makes interesting reading.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0185906/fullcredits/

I think there are actually more British actors in it than American or if there aren't it's damn close. A couple of them live near me. I see the lad who played Babe Heffron occasionally in the supermarket I use, and I've seen a couple of the others around as well. Always cracks me up that Ross McCall who plays Liebgott is a wee guy from Port Glasgow along the Clyde coast.!

Agreed

Aktungbby · 01-21-15, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Why mistaking the actor with the role he plays?

The only important question is whether the actor is a good actor or not. And Damin Lewis as well as many others in that series did a hell of a good job.

Precisely and turnabout is fair play: Renée Zellweger! In 2001, Zellweger gained the prized lead role playing in the British romantic comedy film, Bridget Jones Diary, based on the 1996 novel of the same title. The choice came amid controversy since she was neither British nor overweight. During casting, Zellweger was told she was too skinny to play the chubby Bridget, so she quickly embarked on gaining the required weight (20 pounds) and learning an English accent. This role won her first Oscar nomination and enough plaudits to land her the sequel: Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason as well...Bravo!

Torvald Von Mansee · 01-22-15, 03:36 AM

What do you guys think of Meryl Streep's accent abilities?

Btw, I always thought Bob Hoskins did a perfect working class Amercian accent. RIP.

Eichhörnchen · 01-22-15, 03:56 AM

Add to that, Angelina Jolie as "Lara Croft". I was amazed to discover she wasn't a Brit: brilliant talent, beautiful woman...

01-20-15, 02:17 PM	#2
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,856 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	personally I thought Lewis did a great job in "Band of Brothers". That mini-series is my favorite war movie by far and I have seen it several times. __________________

01-20-15, 04:10 PM	#4
u crank Old enough to know better Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Prince Edward Island Posts: 11,747 Downloads: 136 Uploads: 0	Yes. Have watched Band of Brothers many times and also read the book. Lewis also played an American Marine in the Showtime series Homeland. __________________ “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” ― Arthur C. Clarke

01-20-15, 06:51 PM	#5
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,660 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Why mistaking the actor with the role he plays? The only important question is whether the actor is a good actor or not. And Damin Lewis as well as many others in that series did a hell of a good job. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

01-20-15, 10:40 PM	#8
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,216 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Might be a fake accent but certainly more natural sounding than his native English accent would have been. Take the BBC shows Wallander or Zen. Great shows but those English accents are so jarring. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

01-22-15, 03:36 AM	#14
Torvald Von Mansee Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: CA4528 Posts: 1,693 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	What do you guys think of Meryl Streep's accent abilities? Btw, I always thought Bob Hoskins did a perfect working class Amercian accent. RIP. __________________ "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you" - Leon Trotsky

01-20-15, 04:03 PM	#3
Nippelspanner Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	He was awesome and since BoB he is on my personal "top actors" list. Was also great in 'Warriors', first movie I've seen with him.

01-20-15, 07:13 PM	#6
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,408 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Well I suppose the nub of my question was to discover, particularly from our American friends, whether there was any question as to why the role was given to a non-American, given that he would have to get to grips with the accent, and given that my American nephew once assured me that no Briton could fool an American that way. If the US audience found him convincing in the role then fine, but did they?

01-21-15, 06:48 PM	#11
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,408 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Really interesting: I'd just assumed it was an American production filmed here for reasons of location and maybe even budget. That puts a whole new perspective on things. Thanks for the link too: that's terrific.

01-22-15, 03:56 AM	#15
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,408 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Add to that, Angelina Jolie as "Lara Croft". I was amazed to discover she wasn't a Brit: brilliant talent, beautiful woman...