Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
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Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
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Most actors, at some point in their career, are faced with having to pull off an accent. Some even choose to take on a foreign accent for the challenge, and can be so astonishingly flawless with it. And then others, well, they probably made this list.
With the premiere of the Amazon original series Z: The Beginning of Everything, there will be much talk of the accents on the show. Christina Ricci, as Zelda Fitzgerald, employs a 1920’s old-timey southern accent. There’s a lot going on. Some might get lost in the ups and downs of the relationships on-screen and not even notice. Others might find the way they speak so distracting that they don’t even make it past the first episode.
In honor of Z, we’ve compiled a list that proves bad accents are all around us. In fact, some of your favorite actors have probably fallen victim to their on-screen accent at some point throughout their career. It is even possible to give your best performance to date, but failing as soon as you open your mouth. Our apologies to the dialect coaches that tried their best with these performers. Lucky for these actors, their careers lived on, and even luckier for us, their accents did not.
Christina Ricci in 'Z: The Beginning of Everything'
There are a lot of things working against the accents in this show. Maybe it’s because we don’t hear a ton of dialect from this time period, so that immediately makes us suspicious, right off the bat. But yes, the Alabama drawl is a bit too exaggerated in the show. If you can get past it, the story of Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald ranges from sweet to party time to troubling, in a show that really does have some great moments. But if you’re hung up on it, you won’t enjoy the 10 half-hour episodes to the fullest, that’s for sure.
Adam Sandler in 'You Don't Mess With The Zohan'
As with most Sandler films, there’s a lot to unpack here, at your own risk. Sandler looks great, we will give him that. As an Israeli soldier turned hair stylist, it just seems as though he spent a little more time focusing on his cutoff jean shorts. But of course he did!
Anne Hathaway in 'One Day'
Anne Hathaway is a tremendous actress, we know this. She stars opposite Jim Sturgess in this film that was adapted from the very popular novel. And her British accent is just…not quite there. She tries, which we can always give her credit for. But there was no mistaking that she’s from the other side of the pond, is all.
Gerard Butler in 'P.S. I Love You'
Oof, this guy. There’s nothing delicate about a Scottish accent, so trying to wipe one away isn’t an easy feat. Safe to say, Gerard Butler was unable to accomplish it in this romance movie. And many of his subsequent films, too. At this point, just stick to your native tongue, bro. It’s sexier that way.
Blake Lively in 'The Town'
This is one of the most important performances of Lively’s career. She really BRINGS it in the film written, directed, and starring Ben Affleck (as well as Jeremy Renner and Jon Hamm), proving that she is capable of being a quality actress, and affording her an opportunity to be known as more than just her Gossip Girl character. But Boston accents can be tricky! Which, sadly, she found out the hard way. Wicked bummah.
Brad Pitt in 'The Devil's Own'
1997 was pretty much peak-hotness for Brad Pitt. It was not, however, a peak Irish accent era for the actor. It’s ok because his co-star Harrison Ford couldn’t quite nail it either. Safe to say neither of their careers took a hit for the attempt though.
Quentin Tarantino in 'Django Unchained'
What is he even saying? It took several re-watches of this clip to try to figure it out through what is supposed to be an Australian accent, maybe? The talented director is always making interesting choices when it comes to his films, but this accent was a bit of a misfire for him.
Cameron Diaz in 'Gangs of New York'
Again with the Irish accents! Cameron Diaz will remain a rom-com dream, but up against Daniel Day Lewis and Leo DiCaprio here? She was never going to shine. Her accent left much to be desired and deciphered.
James Van Der Beek in 'Varsity Blues'
You’d think all that time James spent in North Carolina filming Dawson’s Creek would’ve helped perfect his southern accent. But then again, Texas has its own unique way of speaking, one that he didn’t quite get ahold of for this football film. More like, “I don’t want your accent” amiright?
Nicolas Cage in 'Con Air'
Oh, Nic. The action flick remains a classic in the mind of film fans, but it’s not quite due to Cage’s southern accent. The intense film, also starring John Cusack and John Malkovich, has so much going on you can get lost in the plot instead of his attempt at a drawl.
Keanu Reeves in 'Bram Stokers Dracula'
Reeves brought what was supposed to be a British accent to the Francis Ford Coppola film in 1992, but yikes. Let’s all take a moment to appreciate the fact that The Matrix didn’t take place in England.
