Why are there so many British actors playing Americans on TV?

Question

I love Hugh Laurie, but now it seems every show has either a Brit or Aussie in the lead. Is this ever done in reverse? Are any Americans in Britain playing Brits?

Answer 1

Rene Zelleweger in the Bridget Jones movies.

Answer 2

One simple reason: they are CHEAP - much cheaper to hire a British actor, or an actor of any nationality other than American.  It's the entertainment industry's version of outsourcing, and personally it irritates the h**l out of me.  British actors are no more highly trained, skilled, or inherently talented than American actors.  They're just CHEAPER, and that's their only distinguishing feature.

Answer 3

I think it's great. We also have, starting this fall, Simon Baker (Australian) starring in "The Mentalist" and Rufus Sewell (English) in "Eleventh Hour".

And in films we have Cate Blanchett (Australian) who has portrayed a number of characters with different accents. (The Missing, The Gift, Bandits...)

I can only speak for myself, but I suspect it's because people from the United Kingdom are still being taught to act WITHOUT "help" from special effects and computer-generated explosions.

On the other side of it, yes, we have Renee Zellwegger. She did a great job as Bridget. And for Gwyneth Paltrow, who lived in England till she was 11, it was doubtless an easy transition. However, I feel that Donald Sutherland didn't do well with the accent in "Pride and Prejudice".

Answer 4

one or two but the best performance of an american actor playing a british lead was george c scott playing ebenezer scrooge in the 1984 version of a christmas carol, he was superb

Answer 5

I think its cool how he can hide his accent like that!