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Most convincing non Irish actor in an Irish role.

  • 26-07-2015 10:13pm
    #1
    darkdubh
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,628 ✭✭✭


    Theres always threads about worst Irish accent in a film,Tom Cruise in Far And Away and the like but are there any instances of outsiders convincingly portraying an Irish character on screen?Now it can be a bit tricky defining who is and isin't Irish in the case of someone like Aidan Quinn who was born in the States but spent a considerable amount of their childhood in Ireland.So for arguments sake lets say someone who did not grow up in the old sod(that probably rules out Anjelica Heuston,I know).First choice for me is Ian Harte,a scouser,whos played Cork in Michael Collins,Monaghan inThe Butcher Boy,Belfast Loyalist in Nothing Personal and Dub in Thousands Are Sailing,pretty convincingly each time.


«1

Comments

  • #2
    Into The Blue
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,358 ✭✭✭Into The Blue


    Daniel day Lewis, my left foot
    Brad Pitt, snatch


  • #3
    dirkmeister
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,664 ✭✭✭dirkmeister


    I loved John Hurt as The Bird O'Donnell.


  • #4
    MakeEmLaugh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,356 ✭✭✭MakeEmLaugh


    Into The Blue wrote: »
    Brad Pitt, snatch

    Pitt's performance was fun, but it was hardly convincing. His accent was all over the shop.

    I thought John C. Reilly's Irish accent in Gangs of New York was pretty good, though I haven't seen it in years.



  • #5
    RobbingBandit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,189 ✭✭✭✭RobbingBandit


    Alan Rickman as De Valera in Michael Collins.


  • #6
    Aimeee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 499 ✭✭Aimeee


    I think Pete Poslethwaite did a pretty good Giuseppe Conlon, In the Name of the Father. Though it's been years since I've watched that movie, I just remember at the time he impressed me.


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  • #7
    Dirty Dingus McGee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,631 ✭✭✭Dirty Dingus McGee


    Ewan McGregors Irish Accent in Angels and Demons was decent enough.


  • #8
    MEGA BRO WOLF 5000
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,484 ✭✭✭✭MEGA BRO WOLF 5000


    Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »
    Ewan McGregors Irish Accent in Angels and Demons was decent enough.

    Not sure if your trolling or not?
    It was horrendous.


  • #9
    NachoBusiness
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,389 ✭✭✭NachoBusiness


    Thought for a thick Glaswegian accented James McAvoy, he did alright in Inside I'm Dancing.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL1duOVGEgk


  • #10
    Gwynplaine
    Registered Users Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭Gwynplaine


    Tom Cruise in Far and Away.


  • #11
    Eugene Norman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,191 ✭✭✭Eugene Norman


    Gwynplaine wrote: »
    Tom Cruise in Far and Away.

    You didn't even read the OP's very first sentence.


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  • #12
    Eugene Norman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,191 ✭✭✭Eugene Norman


    Minnie Driver Circle Of Friends.


  • #13
    Eugene Norman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,191 ✭✭✭Eugene Norman


    Not a movie but Coogan in Moone Boy is spot on.


  • #14
    Elmo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,641 ✭✭✭✭Elmo


    Ironically Angela Lansbury starred in some made for TV film (not Murder She Wrote, where they had horrendous accents) and she did a perfect Irish accent.

    Brad Pitt in Snatch.


  • #15
    Elmo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,641 ✭✭✭✭Elmo


    Eugene Norman wrote: »
    Not a movie but Coogan in Moone Boy is spot on.

    Judy Dench in Philomena.


  • #16
    Ipso
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,995 ✭✭✭Ipso


    I think Jon Voight done a good one in The General.


  • #17
    Curly Judge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,708 ✭✭✭Curly Judge


    Leo McKern in Ryan's Daughter.


  • #18
    crushproof
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,832 ✭✭✭crushproof


    Ipso wrote: »
    I think Jon Voight done a good one in The General.

    +1, no idea how he pulled that one off. Must have stayed up in the Phoenix Park for a few weeks.


  • #19
    Billy86
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,495 ✭✭✭✭Billy86


    Granted he's lived in Cork for years to a mother from Mayo and a father 'of Irish descent' so he doesn't really qualify as a complete outsider, but Steve Coogan probably does a range of Irish accents better than I do.



    Christ, he can even do a northern accent on helium!



  • #20
    Ipso
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,995 ✭✭✭Ipso


    Billy86 wrote: »
    Granted he's lived in Cork for years to a mother from Mayo and a father 'of Irish descent' so he doesn't really qualify as a complete outsider, but Steve Coogan probably does a range of Irish accents better than I do.



    Christ, he can even do a northern accent on helium!


    Ders more to Steve Coogan dan dis.


  • #21
    Billy86
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,495 ✭✭✭✭Billy86


    Ipso wrote: »
    Ders more to Steve Coogan dan dis.

    Oh I know, it's just all I could find on a really quick youtube search.


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  • #22
    pinksoir
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,736 ✭✭✭pinksoir


    I thought Kate Hudson did a good upper-middleclass north Dublin accent in About Adam. At the time of seeing it I'd no idea who she was and only realised she wasn't Irish when I saw her in another movie.


  • #23
    Looper007
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,216 ✭✭✭Looper007


    Will Poulter in Glassland, he pulled off one of the best Dublin accents I heard from someone who's not from here.


  • #24
    R P McMurphy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,129 ✭✭✭R P McMurphy


    Anthony Brophy as coco prunty in the run of the country nailed the long border drawl


  • #25
    razorblunt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,300 ✭✭✭✭razorblunt


    Brad Pitt in Snatch was fantastic, come on it's an A-list Hollywood star playing a traveller, that's almost an impossible task. Jason Flemyng alongside him made an awful attempt in the few scenes he had with line.

    I still can't decide on James Cromwell in LA Confidential, first time I saw it I thought he was Irish just adding a stronger "brogue" but I saw it a few weeks back and found it twiddly dee. Better watch one more time to be sure ... to be sure!


  • #26
    Adamocovic
    Registered Users Posts: 9,292 ✭✭✭Adamocovic


    Has Paddy Considine been mentioned? Been a while since I watched In America but I remember thinking at the time that his Irish accent was very good. Not sure how big he was before it but was the first film I watched him in, and thought he was Irish during it!

    It's been a long time since I watched the film so maybe my memory is hazy, hope I don't rewatch to discover it was a poor irish accent :P


  • #27
    Looper007
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,216 ✭✭✭Looper007


    Adamocovic wrote: »
    Has Paddy Considine been mentioned? Been a while since I watched In America but I remember thinking at the time that his Irish accent was very good. Not sure how big he was before it but was the first film I watched him in, and thought he was Irish during it!

    It's been a long time since I watched the film so maybe my memory is hazy, hope I don't rewatch to discover it was a poor irish accent :P

    Like Steve Coogan, both his parents are Irish so no shock he pulled off the accent.


  • #28
    Adamocovic
    Registered Users Posts: 9,292 ✭✭✭Adamocovic


    Looper007 wrote: »
    Like Steve Coogan, both his parents are Irish so no shock he pulled off the accent.

    Wasn't aware! Himself and Coogan are very good at accents.


  • #29
    Larbre34
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,356 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    The wife was watching Tara Road and I couldn't place the Irish actress, though she looked familar.

    Turned out it was Olivia Williams, not Irish, but spot on neutral Irish accent.


    I'd like to nominate Patrick Bergin and Pierce Brosnan as Irish men who still manage to make themselves sound un-Irish, when trying to be Irish. If you see what I mean.


  • #30
    kupus
    Registered Users Posts: 4,151 ✭✭✭kupus


    Veronica Guerin actress forget her name, I remember thinking the accent was pretty good.


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  • #31
    Hrududu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,711 ✭✭✭Hrududu


    Larbre34 wrote: »
    I'd like to nominate Patrick Bergin and Pierce Brosnan as Irish men who still manage to make themselves sound un-Irish, when trying to be Irish. If you see what I mean.
    I'll never forget seeing the trailer for Evelyn in the cinema and breaking myself laughing at Pierce Brosnans accent. "Where's me dhhhhaughthhher?"


  • #32
    Baggly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,024 ✭✭✭✭Baggly


    kupus wrote: »
    Veronica Guerin actress forget her name, I remember thinking the accent was pretty good.

    Cate Blanchett


  • #33
    MrWalsh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,664 ✭✭✭MrWalsh


    Surely Brad Pitts accent in Snatch wouldnt be considered to be Irish? It was a traveller accent, probably sounded terrible to a traveller. I wouldnt consider travellers to have Irish accents.

    I thought yer man in Braveheart who played the mad Irishman Stephen did a good Irish accent. "He wasnt right, in the head".


  • #34
    darkdubh
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,628 ✭✭✭darkdubh


    MrWalsh wrote: »
    Surely Brad Pitts accent in Snatch wouldnt be considered to be Irish? It was a traveller accent, probably sounded terrible to a traveller. I wouldnt consider travellers to have Irish accents.

    I thought yer man in Braveheart who played the mad Irishman Stephen did a good Irish accent. "He wasnt right, in the head".

    Yes,never knew that actor is Scottish.He also played an IRA man in Some Mothers Son,which brings us on to Helen Mirren in that film.


  • #35
    MrWalsh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,664 ✭✭✭MrWalsh


    darkdubh wrote: »
    Yes,never knew that actor is Scottish.He also played an IRA man in Some Mothers Son,which brings us on to Helen Mirren in that film.

    Sorry I should have said he was Scottish in my post.

    Id forgotten he was in Some Mothers Son - only watched that recently. Agree, Helen Mirren had a very natural accent in it.


  • #36
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    It feels like Snatch was Brad Pitt's way for him to apologize and make up for his terrible attempt at an accent in Devil's Own. While inconsistent, his traveller accent was spot on.


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  • #37
    MrWalsh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,664 ✭✭✭MrWalsh


    Deleted User wrote: »
    While inconsistent, his traveller accent was spot on.

    Id like to hear what a traveller thought of it.


  • #38
    Larbre34
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,356 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    MrWalsh wrote: »
    Id like to hear what a traveller thought of it.


    'Twas spot on Boss.


  • #39
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Didn't he spend some time on a halting site learning from them?


  • #40
    Larbre34
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,356 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    Hrududu wrote: »
    I'll never forget seeing the trailer for Evelyn in the cinema and breaking myself laughing at Pierce Brosnans accent. "Where's me dhhhhaughthhher?"

    fc,550x550,heather_grey.2.jpg


  • #41
    MrWalsh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,664 ✭✭✭MrWalsh


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Didn't he spend some time on a halting site learning from them?

    Dunno, but it sounded quite different to say, Patrick from Love/Hate who is actually a traveller.

    I also dont know if there is a difference between the accent of a traveller who lives in Ireland and one who lives in England.


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  • #42
    galljga1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,938 ✭✭✭galljga1


    Anybody in Darby O' Gill.


  • #43
    poeticmakaveli
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 254 ✭✭poeticmakaveli


    Arnold Schwarzenegger in the terminator!!


  • #44
    poeticmakaveli
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 254 ✭✭poeticmakaveli


    There was an episode in columbo called "the conspirators" where the main culprit is Irish and has committed a murder trying to do a deal with a man so he can smuggle guns back to Ireland to help with the IRA!I thought he was pretty good! I think he was English!


  • #45
    Arne_Saknussem
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,729 ✭✭✭Arne_Saknussem


    Agree with whoever said Brad Pitt's performance in Snatch was fun but his accent was all over the place and in no way convincing.

    He obviously tried hard though.

    Day-Lewis in In the Name of the Father was pretty good.


  • #46
    NachoBusiness
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,389 ✭✭✭NachoBusiness


    Will Poulter (fairly posh UK accent) is exceptional at an American accent, obviously, but I felt he was also very good at a thick Dublin one in Glassland.

    The person I was with when I seen it actually thought that he was an Irish actor.

    Can only find one line of it really, but it comes at the very end of this clip:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d-IEi5C6Bg


  • #47
    xalot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,097 ✭✭✭xalot


    James McEvoy in Inside I'm Dancing is a good Dublin accent.


  • #48
    quickbeam
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 16,287 Mod ✭✭✭✭quickbeam


    James McAvoy in Inside I'm Dancing as already mentioned, but also Romola Garai in the same movie was also excellent.

    McAvoy's missus, Anne-Marie Duff in The Magdelene Sisters was excellent too.

    Paddy Consindine in In America already mentioned, but Samantha Morton, his wife in the film was also good.

    Kelly Macdonald (notoriously for her awful accent in Boardwalk Empire) did a great accent in Intermission.


  • #49
    Eugene Norman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,191 ✭✭✭Eugene Norman


    NachoBusiness wrote: »
    Will Poulter (fairly posh UK accent) is exceptional at an American accent, obviously, but I felt he was also very good at a thick Dublin one in Glassland.

    The person I was with when I seen it actually thought that he was an Irish actor.

    Can only find one line of it really, but it comes at the very end of this clip:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d-IEi5C6Bg

    That's excellent. I was waiting for a posh English guy to appear at the end and do a good Irish accent but it was the guy at the counter. The reason I thought he was Dublin before he spoke is because of his mannerisms and body language/deportment.

    The trend seems to be if they try to do an actual regional accent, it works.


  • #50
    lawred2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,457 ✭✭✭✭lawred2


    Into The Blue wrote: »
    Daniel day Lewis, my left foot
    Brad Pitt, snatch

    Brad Pitt was a pikey... I'm not sure that there was any mention of nationality

    Not that I can remember anyway


  • #51
    jones
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,060 ✭✭✭jones


    lawred2 wrote: »
    Brad Pitt was a pikey... I'm not sure that there was any mention of nationality

    Not that I can remember anyway

    "Not quite Irish, not quite English" is how the film portrays it i believe


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