Johann Hunt
You know their faces and love their iconic roles and masterful performances, but did you realize these 15 famous actors were born and raised in the UK? Superheroes, psychopaths, and more—this list of Brit legends who pulled the wool over our eyes with their flawless American accents will leave you shaken.
Hugh Grant: Dashing Brit with a Disarming Drawl
Hugh Grant, the king of charming rom-coms in “Notting Hill” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” might surprise you with his posh British roots. Grant, who honed his acting chops at Oxford, dedicated himself to captivating audiences with his signature floppy hair and effortless American twang.
Charlie Hunnam: This English Lad Brought Outlaw Biker Realness
Charlie Hunnam fully embodied SoCal outlaw life by portraying the gun-toting motorcycle club anti-hero Jax Teller on Sons of Anarchy. But underneath that rugged exterior? A genuine British bad boy from Newcastle whose Native Californian character was utterly convincing.
Emilia Clarke: From Dragon Queen to London Lass?
Daenerys Targaryen herself, Emilia Clarke, is from the United Kingdom! The “Game of Thrones” actress represents strength and stoicism, perfectly translating between accents. Catch her natural British lilt in films like “Me Before You” or the rom-com “Last Christmas.”
Henry Cavill: Superman with a Secret (British) Identity
Can you imagine a British Superman? There hasn’t been a better one than Henry Cavill! The Man of Steel himself dons a posh British accent daily. Now, we can’t help but imagine him saying, “By the power of Greyskull!” in a perfect English tone.
Rosamund Pike: Gone Girl’s American Enigma
She was frighteningly convincing as the eerily calculating Amy Dunne in Gone Girl. But Rosamund Pike is a well-respected, classically trained actress from London. Her ability to utterly inhabit such a disturbingly authentic American persona is mind-blowing.
Robert Pattinson: From Twilight Heartthrob to Indie Darling (and Brit)
Remember Edward Cullen, the sparkly vampire from “Twilight?” Believe it or not, Robert Pattinson is a full-fledged Brit! Since those sparkly days, he’s shed the American accent and become an indie film darling, showcasing his British charm in movies like “The Batman” and “The Lost City of Z.”
Jamie Dornan: Fifty Shades of British
As the iconic Christian Grey, Jamie Dornan oozed American affluence and seduction in the Fifty Shades of Grey films. However, this former Calvin Klein model comes from Northern Ireland, and his British upbringing starkly contrasts his most famous on-screen persona.
Dominic West: The Brit Who Nailed Baltimore Grit
You’d never guess the actor who embodied the gritty streets of Baltimore as Jimmy McNulty on The Wire was born into the British aristocracy. Dominic West’s working-class American cop persona couldn’t be further from his posh real-life upbringing – proving this Brit is a master of accents and characterization.
Daisy Ridley: Rey’s Scavenger Roots Came from a London Upbringing
Despite portraying the quintessential American hero Rey in the Star Wars sequels, Daisy Ridley couldn’t be further from Jakku’s desert wastelands. The skilled actress shed her native London dialect to inhabit the sci-fi heroine fully, transcending linguistic barriers.
Chiwetel Ejiofor: From 12 Years a Slave to Shakespearean Star (British Born)
While mesmerizing in iconic American films like 12 Years a Slave, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s background is steeped in British theater. Born in London’s Forest Gate district, Ejiofor trained extensively in the UK before taking Hollywood – and his impeccable accent abilities – by storm.
Sienna Miller: Factory Girl with a SoHo Accent (But Make it British)
Sienna Miller brought iconic artist Edie Sedgwick to life in “Factory Girl,” even though her background is far from Andy Warhol’s New York Factory. Miller is a British actress who’s graced American blockbusters and independent films. Catch her natural accent in films like “Alfie” or the BBC miniseries “The Hollow Crown.”
Zoe Saldana: From Avatar to Colombiana, This Jersey Girl’s British
Zoe Saldana often personifies American characters (like the badass Gamora in “Guardians of the Galaxy”), but she wasn’t born and raised in the States. Despite spending her formative years in England, Saldana grew up in Queens, New York, to a Dominican father and a Puerto Rican mother. This multilingual actress brings a unique perspective to her roles, regardless of accent.
John Boyega: A British Stormtrooper Who Conquered Star Wars
As the charismatic rebel Finn in the recent Star Wars sequels, John Boyega showed off his perfect American accent. But the rising star is British, a native of the Peckham district of South London before breaking out with his first feature film role in 2011’s Attack the Block.
Thandiwe Newton: Westworld’s Host with a Hidden British Past
Newton was born in Zambia to a Zimbabwean mother and a British father. She grew up in England and refined her acting skills before storming Hollywood. Recently, Newton, who spends months preparing for her roles, has spoken about the rigorous training and research she undergoes to master her American characters.
Charlie Hunnam: An Aussie? Nope, Pure East Ender
Charlie Hunnam had us all believing his tough-guy, Cali-fied persona in Sons of Anarchy was legit, when really the steely-eyed fan fave is a proper Englishman from good ol’ Newcastle.
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