While it’s nothing new for actors to have to acquire an accent for a role, the trend for transatlantic thesperanto seems to have reached epidemic proportions lately. As a line of limo drivers at Heathrow hold up boards for the likes of Gillian Anderson and Maggie Gyllenhaal, taxiing on the runway is a Los Angeles-bound jet chockka with major characters from the U.S. Networks’ top shows, picking the Britishness from their teeth. Meanwhile lovable Cockney geezer David Tennant is disorientated, living the same life with different names and accents in totally different locations. The real film stars – Clint, Arnie, Caine, The Stath – never bother with this accent rubbish: “In 100 years time the U.S.S.R. will be ancient history. People will just assume Red Ocober is some feast day for ginger Scotsmen”, Canary protests upon being asked to pronounce “vessel” with a “w”. The Australians I get. You’ve done Neighbours, maybe something else a bit ‘”edgy” on channel 9 – now the only way is down (Panto in the U.K.) or else make your fortune in America. While I welcome this Bondai Beach bonanza for the speech coaches, I question the wisdom of the Brit/U.S. Exchange programme. I can’t » Continue Reading.