- 6/20/2025
Prepare to be amazed! We're shining a spotlight on international actors who have flawlessly mastered American accents, so much so that you probably thought they were born and raised in the USA! From Alexander Skarsgård's convincing U.S. Marine to Margot Robbie's diverse American roles, these stars prove that talent knows no borders. Discover the surprising origins of Florence Pugh, Daniel Kaluuya, and more as we reveal the actors who've been fooling us with their incredible skills. Get ready to say, "I can't believe they're not American!"
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00:00I was scared. I didn't feel like a mother.
00:05Welcome to Miss Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most iconic foreign
00:09celebrities who convinced us they were American with their flawless accents.
00:13Something happens to you when somebody says you're not going to get a job till you lose the accent,
00:17you know.
00:19Number 10, Alexander Skarsgård. This Swedish actor enjoyed some of the biggest successes
00:23in his career playing American characters. He rose to prominence playing a US Marine,
00:27Brad Colbert, in Generation Kill.
00:30We're Marines. We obey our orders. Our mission now is not to do our original mission.
00:38However, he almost didn't get the role because the show's executive producer,
00:41David Simon, wasn't sure about his American accent. Skarsgård persisted, auditioning multiple times
00:47until he booked the role, and collaborated with a dialect coach afterwards. He saw more of his
00:51American accent in The Diary of a Teenage Girl, and by that point he had mastered it.
00:56I'm only human, whether you realize it or not, and I have feelings too, you know.
01:03Years later, he won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his performance as Perry Wright,
01:07also an American, in Big Little Lies. For anyone unaware of his background,
01:12he might as well be from the States.
01:14There's a line between passion and rage.
01:18Number 9, Florence Pugh. One of the best young artists in the entertainment industry right now,
01:22this Oscar nominee is a woman of many faces and voices.
01:26Well, I believe we have some power over who we love. It isn't something that just happens to a person.
01:31I think the poets might disagree.
01:33Well, I'm not a poet. I'm just a woman.
01:37Florence Pugh hails from the United Kingdom and started her career there.
01:40However, she saw to major success as an American woman, Danny, in Midsommar.
01:44Christian says you've got this special week planned.
01:49Yeah, it's sort of a crazy nine-day festival my family's doing.
01:53Lots of pageantry and special ceremonies and dressing up.
01:56That sounds fun.
01:57Having made such a brilliant breakthrough in Hollywood,
02:00she took up even more American roles, such as Amy in Little Women and Jean Tatlock in Oppenheimer.
02:05Over time, she became a Tinseltown darling.
02:08However, as her fanbase grew, new supporters were surprised to hear her British accent in interviews,
02:13finally realizing that she had come from across the pond.
02:16I really love accents. I love doing accents.
02:18I didn't say anything.
02:19Funnily enough, when I'm acting, it's really not that hard.
02:22I love him.
02:23But if I'm doing, like, a joke when I'm at dinner, I always screw it up.
02:29Number 8. Daniel Kaluuya
02:30Jordan Peele's Golden Boy is originally from England.
02:33Was that accent? Like, to sound like from Ohio?
02:36No, I kind of, I kind of, well, Slim's works at Costco's, and so I found the Costco's.
02:42I found the Costco's that he was at.
02:43Just Costco.
02:44He began his acting journey on the British stage and screen,
02:47building a solid filmography until he was tapped by Peele for his horror classic, Get Out.
02:52Upon the release of the film, his character, Chris Washington,
02:55became the face of American race relations, earning the actor worldwide renown.
02:59By the way, I would have voted for Obama for a third term if I could.
03:04Best president in my lifetime, hands down.
03:07I agree, yeah.
03:09Most viewers who were introduced to him through his work probably didn't even imagine that he could be a non-American.
03:14So when people found out that he had a thick British accent in real life,
03:18they were even more amazed by his talent.
03:20Yeah, I just spoke to him and I found that he earned, if you work at Costco on a Sunday, you earn $38 an hour.
03:26So I was like, oh, he thinks he's a catch.
03:29Number seven, Saoirse Ronan.
03:31Although born in New York City, the Lady Bird actress is Irish and has the most beautiful Dublin accent.
03:37I grew up watching things like Seinfeld and, you know, stuff like that.
03:41So, yeah, so I think that just really opened up my ear to different sounds and just how people talk.
03:48Most of her parents are Dubliners and she grew up in a village called Ardatton in County Carlo, Ireland.
03:54However, you probably wouldn't be able to guess that because of how wonderfully she has perfected her American accent.
03:59I wish I could live through something.
04:02Aren't you?
04:04Nope.
04:05The only exciting thing about 2002 is that it's a palindrome.
04:09Quintessential American characters that she has played, such as Christine in Lady Bird and Jo March in Little Women, are proof of this.
04:16Not only is her real accent completely suppressed, but her accent that she is putting on is genuinely believable.
04:22Let's just run away together.
04:24I want to get married.
04:26Why?
04:27Because I love him.
04:28You will be bored of him in two years and we will be interesting forever.
04:34Number six, Andrew Garfield.
04:36This superstar has an American father with Polish roots and an English mother.
04:40Who the hell are you?
04:41I'm Peter Parker.
04:42That's not possible.
04:43I am Spider-Man.
04:45Born in L.A., Andrew grew up in both the City of Angels and London, but naturally gravitated to a British accent.
04:51However, he had admitted that it was easy for him to sound American because of his upbringing.
04:56How'd we sound, Desmond?
04:57Like a heavenly host angel, mama.
05:00Now you know it's a sin to tell a lie, especially in this place.
05:04Well, I ain't never said they were saying an angel.
05:05He always heard his father, whose parents once lived in the UK, speaking with a distinct mix of both British and American accents.
05:13So, talking in an American tone came naturally to him as well.
05:16Even when he sings in Tick Tick Boom, it is devoid of Britishness.
05:20No wonder he's so convincing as American superhero Spider-Man.
05:31Just like Tom Holland, another British actor who plays the same character believably.
05:36Number five, Cary Grant.
05:37This legend's accent has a fandom of his own.
05:40Listen, honey, if I didn't have your best interest at heart, you think I'd waste my time arguing with you?
05:44You've done something big, Hilda, you've stepped up into a new class.
05:47An icon of the golden age of Hollywood, Cary Grant was known for his unique mid-Atlantic accent.
05:52It was neither American nor British, but a hybrid.
05:55I know, I look vaguely familiar.
05:57Yes.
05:59You feel you've seen me somewhere before?
06:01The ambiguity of his accent made some people think that he was actually Australian.
06:05In reality, Grant was born in Bristol, England, and had a West Country accent,
06:10but dropped it as he worked extensively in the US as a theatre actor.
06:14Over time, his characteristic tone on the silver screen was cultivated by blending his British accent,
06:20which had subtle hints of Cockney with American.
06:23These aren't my clothes.
06:24Well, where are your clothes?
06:27I've lost my clothes.
06:28But why are you wearing these clothes?
06:31Because I just went gay all of a sudden.
06:33However, behind the scenes, he reportedly sounded English.
06:37Number 4.
06:38Toni Collette
06:38This Australian queen is an acting genius in every sense of the word.
06:42From very early on in her career,
06:44Toni Collette earned high praise for nailing her American accent down to a T.
06:49Do I make her proud?
06:54From Beth in Dinner with Friends, to Lynn in The Sixth Sense,
06:58and Annie in Hereditary,
07:00she never fails to pass as a true blue American.
07:02The credit here is entirely her own,
07:05because the actress prefers not to work with dialect coaches.
07:08Instead, she simply sees her characters for who they are,
07:11and breathes life into them,
07:13giving viewers a total transformation every time.
07:16I feel simultaneously freed by,
07:19and supported by them.
07:22If you had no idea Toni was Australian,
07:28don't blame yourselves.
07:29Even Stephen Colbert didn't until a few years ago.
07:32But you've got such a great American accent
07:34that I didn't know that you were a secret Aussie.
07:37You really didn't know I was Australian?
07:38No, I didn't know that.
07:40Oh, yeah.
07:40I'm so sorry.
07:41You need not apologize.
07:43Luckily, she didn't seem to mind.
07:45Number 3.
07:45Charlize Theron
07:46She came, she saw, she conquered.
07:49After growing up in South Africa,
07:51with Afrikaans as her first language,
07:53Charlize Theron pursued a modeling career in Europe
07:56before landing in the US.
07:57See, this here's my kids.
08:01They're two.
08:01They're down in Miami.
08:02I'm trying to get down to them,
08:04but I'm kind of broke right now.
08:07Once she had made up her mind to enter showbiz,
08:10she worked tirelessly until she was discovered by an agent,
08:12who put her in an acting class.
08:15One thing led to another,
08:16and Theron is now one of the most successful actresses in Hollywood.
08:19Now that I drive a war rig,
08:22this is the best shot I'll ever have.
08:25However, back when she had just come to the States,
08:27she had a bit of trouble with her English.
08:30Over time, she learned the language from American TV shows,
08:33and now has a natural American accent on and off screen.
08:36What kind of shows?
08:37Oh, everything.
08:39Everything.
08:39Dynasty, Dallas, Love Boat.
08:41You know, everything you can imagine.
08:43You learned English from the Love Boat.
08:45Oh, yeah.
08:45You can hear her original accent in early interviews.
08:49Number two, Hugh Laurie.
08:50You know him best as House,
08:52an arrogant but genius American doctor
08:54with a knack for the rarest diagnosis.
08:57Your cousin doesn't like the diagnosis.
09:00I wouldn't either.
09:01Brain tumor.
09:02She's gonna die.
09:03Boring.
09:04The Briton who plays him in the eponymous show,
09:06Hugh Laurie, couldn't be more different.
09:08He is known to be a pleasant gentleman
09:10with a typical British sense of humor.
09:13However, when he auditioned for the role,
09:14his American accent was so on point
09:16that even executive producer Brian Singer
09:19was convinced that he had American blood running in his veins.
09:22Interestingly, Laurie once admitted
09:24to having difficulty pronouncing medical jargon
09:26in his stateside accent.
09:28Everything, it was like just trying to walk with everybody
09:31and you're the one with a stone in your shoe
09:34and everyone else is just floating along
09:36and you're always going,
09:37ah, that didn't sound right.
09:38Ah, that didn't sound right.
09:39To be honest though, virtually no one could tell.
09:41His American accent in Stuart Little
09:43was just as impressive.
09:45George, this is Stuart, your new brother.
09:49No.
09:50Really.
09:51Really, George?
09:52This is your new brother.
09:55Before we unveil our top pick,
09:56here are a few honorable mentions.
09:58Lucy Lawless.
09:59The New Zealander was mistaken for an American
10:02from her Xena warrior princess accent.
10:05By the gods.
10:07What is it?
10:10You are beautiful.
10:14Uh-huh.
10:15And you are drugged.
10:17With henbane, if I'm not mistaken,
10:19so the effects should be temporary.
10:20Robert Pattinson.
10:22The Twilight heartthrob is English
10:23but is a master of various American accents.
10:28What is it?
10:31I don't have the strength
10:34to stay away from you anymore.
10:38Rosamund Pike.
10:39The English actress's performance
10:40as an American housewife in Gone Girl
10:43feels too real.
10:44Nick loved a girl I was pretending to be.
10:47Cool girl.
10:49Men always use that, don't they?
10:51As their defining compliment.
10:53Millie Bobby Brown.
10:54Her accent in Stranger Things
10:56had everyone thinking
10:57the British actress was American.
10:59You put us in danger.
11:01You realize that, right?
11:03You promise!
11:07I go!
11:08And I never leave!
11:11Nothing ever happens!
11:12Christian Bale.
11:14The Dark Knight star
11:14acts extensively in an American accent.
11:17The famous Bruce Wayne.
11:20Rachel's told me everything about you.
11:21I certainly hope not.
11:23So, let's put a couple tables together.
11:25I'm not sure that they'll let us.
11:26Oh, they should.
11:28I own the place.
11:29Before we continue,
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11:43The incredible actress
11:47is Australia's pride
11:49as she was born there
11:50and America's joy
11:51because her contribution
11:52to Hollywood is immense.
11:54This is the best day ever.
11:55It is the best day ever
11:56and so is yesterday
11:57and so is tomorrow
11:58and so is the day after tomorrow
11:59and even Wednesdays
12:00and every day from now until forever.
12:02She has made a brilliant reputation
12:04for herself
12:04playing classic American characters.
12:06This includes Barbie
12:07in Greta Gerwig's
12:08hit film of the same name,
12:10Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad
12:12and Tonya Harding in I, Tonya.
12:14First time I knew,
12:16I knew
12:17I was the best figure skater
12:20in the world.
12:21Her Brooklyn accent
12:22in The Wolf of Wall Street
12:24and Appalachian accent
12:25in Ziva Zachariah
12:27are excellent too.
12:28So it's no surprise
12:29that her being American
12:30is a common misconception.
12:32Daddy's really sorry
12:33about what he said
12:34near the room.
12:34He didn't mean any of it.
12:36Daddy shouldn't waste his time.
12:38We cannot wait to see
12:39how many more American accents
12:40she has in store for us next.
12:42Which American character
12:43played by a non-American actor
12:45is your favorite?
12:46Tell us in the comments down below.
12:48So you're trying to eliminate
12:49the humanity
12:50from the practice of medicine.
12:52If we don't talk to them,
12:53they can't lie to us.
12:54And we can't lie to them.
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