British or Down Under actors in American films

Why so many? They often just play American characters. Are they supposed to be more professional or something? Work cheaper? Here's just a partial list: Nicole Kidman; Naomi Watts; Jude Law; Russell Crowe; Emily Blunt; Minnie Driver; Keira Knightley; Toni Collette; Thandie Newton; Robert Pattinson; Hugh Jackman; Guy Pearce; Mel Gibson; Daniel Craig; Liam Hemsworth... You see what I mean? They almost dominate the industry.

• Because, in comparison to many American actors, they can actually act.

• They get much better training than young American actors. Young American actors think that all they have to do is get a nose job and go to LA, where they'll be able to "learn on the job".

• [quote]You see what I mean? They almost dominate the industry. I agree. I'm so sick of this stupid UK/Irish/Aussie shit in every goddamn American film. R1 & R1 = Bullshit. Did you not read OP's list? Half the people on that list are shitty actors.

• they come cheap.

• They're much better actors with much stronger training.

• And, as you chaps say, they're much hotter.

  Dan%20Stevens

• American actors are often chosen on looks alone. Which means they often aren't talented actors.

• Let me your star!

  Katherine%20McPhee

• Be your star! Be your star! I'm new at this but gosh I'm pretty and lots of important people really like me.

  Katherine%20McPhee

• I have no problem with foreign talent coming to the US if they actually settle here and become apart of American society in exchange for getting so much work in America. What bothers me is when they come over here solely for work and then act so annoyed at having to be in the US. Nicole Kidman and Mel Gibson shouldn't be on the OP's list considering they're both American born and hold dual citizenship with the US and Australia.

• get OVER yourself, R10. you couldn't act yourself out of a paper bag!

• R11, at what point in that post did I claim I could act myself "out of a paper bag"?

• then you should shut the fuck up about it!

• It's just a matter of corporate movie-making. It's often part of the financing, too: more money can be raised on bankable names. And the Brits act better and they're cheaper. Some of them anyway.

  Anonymous

• R13, the whole purpose of this site is for people to share their opinions dear, calm down.

• The average American thinks Brits are "classy" and Aussies are charmingly rugged and unique. These perceived qualities covers for any deficiencies they may have in the acting department. There are thousands of Aussie actors in Hollywood because their home industry is completely fucked. Not sure what the British excuse is.

• They let too many British actors into America, it is true. Why don't they place more restrictions on them? They take jobs away from Americans.

• God. You all sound awful! Hissing at each other.

• The film industry no larger has borders, it just comes down to who the director wants, regardless of nationality. Les Miserables for example was a British film and had British, American and Australian actors in it, all playing French people.

• thank God we have British actors and actresses in our movies. as noted above, they can actually act. they are trained, and not just in 'improvisation.' they've acted the classics. which means they can actually think their way through a scrip and find motivation for their character. american actors, so many of them, are just fucking stupid.

• I think it's a myth that British/Aussie actors are better trained. That may been the case once upon a time, since so many started out in theater. But the younger crop has not done much, if any, theater, let alone go to school for drama. People just like to put down Americans, no matter the circumstances.

• Why do you think that is R21?

• Brits and Aussies do what they're told and work like professionals. To them, it's a job, not a lifestyle. Americans chick hissy fits and won't do this and won't do that, running off to their trailers and refusing to perform until they get their own way.

• R19, yeah! The film industry should bring back those borders that stopped the likes of Pola Negri, Ramon Navarro, Greta Garbo, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich, Bela Lugosi... (and don't get me started on directors and screenplay authors!)... OP and quite a few posters on this thread are sounding a lot like Tea Partiers ranting against wetbacks and Canadians. Are you lot being serious???

• It's just that Hollywood dominates worldwide filmmaking. Every actor in the world dreams of making it big here. Of course we end up suctioning up the talent in the English-speaking world (with perhaps the exception of South Asia).

• op you forget Cate Blanchett.

• And Sam Neil, Geoffrey Rush, Anna Paquin, Hugo Weaving, Eric Bana, Simon Baker, Rose Byrne, Ryan Kwanten, Julian McMahn, Sam Worthington, Rachael Griffiths, Olivia Newton-John, Judy Davis, Paul Hogan, Alan Dale, Rebel Wilson and Rod Taylor to name just a few...

• Movies are an international business now more than ever. The studios are part of international media conglomerates. Filming takes place in whatever country will be cheap and convenient. The studios are chasing international as well as domestic audiences, which is helped by casting internationally instead of restricting casting to one country. [quote] What bothers me is when they come over here solely for work and then act so annoyed at having to be in the US. Most people would have some misgivings about feeling career pressures to relocate to an industry town in another country with another culture. If the media business ends up centering in Beijing or someplace else in the future American actors will have some misgivings about moving too. Plenty of American actors already voice some frustrations about being away from home in other countries for shooting purposes (where they have went solely for work) and talk about strains the travel of the acting lifestyle puts on them and their relationships. I don't normally see international actors complain much about America or Hollywood anyway. Plenty of them have had a lot of nice things to say about America and kept any comments about Hollywood quite diplomatic. I've seen more criticism of Hollywood and its practices and attitudes from American actors actually.

• [quote]they can actually act. they are trained, and not just in 'improvisation.' they've acted the classics. I actually agree. Many actually went to school specifically for acting whereas the likes of Cruise, Robertson and Will Smith either fucked their way with looks, nepotism or sheer luck to get into movies. Hollywood is too much into pretty faces and some dumbass will say "this rapper/model/pop singer" is hot right now, let's put him in pictures" when he has visible acting talent or training. Hence we have these celebrities in our movies playing themselves over and over again instead of actors doing roles.

• If you're serious, you're an idiot, OP. Europeans MADE Hollywood. They've always been a part of it, alongside Americans etc.

  Charlie%20Chaplin

• As others have said, these guys have often been to drama school, and are mostly down to earth and professional. They don't put on airs and expect the rest of the crew to treat them like gods. Actors like Judy Dench, Judy Davis, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving and Richard Roxburgh are also very experienced stage actors. Those actors who never went to drama school, usually have had a lot of TV or stage experience before they hit Hollywood (Eric Bana, Guy Pearce).

• [quote[has visible acting talent Should be NO visible acting talent.

• [quote] Actors like Judy Dench It's JUDI, you fucker! Now get me a chai tea and warm your hands. My bunions need a going over.

  Darling%20Judi

• Give me any movie with Toni Collette, Guy Pearce, Ben Mendelsohn, Jacki Weaver Tom Hiddleston, Kate Winslet, Judi Dench and and and Christoph Waltz, Javier Bardem, Marion Cotillard I am automatically interested. Give me a movie with Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johannson or Tom Cruise in it and I get bored stiff. Not that american actors are not good but the good ones PSH, William Macey, John Goodman ... and and and usually don't become A-Listers. I also find a lot of foreign movies much more thought provoking, daring, intelligent and challenging.

  Anonymous

• The Irish always had a foot in the entertainment industry as entertainers. Most Aussies are of Irish extraction and chavish Brits.