American Or Not?

Never believe what you see on screen. Turns out, a lot of actors from countries around the world are incredibly skilled at the American accent. So much so that you'd believe they were American citizens if you didn't hear them talk in real life. Be prepared to be amazed - we're about to show you 20 actors that do such a good American accent, you didn't realize they weren't from here.

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1. Christian Bale

Wait a second...you mean Batman isn't American? That's right, beloved talented actor Christian Bale isn't actually American, even though his amazing accent might make you believe he is. He was born in Haverfordwest, United Kingdom, miles away from the United States.

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2. Margot Robbie

Thanks to her many iconic roles featuring American characters like Harley Quinn and Barbie, Margot Robbie often gets mistaken for being from the United States. So you may be surprised to hear that this pretty lady actually comes from way down under - Dalby, Australia to be exact!

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3. Tom Holland

Making waves thanks to his impressive performance as the iconic superhero, Spider-man, Tom Holland has fooled many into believing he's from Queens. But actually, that's not the case at all. This friendly neighbourhood Spider-man was actually born in Kingston, United Kingdom. 

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4. Henry Cavill

You might want to take a closer look at your favourite Marvel and DC superheroes - as it turns out, a lot of them aren't actually American, they just nail the accent! Case in point, Henry Cavill. Superman is as recognizable as can be, but Henry Cavill's nationality certainly isn't. This hunky fellow is actually from Saint Helier, Jersey, found in the Channel Islands.

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5. Kate Winslet

Best known for her role in Titanic, you might be surprised to learn that this Queen of the ship was born in Reading, United Kingdom, not America. Turns out she just nailed the American accent at a young age!

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6. Andrew Garfield

No, it's not just one Spider-man, it's two of them that are British! Don't be fooled by Andrew Garfield's impressive American accent - this Spider-man may have been born in Los Angeles, but he moved to the UK when he was just 3. Not to mention, his mother's British too!

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7. Millie Bobby Brown

Making her big debut on the hit Netflix series, Stranger Things, everyone's jaw dropped when they found out Millie Bobby Brown is actually British. Considering she was only 12 when she started the show, we're amazed at how well she nailed the American accent. Definitely fooled us!

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8. Florence Pugh

It sort of feels like Florence Pugh is everywhere right? She sure keeps herself busy, starring in numerous hit movies of late. While her acting skills have definitely received plenty of recognition, we think she should also get a round of applause for her amazing American accent. 

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9. Chiwetel Ejiofor

You've seen him in The Martian, you've seen him in 12 Years A Slave, 2012, and Doctor Strange, but what you haven't seen him in is real life. Because then you would've known that Chiwetel Ejiofor isn't American, he's British! He was born in Forest Gate, London, England. 

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10. Cate Blanchett

Considered one of the greatest living actresses alive, are you really surprised to learn accent work is another talent of Cate Blanchett's? This Aussie born in Melbourne seriously had us stumped for a while!

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11. Daniel Kaluuya

Best known for his role in the horror film Get Out, Daniel Kaluuya didn't just impress the audience with his acting chops, they were also wowed by his American accent. If you never saw one of his real life interviews, would you have been able to tell that he was born in the UK?

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12. Idris Elba

After working on it for many years, Idris Elba's American accent became so good, he could easily pass as an American citizen. That's right, we're telling you that this beloved actor is British born from the UK. He's been in many films where he had to put his accent work to the test, and if you rewatch them now, you'd be shocked now that you know he's not actually American.

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13. Gary Oldman

The best way to describe Gary Oldman is that he's a chameleon. Seriously, this guy always impresses the audience with his acting skills! He's able to become someone else entirely, not just through looks, but through their voice and demeanor too. So when it comes to playing an American character, you best believe he nails the American accent every time. 

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14. John Boyega

You probably recognize John Boyega from his performance in the newer Star Wars movies. But what you didn't recognize while watching those films is that this man is not an American - he's from Camberwell, London! We were in such disbelief the first time we heard him speak in real life!

Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America

15. Toni Collette

Everyone loves how diverse Toni Collette's filmography is, and with it being so wide-ranging, it only makes sense that her accent work is top notch too. That's what allows her to play so many different roles after all. But turns out she's so good, many people were in shock learning she was born in Blacktown, Australia and not America. 

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16. Hugh Laurie

For people who are fans of the popular show, House, we've got some news for you. You know the lead actor, Hugh Laurie? Yeah, that guy's actually British. His accent was so amazing, many people went on for years without realizing his true nationality. 

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17. Saorise Ronan

Although Saorise Ronan was born in America, she's Irish at heart. Moving back to Ireland when she was just 3 years old, she has a very prominent Irish accent that is, in real life. But if you see her on the screen playing an American character, you best believe you wouldn't ever guess she was Irish. 

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18. Martin Freeman

Beloved actor Martin Freeman is best known for his roles as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, Everett Ross from Black Panther, and John Watson from the hit show Sherlock. While he's been in plenty of films where he's used his English accent, his performance in Black Panther really impressed all the movie-goers. His American accent sounded so natural and real!

 (bellaphon) from London, UK on Wikimedia Commons

19. Benedict Wong

Here's another Marvel actor you wouldn't believe wasn't American. Benedict Wong, best known for his role as Wong in the Marvel universe, is actually British. We bet you would have never guessed, are we right? He does such an amazing job with his accent work in the films. 

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20. Matthew Rhys

If there's one actor out there everyone always praises for their American accent, it has to be Matthew Rhys. This Welsh man has got everyone fooled. The amount of comments you'll see online about people not realizing he wasn't American is truly astonishing.

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