British and US Actors (Was: Casting Umbridge)

[kirst_inn]

I think that the reason many Brits (myself and JKR included)are 
against American casting is more to do with resisting what I would 
call "Hollywoodisation" than concern about accent authenticity. It's 
similar to the horror felt by fans at Spielberg's proposals for the 
series (cheerleaders at Quidditch matches, Hayley-Joel as Harry, 
etc). I suppose we'd feel a bit colonised, were Macauly Culkin to pop 
up as Cedric, or Alec Baldwin to flash his chest hair about before 
turning into Snuffles. Kathy Bates I don't mind so much, but I can 
certainly understand why JKR instituted the ban (which, IIRC, 
alllowed Antipodeans and Europeans).
To be honest, I wondered rather if Susan Bones' elevation to speaking 
part in OoP had anything to do with reaction to CC's casting. 
Obviously, with or without CC as exec. producer on OoP, they'll have 
to re-cast her if she makes it past Kloves' cutting room.
Kirstini