[HPFGU-Movie] Re: Casting limits/UK only?????

[Annette Hamel]

Sylvia wrote:
<<Speaking as an Englishwoman, I would be quite happy for good American
actors to be cast if their English accents were as good as the
Americans in LOTR.  Elijah Wood, especially, apart from the very
occasional slip, I could have sworn was English.  I would really
liketo see Kathy Bates as Umbridge - I'm sure she could do an English
accent with the best of them.  Still, JKR's books, JKR's decision.>>

Sylvia, thank you for this.  In my (American) opinion, casting a movie 
should be about finding the best actor for the job, period.  I have read 
many posts suggesting John Malkovich for Voldemort, and think he would be 
wonderful - the man is frighteningly brilliant.  And Kate Winslet was 
perfect for Titanic, playing an American role.  It is my belief that any 
accomplished actor in the English-speaking world (Britain, South Africa, 
United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, et al) should be able to 
affect the proper accent that any given job requires.  It's part of taking 
on the character.

That said, I get the feeling that JKR's preference for English actors might 
stem from the fact that, as she says, HP is a very "English" story.  The 
story is steeped in cultural references that Americans might find 
unfamiliar.  And, as has been said about Brad Pitt in "Troy", many American 
actors have such a "modern" look (for lack of a better term) that they are 
unconvincing in character roles.

Kathy Bates would be fantastic as Umbridge ;)

Annette
=^..^=

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