JKR interview (film casting)

[flying_ford_anglia]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C4697
From: flying_ford_anglia
Subject: Re: JKR interview (film casting)
Reply To: [Yahoo! #4674] Re: JKR interview
Date: 7/20/00 5:05 pm  (ET)

<<In the final analysis, it would be nice to have Harry Potter cast with
an entirely British cast. (I'm willing to let Rosey have the role of Mrs.
 Weasley and Roth might make a good Snape.)>>

Tim Roth is as English as toasted crumpets, but must have done a passable
American accent if you thought he was American (as implied, above??).

Which brings me to my point. I have nothing against American actors
playing parts in the film, but they would have to get the accent
absolutely spot on - enough to be believed by a UK audience - and that's
not easy.

Some actors are very good at accents, and others are not. Dick Van
Dyke, who has been mentioned, is an extreme example. His accent in
"Mary Poppins" bore no relation to any earthly dialect, let alone Cockney!

When it comes to casting the kids, I'd say it would be even more difficult
to find actors who can get the accents right. I would like to hear the
characters with a variety regional British accents, but for some reason,
I cannot see anything other than 'Posh', 'Manchester', 'Cockney', 'Scots'
or 'Irish' making it into the film, if the US audiences are in mind.

Sidenote: Has anyone noticed how supposed Brits on American infomercials
nearly always affect a Manchester accent? Is there something in their
contract about this? Is this accent seen as more persuasive? Jane Leeves,
on "Frasier", goes somewhere near Manchester, via Barnsley.

Neil - being a bit waffly, as usual