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The worst Irish accents in Hollywood movies - SEE VIDEOS

Julia Roberts and Sean Connery may have won Oscars, but they can't pull off an Irish accent!

CONN CORRIGAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, March 9, 2011, 7:44 AM

Updated Wednesday, March 9, 2011, 7:44 AM

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Brad Pitt in "Devil's Own"

Photo by Everett Collection / Rex Features

Everyone involved in the making of this film, from the producer to the coffee maker, should be rounded up and shot - it's that bad.

First on the list to go is Gerard Butler, who plays lovable Irishman Gerry Kennedy, and whose Irish accent is only one of the many problems in this pretty awful film.

Sean Connery has shown that even Scottish actors can have trouble with an Irish accent - a point also demonstrated by Butler in this movie.

P.S. Gerry, your accent sucks.

10. THE LEPRECHAUN IN "LEPRECHAUN"

Like many of the films featured on this list, this movie falls into the "It's so bad, it's good" category. And it's hard not to laugh at a movie with the tagline, "Your luck just ran out."
This horror gained something of a cult following, and was also notable for giving Jennifer Aniston one of her first roles.

Of course, in a movie about Leprechauns, anything less than a ridiculous "Oirish" accent would be a total shock - and Leprechaun doesn't disappoint.

SEE VIDEOS - Click here to see clips of the movies

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macausheen | Mar 10, 2011, 08:02 AM EST

I am just an ignorant American, but I have been to Ireland a few times and have some Irish friends, some even from Belfast. Therefore, I was quite pleasantly surprised by Brad Pitt's accent. To me it sounded just fine, though like I said, I am not a native. That a Scot like Sean Connery or Gerald Butler can't pull off an acceptable (to Irish ears) accent is a bit odd. And that a fine actress like Julia Roberts is also deficient blows me away. Tom Cruise was acceptable at the beginning of 'Far and Away', but lost it by halfway through the movie. What about native Irishmen? Do they have bad accents too? Pierce Brosnan was in a movie I can't remember the name of just now, but he sounded horrible. Of course, me being the silly American, I think everyone should sound like they do in 'The Quiet Man'. I have actually been happily amazed when I meet someone that speaks like they are straight from that movie.

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Cranleigh | Mar 09, 2011, 06:05 PM EST

Eiregirl, please don't step on my dreams. I LOVED Minnie Driver in Circle of Friends and have watched that movie an embarrassing number of times. OK the accent had its ropey moments but it was way better than Saffron Burrows' (Nan Mahon's) effort and Colin Firth didn't even try to be Anglo-Irish. Driver's timing was exquisite. Her face had a Wellesian plasticity (perhaps the extra pounds helped) and she was able to convey multiple conflicting emotions at once. I better stop on the wonders of Minnie. The main reason for big name actors is financing. Why can't scripts of fictional events be tweaked to take account of the weird accent on display? With that said, if a Scotsman of limited versatility (here's looking at YOU, Sean) has to play an Irishman, why on earth can't they let it be a Northener? That way you can be yourself and offend nobody outside Ulster.

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remaguire | Mar 09, 2011, 04:59 PM EST

Not to be nitpicky, but I believe Brad Pitt's character in "The Devil's Own" was Frankie Mcguire, not Frankie Gallagher.

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hyperion | Mar 09, 2011, 02:08 PM EST

Next up: The 10 worst American Accents by British or Irish actors. First place: Vanessa Redgrave in anything she has ever portrayed a North American in.

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hyperion | Mar 09, 2011, 02:07 PM EST

@carrickcourt: wasn't John Wayne's character a fighter from America?

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carrickcourt | Mar 09, 2011, 02:03 PM EST

Sorry to date myself but John Wayne in "The Quiet Man" has got to the worst Irish or lack of an Irish accent in a movie.The Duke, whose character in the movie is Irish born and raised, does not even try to do an Irish accent.

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celticfury | Mar 09, 2011, 12:04 PM EST

Umm, I simply can't believe that one of the biggest offenders was left off this list. But Leo DiCrapprio has absolutely butcherd accents all over the place, including Irish!!! Even if you are a fan of him, you have to admit that his accents are horrible. Don't even get me staaded on his Bahston accent either! Wicked retahded! :-)

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countycork | Mar 09, 2011, 11:57 AM EST

I LOVE this! But...hate to tell ya....a lot of Americans still think Gerry Butler and Craig Ferguson ARE Irish! And- way back when I watched Michael Collins- I actually decided (so I could stop thinking about it) that Julia Roberts must not even BE Irish in the movie because her accent was so bad. I absolutely love the Irish accents, and often annoy the hell out of my family by trying to speak with one. Luckily, nobody's recording!

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sorxia02144 | Mar 09, 2011, 11:38 AM EST

People always get the Texas accent wrong, too. It's always some bizarre southern accent that sounds nothing like it. They can't get a Boston accent right either. In Mystic River, Sean Penn was running around saying "Dorchestah" instead of "Dahchistah". Laura Linney sounded like she was from Brooklyn.

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jaynajamison | Mar 09, 2011, 11:10 AM EST

watched Michael Collins last night, I was thinking the same thing, Julia Roberts is a great actress, but she could do some work on her Irish accent.

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littlecee | Mar 09, 2011, 11:09 AM EST

Another accent that is "slaughtered" in movies and television is the Southern accent. Every Southern state has its own version. Just hard to get it right and sound authentic.

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irishtommy | Mar 09, 2011, 11:01 AM EST

Hell a true brogue is too hard to understand. In american films anything goes. Take Brad Pitt in SNATCH, like tha man said "Did ya understand anything he said?" Movies are for entertainment...When I watch a film made in Ireland with all irish actors I need to have captioning so I don't miss the dialogue. I have a slight brogue I'm told and have been told to slow down to be understood. Get over the worst accents and concentrate on the movie !!!!

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JohnKilgore | Mar 09, 2011, 10:45 AM EST

On second thought. Don't English actors do the best job with accents? Exception: those who attempt to pass off an English accent as a Southern American/Texas accent.

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celticsol | Mar 09, 2011, 10:42 AM EST

I don't think that it's fair to include Sean Connery in any list like this because he always uses the same accent whether he's a Russian Submarine Captain:'The Hunt For Red October' or a British Officer in the 'Man Who Would Be King' or 'Bond, James Bond'....I enjoy your top ten lists by the way.....Thanks !

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JohnKilgore | Mar 09, 2011, 10:40 AM EST

Heck if I can tell the difference, except even I noticed that Sean Connery is a Scot.

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