I've been noticing that quite a significant number of Aussie actors are working on American TV, playing...Americans. Most of them are detectives, sheriffs, or other tough-guy types. Recently the action-adventure series Longmire debuted here, in which actor Robert Taylor (no relation to the one from earlier Hollywood movies) plays a Wyoming sheriff. Another law enforcement show, The Glades, stars the charming Matt Passmore as a Midwesterner who relocates to the Florida Everglades region. In The Mentalist, Simon Baker of Australia plays a Californian. The most surprising one (I nearly tipped over off my chair when I heard the guy speak as himself in a public service announcement) is Alex O'Loughlin, who has recreated the role of Steve McGarrett in the archetypal American cop show, Hawaii Five-O. All from Australia, all having put on impeccable American accents. You wouldn't know unless you heard them talk as themselves that they were from way, way far away.
And then there are the two Hemsworth brothers, Liam (who played opposite Miley Cyrus in her movies) and Chris (who plays Thor in the movies). I can't remember what accent Chris uses as Thor. I guess we can't consider Thor American. He's from Asgard. Still, in the interest of completeness, I mention him.
So what gives? Can't they find gorgeous muscular American guys to play these parts? It seems a bit tough that so many young aspiring actors from the States would be closed out of such good roles. Maybe our guys aren't as convincing playing young American men? I'm not saying this to express anger or anything; all these guys are good, and they're easy on the eyes as well. (Though for me, sidekick Scott Caan is a far more interesting actor than O'Loughlin, despite being about a foot shorter. Caan just eats up the screen when he's on.)
Anyone have any ideas about this?
And then there are the two Hemsworth brothers, Liam (who played opposite Miley Cyrus in her movies) and Chris (who plays Thor in the movies). I can't remember what accent Chris uses as Thor. I guess we can't consider Thor American. He's from Asgard. Still, in the interest of completeness, I mention him.
So what gives? Can't they find gorgeous muscular American guys to play these parts? It seems a bit tough that so many young aspiring actors from the States would be closed out of such good roles. Maybe our guys aren't as convincing playing young American men? I'm not saying this to express anger or anything; all these guys are good, and they're easy on the eyes as well. (Though for me, sidekick Scott Caan is a far more interesting actor than O'Loughlin, despite being about a foot shorter. Caan just eats up the screen when he's on.)
Anyone have any ideas about this?
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