Xena: Warrior Princess

[Gatito Grande]

Kevin Smith's (RIP ) Yank was amazingly good. LL's less consistently so---but after awhile, her Kiwi-isms just became endearing (bet she's lovin' been free to be Kiwi on BSG!).

Remember the ep If the Shoe Fits? Though it was just for a moment, LL speaks Brit (as a "Fairy GodsMother"): I'd love to hear her do that again.

LL Anyone else see pictures of LL last night, after the Grammys? She looked incredible! Out

[billy]

In my experience actors from Britain or Australia or NZ or other places often do very well with American accents, but often the reverse is not true.

I'm afraid we're not as forgiving of not so good British accents, but the best English accent I've heard from an American was Angelina jolie in the Tomb Raider movies.

Kevin Smith's (RIP ) Yank was amazingly good.

Yes, poor Kevin. I don't understood the appeal of bad boys and bad girls so only started to appreciate how good Kevin was when Ares became mortal.

[Alcy]

Not all the Kiwi's in Xena did American accents well at all. As a Kiwi myself, I cringed when I heard some of the actors in the supporting roles open their mouths.

Notably the bad guy in 'A Friend in Need', his Kiwi accent was so strong that it ruined every scene he opened his mouth, dub the guy for heavenssake!
And the Rhine maidens guarding the Rhinegold? Atrocious as well...
Lucy had a couple of slip-ups with her accent, I'm incredibly pleased that despite how much time she spends overseas, she still retains her accent. Not all can be said for other New Zealand actors, who now sound just as American as...well, Americans. Noticeably Phil Keoghan - host of the Amazing Race - he used to host my favourite after school program!

In criticising their accents I do understand a little though, in New Zealand at the time, Hercules and Xena were about the only major American productions filming here and so they didnt really get much chance to work on it. Nowadays with LOTR and Narnia and heaps of other film work going down, I think the general standard has improved.

Anyway, that's my accent ramble

[Hemiola]

The subject of actors and accents is endlessly fascinating--as least to me.

I too, when I first started watching "XWP", simply assumed that actors such as LL and KS were Americans, and was truly astonished to hear LL speak with her "native" accent (and let's not forget the astonishingly good American accent of the chap who played Iolus on "Hercules"!). There seems to be a trend lately of actors and actresses working hard to learn accents correctly, and also to speak foreign languages with a minimum of distortion. On our American side, the champ is probably Meryl Streep, who spoke perfect German and "slightly accented" (so I have been reliably informed) Polish for "Sophie's Choice". I am told that Streep was also careful to speak in a New Zealand accent for "Cry in the Dark", so her speech would be distinct from that of the Australians surrounding her! For the Brits it's probably Minnie Driver, who can do just about any accent perfectly.

Amusingly, this was not always the case! If anyone wants a real treat, look for any film/TV show in which Laurence Olivier tries to speak in an American or German accent. While Vivien Leigh turned in an astonishing performance as Scarlett O'Hara, American southerners continue to complain that her accent was far more British Schoolgirl than Georgia Peach. My favorites, though, are some of the hilarious attempts of American actors in the 1930s and 40s to do British accents. Just watch any of the Universal horror movies in which a thoroughly Yank actress screams "Help, deeeehling! It's the maaawwwnnstah!"

[hahler]

this was just sent to my email regarding the new xena movie:


LAWLESS: 'DON'T REPLACE ME'



Also see:
LUCY LAWLESS


XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS star LUCY LAWLESS is terrified she may be replaced in an upcoming movie version of the TV series which rocketed her to fame.
The 37-year-old beauty can't bear the thought of another woman playing the leather-bound superheroine - and she jokes she will sabotage her replacement if necessary.
She says, "I really would mind seeing another actress playing Xena.
"In fact, I would poleaxe her on the way to the set."

19/02/2006 14:22

[Gatito Grande]

hahler, I just saw this quote (on another board).

I think it's more just LL expressing her usual sarcastic good-humor, than anything else (I don't think she seriously fears being replaced as the WP---she knows the franchise fan-base would NEVER stand for it!)

GG Still 'n' all: it's time to get that XWP movie---starring LL & ROC---underway already! Out

ETA: AUSXIP is now calling the authenticity of the above quote into question...

[hahler]

i suppose im the only one that has not seen this video since im alittle slow
but those of you who havent check it out it is sweet. it deals with the love triangle of xena, gab, and aries.


http://www.mmee.org/video/lovesmenot.avi


dawn

[Gatito Grande]

Just to spread the news, that Renee O'Connor has had her baby (a girl, as was previously announced)

GG Congrats and felicitations! Welcome to the world, our new Amazon Princess! Out

[Culzean]

FYI - there is a new CD out called Unexpected Dreams - Songs from the Stars.

It's a collection of lullabies sung by movie/tv stars and benefits Music Cares. Lucy Lawless is one of the contributing artists.

[Krazy Dreamer]

Ok, I just couldn't resist. This is too hilarious.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJjmJF7Qj6s&search=xena%20gabrielle%20kiss

[emma peel]

Thanks, Krazy Dreamer. The vid was absolutely wonderful!!:-)

[urnofosiris]

That was very funny, Xena freaking out at the end especially so.

[Lucian]

A few people asked where my sig was from, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ha_e9Y2gB4

[bytrsuite]

Awww, that's an awesome scene, and sig!

[sheila wt]

From Cynopsis:

Lucy Lawless has been cast in the pilot Football Wives from ABC TV Studio, plays one of the lead roles of a wife of a professional football player.

[erith]

The American version of the UK's Footballer's Wives with the wives all very blonde and really over the top plots? Sounds like fun.

I caught the end of Less Than Perfect the other day guest starring Lucy. She was looking really good.