Martin Freeman On The Difference Between British & American Actors | CONAN on TBS

[@emiilyshe]

I know that he's going on and on about how the accent doesn't make British people clever and I find myself agreeing with him, but I can't tell whether or not I'm just agreeing because of his accent.

[@maddams1754]

There are different accents. Have you seen the movie "Snatch"? I love those kind of accents, but they don't sound particularly smart.

[@leolucky7570]

Niiice

[@This_is_super_dumb_but]

😂😂😂 I love this response

[@laeliaborgesh]

hahahhahahh

[@mot00rzysta]

I can't tell I'm agreeing with you either. Maybe I am, maybe I'm not !

[@C.Dat.guyoverthere]

Isn't it because British actors are more trained in theater and American actors are more hired because they fit a certain look for a certain demographic? There are always exceptions, of course.

[@StallionFernando]

C.DatAZNguyoverthere very true. You dont really need any talent to make it in hollywood, just have a hot body and a pretty face and youre in, for the most part.

[@StallionFernando]

Universe Man stereotypes exist for a reason, they always hold some sort of truth. And like i said not all of them, but alot are.

[@irishprice]

DereMemo name some average looking good people... I'll double your list with hot ones in a heartbeat.

[@roanokemarine0311]

Huh, I never thought it about it like that. You make a really good point.

[@danielm4098]

This is true, but not necessarily the fault of holywood itself. Americans are obsessed with looks when they watch films, so the business is just giving the audience what they want.

[@bcoolfool1014]

Martin Freeman is one of the best actors of all time and he's proper funny in interviews because he is naturally comedically gifted, with a sharp wit and perfect timing. He's just a legend.

[@astro_penguin_]

Absolutely

[@mishynaofficial]

Yeah, but I've never seen him without grey hair. Oh, except for the role of pornographic film actor 😅

[@bcoolfool1014]

@@mishynaofficial Yeah, a lot of people get that wrong. He was a porn star stand-in. Not the porn star.

[@PatrickHogan]

“Andy’s very good at his job.” Understatement of the century.

[@Omaricon]

Being british and saying that is probably the highest praise he can give to be fair. Brits aren't as generous with their compliments as americans are. So when Martin Freeman says that, that's a huge compliment.

[@cearivera]

​@@Omaricon you're implying brits wouldn't use, for example, "fantastic" as a compliment. Stereotypes are good and useful, but spreading them is not

[@Omaricon]

@@cearivera no, I'm just saying that in general Americans tend to be more generous with their compliments, and more so to use more words rather than fewer, eg. "wow this is simply the best cake I've ever tasted in my whole life" vs "this cake isn't half bad" Studies actually also show that less is more, and that saying "you do a good job" is seen as more positive than "you are the absolute best in the world!!!" Anyway, of course there are exceptions. There's exceptions to everything and everyone.

[@AUSSIETAIPAN]

What is Andies job actually?

[@PatrickHogan]

@@AUSSIETAIPAN Andy Serkis is an actor.

[@mikulaszach2652]

0:24 That ,,Thank you" was smooth af

[@McSuperfly101]

Five minutes of watching The Jeremy Kyle Show will dispel the belief that all British people are classy/intelligent.

[@durango-CODEBUILDER]

McSuperfly101 5 minutes? Less than 30 seconds to be honest.

[@511dydy]

McSuperfly101 Watching the ad is enough

[@michw3755]

McSuperfly101 yeah, cause we all saw how many geniuses appeared on Jerry Springer, not really a good comparison argument

[@McSuperfly101]

Ummm, when did I make the assertion that all _American_ people are classy/intelligent?

[@scabab90]

McSuperfly101 But they are actors as well.

[@Ngamotu83]

Americans wouldn't think all Brits, by their accent, sounded smart if they heard the Geordie accent.

[@northeastlad2289]

cheeky bastard

[@BettyandtheBees]

As a Geordie I concur

[@cocricklewood4441]

Or Birmingham and Essex

[@BeardyGit89]

The thickest sounding accents in the country are all southern by FAR. It is 100% impossible to sound clever with a cockney accent.

[@northeastlad2289]

Northern accents are rarely understood by people outside the UK. Define thick sounding.

[@xviolet953]

I definitely think that British actors are better at forming an introspective, multidimensional character from their script. I feel like that is mostly due to their traditional theater training, and partly because of the subtlety of British storytelling. I think American actors are better at creating their characters from scratch. A lot of the self-taught actors take the method approach. They change their posture, tone and expressions for the simplest of roles. There's less of a fear of experimentation.

[@luvmsiahatethegov]

xviolet953 that's a brilliant and succinct way of contrasting the two styles!

[@fabulousmyriad267]

xviolet953 Nicely put. Although I think theatrical training for any aspiring actor is crucial. Teamwork, maintaining discipline, the pressure of each performance, learning pages of monologue are all key skills . Preachers & toastmasters have a certain theatrical flair when they speak and it shows!

[@DRush76]

Bullshit. It's about individual performer and not his or her country of origin. How long are people going to cling to this cliche?

[@mayflower2370]

Dee Rush That is not what he means. Simply being British does not mean you act in this style, it is what is in the culture.

[@abbysands9510]

British actors usually are trained in Drama school 3 or 4 years and then they enhance their skills in the theatre and from theatre they go into tv series or films. I don't think Americans are trained in theatres. Most American actors are either discovered as a waiter/waitress or a model and then move in acting business. Although there are exceptions.

[@jamedraa8472]

I think actors who begin with a focus on theater/stage really excel at communicating & portraying the character. & I think that theater is appreciated more in Europe.

[@spaceo8568]

I fell in love with Martin Freeman as John Watson. I love this man. And Kevin's desperation to remain in the interview is killing me. Lol.

[@elreydelvideo]

*Btw Martin's accent is light compare to other British actors*

[@didid3ksa]

Aaron Mijail Herrera Castro that's what I felt :)

[@johnsjohnson5620]

Everyone has an accent

[@gracieobrien1373]

I’m confused

[@willrichardson519]

Aye, it's more of a regular, reasonable educated middleman class accent...not stagey like a stereotypical RP one.

[@Jenjen-qc5eq]

@@didid3ksa Martin Freeman has a middle-class accent while Benedict Cumberbatch has an upper-class accent both are London accents.

[@cannsmith]

I love Kevin Nealon his gift for timing is just perfection

[@lvwerneck]

Martin Freeman: "I don't think I sound smart at all." Also Martin Freeman: _"engenders"_

[@jackward9901]

Brits are good at acting because we have decades of suppressed emotions to call upon. It makes it all quite convincing.

[@randolphpinkle4482]

Nice one!

[@soutano11979]

What on earth r u talking about?

[@dlg5485]

@@soutano11979 The whole repression of emotions trope?

[@rabokel]

Coughing on the toilet?

[@brownjatt21]

@Grant Kerr show me on this doll where America touched you.

[@samihussaini2372]

1:32 I was half expecting him to say Benedict Cumberbatch lmao

[@Edninety]

Yeah me too I don't know why but it would've been funny if he had said something like "Benedecit Cumberbatch, never liked that bloke."

[@peteradaniel]

Except Cumberbatch is exactly the kind of actor he was describing. Steeped in theatre, gets the jobs done. Class act all in all.

[@vazquezb2011]

That would have been funny... and problematic.

[@pjbfny]

I was too. it would've been amazing

[@leolucky7570]

Wooow lmao

[@spencerfrankclayton4348]

Martin's "I am" at the end.

[@Maracujakeks]

Watson where's the 5th season we need it goddamn

[@winstonchirpsehill1503]

4th season was trash though.

[@789edw456in]

it’s better to live your life thinking that the show ended. It definitely seemed like it ended with the last episode

[@paulangelosayo4471]

There's going to be a 5th?

[@invaderg3332]

Legit the only show that I would watch rn besides youtube.

[@invaderg3332]

I thought season 4 was their best season.

[@oscarclarke2653]

The closest thing I've seen in modern talk shows to a regular conversation.

[@emekaokonkwo869]

Seriously man, made me realise how weird the rest of them are

[@phlupple]

Check out the Graham Norton Show

[@ethanwang777]

American actors are less trained but much more motivated whereas British actors have more professional respect for the job as an actor and seek less public attention. We can definitely expect from both countries great but very different actors, which is a good thing. BTW you will be surprised how many great actors and actresses are actually Australian but constantly mistaken for British.

[@BeardyGit89]

Ethan Wang i've never heard anyone say any Australian actor is British. The other way round quite a few times.

[@chrisgee2616]

But no British accent sounds Australian.. 🤔

[@abbysands9510]

British actors usually are trained in Drama school 3 or 4 years and then they enhance their skills in the theatre and from theatre they go into tv series or films. I don't think Americans are trained in theatres. Most American actors are either discovered as a waiter/waitress or a model and then move in acting business. Although there are exceptions

[@knoxville2000]

@@chrisgee2616 I can see how Americans would mistake a Cockney accent for Australian

[@chrisgee2616]

@@knoxville2000 it's not even close.. its night and day

[@funnysmile12325]

I like Conan cause when a normal story is told he doesn’t clap 30 times and lean back in his chair screaming with laughter

[@MichaelHolmgaard]

British, and European actors in general, are definitely among the better I think. There are great American actors of course, but it just seems more deep and real with European actors. Michael Caine, Ian McKellen, Alan Rickman, Gary Oldman, Daniel Day Lewis, Colin Farrell, Mads Mikkelsen, Jude Law, Damian Lewis, Sean Bean, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kate Beckinsale, Sir Christopher Lee, Christoph Waltz, Thure Lindhardt, Lena Headey, Martin Freeman, Patrick Stewart, Stellan Skarsgård, Helen Mirren, Pilou Asbæk, Daniel Brühl, Christian Bale, Javier Bardem, Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch and many more..... all fantastic!

[@Magdalena-qd3bd]

Cate Blanchett is not European.

[@MichaelHolmgaard]

Magdalena Really?! Didn't know that. Thanks for info 😊

[@mickybarpostproductor3451]

I think it's art in general.

[@jitendra1991]

Michael Holmgaard Well, the most iconic American superhero Superman is played by a British actor so, there's that

[@galmanferguson]

Oh you missed Kate Winslet

[@samguy7654]

Martin Freeman is too nice and polite for TV.

[@astro_penguin_]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5TZcoacmLirocksi=0_rc1ls-6oaZeqGg

[@AhtoRashied]

Freeman's a cool dude.

[@karljonson3287]

Martin was perfect casting for Bilbo. Perfect.

[@GaryTurbo]

Hes a good well rounded actor

[@layla2623]

It's so true what Martin said. I noticed many brit actors who make a name for themselves in Hollywood are classically trained actors and they're damn good at their job, often upstaging American actors who come from model/waitress background but just somehow slipped through the right holes to land it in Hollywood. Just look at the Sherlock script, I doubt a lot of commercially successful American actors could deliver the lines as well as the brits. At least they'd need many diff takes to film one scene.

[@stefevr]

OY OY GID SAVE THE QUEEN AYAAAAAAAAAAA

[@stefangrubesic2708]

Best Hollywood actors are mostly British

[@ErikPT]

Stefan Grubesic There is something about the English actors that possesses charm and just hold a deeper horizon than their American counterparts.

[@Wadbjs]

u mean best british actors are mostly in hollywood

[@MrGenexxx]

Oh I'm sorry I didn't know that Jack Nicholson, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Robert Duvall, Jodie Foster, Leonardo DiCaprio, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, Diane Keaton, Elizabeth Taylor, Katharine Hepburn, Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Dustin Hoffman were British. My bad.

[@narcseven4213]

That's because they are good at lying.

[@solo_dingo]

MrGenexxx why would you include Brad Pitt in that lineup?

[@bethanyutting5221]

The only reason I clicked on this video is because Martin Freeman is on the thumbnail he is a British legend

[@rhiannontalbot1]

Listening to conversations with both English and American accents makes me really self conscious of my own English accent. I watch so much American TV that I desensitise to the American accent, and hearing the difference is so jarring.

[@cryalot378]

gosh I hope Martin will be back on Conan one day again in the near future, I love listening to him (also huge thanks to Conan for asking the right, interesting questions!)

[@marynichols438]

Martin Freeman is one of my favorite actors. He's why I watch Sherlock.

[@hieronymousblack3364]

My Martin. I love his appreciation for his peers and his art.

[@hatsoutofpaper5323]

I don't know if anyone else had noticed this as well but Martin either consciously, subconsciously, or unconsciously always manages to fit the rude finger in haha 2:00

[@titularhero]

Its probs because brits prefer average looking actors a lot of the time, so people get hired more because of talent/work ethic than looks.

[@MrVisualHigh]

I agree, it feels like Americans prefer their stars to be something to aspire to whilst Brits just want someone like a normal person.

[@vChilem]

Very good point!!!.

[@useroldaccount]

Henry Cavill though

[@dingfeldersmurfalot4560]

Completely agree. I often go to my mother's and watch an hour or two of TV with her at nights. We both LOVE that English/Brit actors so very often look normal throughout, like people who are real and who you would know. In the U.S., everyone wakes up instantly and energetically, ready for repartee, with no sleep in their eyes, bright and happy with their $400 hairdos unwrinkled. U.S. programs are like a fantasy even for minor characters; Brit programs don't even bother to choose gorgeous characters nor their circumstance: Here they are, take it or leave it. Both my mother and I leap to embrace ordinary characters rather than pretending the world is full of supermodels.\ I understand the Aristotelian definition of theater as something that includes spectacle; it has informed most of theater/film throughout history, undoubtedly. The spectacle of beauty draws us in whether we like it or not. It can even become primary. But when spectacle -- beauty -- is primary, so much of the edifie of real drama crumbles around us. It can be overdone. I like the PBS show, Vera. She is not pretty. She is not young. Do I empathize more with her because of it? Not necessarily. But I don't have to push her aside as a realistic figure because she is always perfect or perfectly beautiful, which, after all, virtually none of us are. Vera just is what she is, and I'm okay with that. Spectacle sometimes becomes pretending. Writ large and obvious. I like that many things I see from the Brits on PBS or Britbox are less obvious pretending. I don't like my stuff to be obviously fake.

[@newwavepop]

i honestly have no idea if Brits prefer average looking people, but they certainly seem to put less importance on how their actors look. i am American and i can remember growing up in the 80s there were a couple British actors and a couple Australian actors i would see in foreign things on cable and even though they were a little more average looking there was something i really liked about them. the one i most remember was the Australian actor Noah Taylor, i just use to really love that guy for some reason when i was in my teens.

[@RasPutintheGreat]

Genuine man

[@tragedyinsideme2705]

He‘s such a great actor! One of my favorites! Keep‘ going ❤️

[@boreduser12]

At 0:49, Andy Richter should've said "Thank you" (to Martin saying "Andy is good at his job" while referring to Andy Serkis). That would have been perfect considering Kevin did the same a few second ago.

[@KutWrite]

SO funny to hear Freeman's native accent. I only know him from "Fargo." He nailed that Nygard.

[@thedandelion157]

He's amazing. Go watch him in "the office" or "Sherlock" or "Breeders". You won't regret it.

[@AaronSaltzer]

I cannot get over how adorable Martin is. His accent makes him more attractive.

[@lordswoodslordswoods716]

Martin Freedman was brilliant in office.

[@ayngemac]

Theater is so much fun. When I was a kid, I was terminally shy. I would have rather set myself on fire than speak in front of a crowd. I realized it was an irrational fear, and that I had to do something about it. So when I started junior high school, I signed up for drama. Of course it was a horrible nightmare at first, but eventually I had the time of my life, and to this day, I can speak to ANYBODY. I am still an introvert, but now I can turn it off. Everybody should do theater at least once in their lives.

[@proudtobemyself2120]

if you pause at 0:30 O M G THAT IS WONDERFUL AHAHAHA i love his little laugh

[@JoeSmith-dl9ok]

Freeman is a great actor. Watch him play Lester in season 1 of Fargo-AWESOME

[@krissmgvlogs]

Americans are still confused by Black Brits but this is possibly changing with the help of Idris Elba. A black person with a UK accent totally throws them. I know, I've been to the US many times!

[@TheMogul23]

It's not just Idris. Both Chiwetel Ejiofor and Daniel Kaluuya have been nominated for Oscars which should help.

[@brasschick4214]

Did you get stopped by police and if you did, did your accent change their demeanour towards you?

[@Stella-cf4cl]

kriss mg I prefer the British posh accent or whatever on a black British person than a white one because I feel like it generally matches their voice more, especially if it’s a guy with a deeper voice. Idk I can’t explain it

[@nag8649]

It's probably because Americans think the whole world revolves around them

[@knoxville2000]

Had a black friend get stopped by the police when he went to visit Georgia. When the cop called in to his dispatcher that he'd stopped him he was referred to as African-American. Being British, and therefore terribly polite, he didn't have the heart to correct them

[@dreamiesnoona6423]

It's not the accent for me. I mean, it's not just the accent. It's the vocabulary and the well articulated manner in which they speak is what makes them seem smart, regardless of whether they are fooling us or not. And yes, I do think British actors are brilliant storytellers but that's because reading and story telling was something that was pursued as a hobby in Britain and something that they polished over time. I am not saying that it is applicable to everyone. But I just find it fascinating to hear them tell stories- the way they enunciate or emphasize certain parts and know how to deliver the punch line. It's really hard to be an engaging story teller but most of them are spot on in it.

[@SphincterOfDoom]

Steeped in theater. That's a tea reference, right?

[@mosaic617]

You can’t say twat on American television? 😒

[@JulianCedar]

It isn't used as much here, so it's seen as bad

[@Yallboots]

I think in America twat is specifically defined as a womans genitials, where as in the uk its a general term for stupid or idiotic people.

[@nihila]

In Easy A starring Emma Stone that word was 'censored' and had to be spelled out by peas because a young boy was in the room with them.

[@TheSuzstory]

It does mean basically the same as puddy; however, if the president can say it, I think it should be automatically permitted.

[@themeg1145]

Because Americans mispronounce it as Twot

[@Townyowl]

If I mute the video and squint I can imagine Martin Freeman as Elen Degeneres.

[@Townyowl]

I thought he was Elen when I first looked at the thumbnail.

[@CgGoil]

I have the impression that the creativity often lies elsewhere with American art, as opposed to English and European art. In American art, in film anyway, it is often more about the directors vision or the producers input, where in European film art, actors are trained, and expected, to have an input and to be an active part on the art project. As Mr.Freeman said, that is obviously not true for all American actors and filmmakes, as it is not true for all European actors and filmmakers, but it does feel like like that is often the case. The most important thing is, that none of these approaches are wrong! Its just two different ways of doing it. Especially in these days, where there are so many actors, directors, producers, sound, lighting, music people blending, from all over the world, doing things, not just in American films and series, but also in European films and series, that we all get influenced by each other. That is only a good thing! Art is a living thing, and you need to feed it and play with it, to keep it alive!

[@LiminalOutlaw]

And people also need to open up to new forms and modes of art making. Read peter brooks The empty space!!

[@ronweasley1354]

Was half expecting “is this on? JAMES CORDEN!”

[@kliusd]

this conversation wasn't going anywhere

[@Torus202]

None of these talk show conversations really go anywhere. We're all just watching famous people banter for 5 to 10 minutes at a time before we all die. I'm sad now, sorry.

[@Sekii1994]

That was life is like.

[@Katya_Lastochka]

They can't go anywhere really because everything leads to nothing and back to the end. The end.

[@japikolee]

Wow, this thread got dark.

[@lanmandragoran8337]

And then it died.

[@matthewgarcia3435]

Him and Benny Cumbers are a dream team

[@misplacedkiwi9498]

My son wants to be an actor like Tom Cruise so he had to go to drama school. Martin is right

[@bluebell3096]

Martin Freeman is soooooo adorable!

[@baconlatte]

"Here he is, Tim Canterbury. Good man, The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer, Shakespeare..."

[@TheTomorrowProject]

"...King Muzorewa."

[@whiteemerald_6802]

I didn't know he was British since he had an American accent in the show "Startup".

[@mikewilliams6025]

"I don't think I sound smart a'tall." -Martin Freeman

[@freyag9285]

Love him for mentioning Stephen Fry!

[@90antiemos90]

Lester Nygaard

[@Liltonxi]

Gustavo Because some roads you shouldn’t go down. Because maps used to say, “there be dragons here.” Now they don’t. But that don’t mean the dragons aren’t there.

[@user-pd9ry9ic6l]

Gustavo Ikr? I can't stop thinking about him speaking in that Minnesotan/ North Dakota accent

[@Edninety]

Have you been a bad boy, Lester?

[@TheGioge99]

Liltonxi God, I love Lorne Malvo.

[@benzaiten933]

I have only ever seen the first season of fargo (because I'm lazy) but I suppose Lester is dead for real and won't come back?

[@immaRUSHER]

it's been 8 years since sherlock premiered. im not crying, you are.

[@maythehatlady9351]

All i see is doctor Watson

[@maythehatlady9351]

Disney Queen 😂😂

[@disneyqueen6319]

May the hat lady my parents thought I was nuts. I'm mourning the loss of the show already even though I haven't started season 4 yet

[@googlesucks7840]

I see Tim from The Office.

[@jackcallahan2719]

Kevin Nealon: "Thank you." Perfect.

[@220volt74]

I believe Micheal Douglas said that it is exactly this lack of theatre training that makes British actors superior for time period films. American actors simply lack the depth in this department are harder to find by casting agents.

[@elizaf743]

220volt74 yh most young American actors don't show much passion or they don't feel connected to their roles likes something's missing. They're usually hire coz for having a good body and pretty face basically.

[@kassimkhan5524]

Yes it is because they have to participate in the theater gives them the experience to tackle the most challenging roles

[@margaret4227]

I always thought British actors grow up doing Shakespearean plays and American actors grow up in musicals (that’s why so many can sing)

[@calebsteingruber6906]

My favorite current male actors: Daniel Day-Lewis, Christoph Waltz, Tom Hardy, Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem, Benicio Del Toro, Rick Allan (RIP), and Geoffrey Rush...come to think of it, my favorite actress off the top of my head is Maggie Smith. I'm thinking theatre background is a definite plus point.

[@wonka3209]

Some goosebumps on my back right now! Looks like it supposed to be my comment from start to finish. I even had to check your nickname...

[@alexanderfagerdal8195]

Thought it said Morgan Freeman and was still wondering after 2 minutes into the video when Morgan Freeman was going to show up

[@Topself24]

I love Andy!! Such a cool actor

[@Zhougdog]

Martin Freeman is looking more and more like Ellen Degeneres every day.

[@Brave_Aviator]

Lol yes

[@pickledone9698]

Found it.

[@Dodger2879]

Never! He's attractive.

[@Maerahn]

I take it you haven't seen British comedian Russell Howard then?

[@johnperry4857]

Holy crap, you're right!!

[@jimiv1478]

2:18 you can hear Jaquan Phoenix’s joker laugh

[@DonVal86]

There’s plenty of great American actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joaquin Phoenix, Edward Norton, Bryan Cranston, Matthew McConaughey, Jake Gyllenhaal. Feel free to add some more to this list.

[@kills26]

Philip Seymour Hoffman (RIP), Adam Driver, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Morgan Freeman, Jack Nickleson, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russel, more lots more.

[@LiminalOutlaw]

but training is way better in europe

[@DrJ-hx7wv]

The greatest comic actor of all time, Jackie Gleason, and don't forget James Gandolfini.

[@samguy7654]

This conversation was somehow full of twists and turns

[@KingOfMadCows]

Theater better prepares actors for big budget movies since they already have experience acting around nothing, they have no problem acting in front of green screens where everything is a special effect that gets added later by computers.

[@beth12svist]

KingOfMadCows I've never thought of it that way, but it does make some sense. Only some, though; Ian McKellen, who's definitely a theatre-trained actor, admitted to having trouble acting against nothing in The Hobbit films. His particular problem, I think, was he had no one to play against/with. So that may be the obverse of it - theatre actors are also much more used to an action/reaction type of acting, both from colleagues and the audience.

[@TheTradge]

Certainly in the early days of Hollywood actors were hired because they fit a certain aesthetic, these days I feel like there is more of a shift towards more classically trained performers, Hollywood seems to have learned that the best actors out there are the ones who began in, or have had considerable experience in, live theatre. As was alluded to by Martin, stage actors are generally far more consistent, professional and easy to work with than those who have only ever done TV or film work. If you take the MCU as an example, Robert Downey Jr, Samuel L Jackson, Chris Evans, Zoe Saldana, Tom Holland, Anthony Mackie, Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle amongst others, all started their careers in live theatre, and other Hollywood stars who started in theatre include Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Nathalie Portman, Robert Pattinson, Anna Kendrick, Hugh Jackman, and so many others.

[@jelyfisher]

I love British actors and productions! The actors are more real, and they all have a different look about them, whereas American productions have actors and actresses (especially actresses) that are always really attractive in the same way. I get tired of that.

[@Alex-gf5px]

Only the actresses are attractive. Most of the actors are hideous.

[@emilytaing7354]

People should stop thinking that some people are good actors because they come from England or another country. It's all about talent.

[@tomimpala]

I think it comes down to the culture you come from. I don't actually think there's as big a difference as some may think, a lot of actors I know watch 99% American programming (I live in Scotland). I think actors use their experiences to build up their skill sets, and it all depends where you come from. I think it really is that simple. So if you have a loud American who just laughs at everything, they're going to give you a certain performance. If you have a British person who never laughs, but instead tries to think of what to add to a joke, you'll get a different kind of performance. But obviously those roles can be reversed; I know plenty people in the UK who laugh without thinking and I know plenty Americans who think instead of reacting immediately.

[@blacktheatretv7732]

Film is the Director's medium, TV is the Producer's medium and Theatre is the Actor's medium.

[@vassilenaduleva1372]

British actors are much better trained and have a much firmer education and grounds than most American born actors. They sift them through really hard in the UK just like pretty much any other occupation. This is probably why British make it much easier to the American scene vs the other way around. As for the accent, British accent sounds intelligent only to Americans. It isnt. Only because they are used their own countries dialects. And I am not a bias , I am both European and an American..

[@drrd4127]

Well, I am British. I grew up in the British government Scotland system, we had no theatre training at school. Once a year we would have a Christmas play. The government don't invest in the lower class but I know the upper class schools get classical theatre and Shakespeare classes. Classism is a probablm in Britian. That's why all the famous actors have private school accents. The accent he's got was invented by the private school to separate the rich from the poor. It's total neglect if the lower classes that they are denied the arts. Hense why the British export actors are usually from rich parts of London and not Manchester or Liverpool.

[@lovehandles4193]

No, they aren't. That's a lie that everyone needs to divest themselves of. What BS.

[@carlchaze2255]

Agreed American actors are basically one who won a lottery and got lucky Brits are there because of substance

[@KCM25NJL]

Helena Bonham-Carter is about as northern and lower/middle class of an accent in Hollywood that you could find........ yet perfectly capable of putting on the Queen's English.

[@Unsweetened8618]

Is that why they cosplaying as American's. On the big screen

[@fcv1914]

I loved him in UK Office!

[@darrenlamb5640]

Dont you mean THE office

[@c_a_p_s]

I think the British accent makes Brits smart as well, everytime I hear it. If I hear someone talking with that accent I instantly think they are classy and what not, no idea how that started.

[@expressrobkill]

right go to essex or watch a video with people from essex in it and tell me we sound smart, or the west country or yorkshire or liverpool, or even camden town in london or manchester.

[@faintsherin4468]

René Descartes Posh is RP? Truly?

[@me5969]

you know "chav" is a style/culture and not an accent?

[@notdaveschannel9843]

+capsTV You've never been here have you?

[@themeg1145]

capsTV have you ever heard a Geordie or a scouser?

[@aleneb5712]

I 👏love 👏Martin 👏Freeman👏

[@skilletman16]

Some of us American actors can do several accents and dialects, but we're just not chosen for movies, sadly. Even if we're friendly and easy going kind of people.

[@CRSmaug]

Conan invites Martin to talk about Black Panther, they all end up talking about British acting and accents the whole show.

[@CRSmaug]

Marvel must be really dissapointed.

[@puderrick8634]

Martin Freeman is like the Ed Sheeran of acting

[@drfell9105]

Wow what did Martin Freeman do to you that you insult him like that?

[@Unsweetened8618]

He is Mediocre

[@Unsweetened8618]

@SunnyDaze-uq8ed Nobody jealous, of Bilbo Baggins. That's the only "role", he's known for. He's not a Movie Star 🌟

[@progressivebreakborder]

Freeman is definitely one of the best actors my opinion, that pop up In movie Industry last few years 👍🥇

[@lxsx9159]

hit the ground running

[@luizpaulovasconcellos2953]

didn't make sense not to live for fun

[@Mufasie]

Thank you

[@jeffvader811]

@@luizpaulovasconcellos2953 Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb

[@user-fo9kc]

What movie is this? The one below 0:13 tks

[@Lenka-ns5si]

Hobbit I think

[@satellite964]

Just realized that most of the black actors Hollywood hires are British.

[@seattlewa8500]

satellite964 You mean like Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Chadwick Bozeman, Forest Whitaker, Jamie Foxx, Kevin Hart, etc.. I didn’t realize they were British.

[@satellite964]

Van Nicholson I meant these days.

[@domingadoflaminga3961]

You have Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out, John Boyega in Detroit... and Samuel L. Jackson complained about that, because, in his words, they were "robbing Black American actors their chance of bringing their Black American experiences into the screen" (in fact, John Boyega himself disagreed with Mr. Samuel's opinion because he perceived it as "segregationist"), correct me if I'm wrong. And allegedly, Black British actors are less expensive for Hollywood and that could be a reason why they are hiring them lately.

[@satellite964]

Also more likely to be familiar with theater(Shakespeare and so on), more likely to be classically trained, etc. For example David Oyelowo, Thandie Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

[@kingjamestres]

Dominga Doflaminga Well John Boyega has to feel that way because he needs work but he's wrong. Its one thing to play a fake american character or character with an american accent(like he does in star wars). Its another to play a REAL American like John Boyega did. Its rather insulting what does he know about that experience? Can you Imagine an American playing ANY British character in British television or cinema?

[@spencerfrankclayton4348]

Wow, an interesting conversation with depth!!! Pretty rare for a celebrity interview!

[@CaffeineBoy1]

British people's accents are associated with fanciness and... like... the higher class to Americans. It's not the people themselves, it's the accent that just has this long standing stigma we grow up hearing.

[@lauras9966]

One of the best actors. Genuinely brilliant

[@ImamSyafii-st4ps]

"Get the hell on with it" - Mary

[@ZePhones]

Right timing on that "thank you"

[@fkf1]

I was positive when he said "We're steeped in..." that it was going to be about tea. But I guess the Brits love theatre too.

[@BennieBrunink]

Conan starts automatig laughter protocol #1 .. He he hehehehe ...

[@rachelabernathy2707]

It’s called the Class ceiling.

[@starrygrimes500]

americans always say how posh my accent is but i think i sound like a right chav lmao

[@ja6h13]

There’s so many British accents. Most of them makes us sound dumb. We aren’t mostly smart trust me. Someone didn’t know where Alaska was lol

[@onespiker]

Jacob Hunter not knowing where alaska is not really a big deal. Its a part of the USA but what does that have to do with british people.

[@BeardyGit89]

onespiker Because most British people aren't ignorant and actually know about places outside of their own country, unlike Americans.

[@onespiker]

Gertrude Perkins i know but an american not knowing where it is is a alot bigger problem.

[@tommytung9752]

I begged it differ, people from britain are more likely to be ignorant .

[@Deano-Dron81]

⁠@@tommytung9752Behave yourself. All I ever see is you and other cities dumbing down how your education is. I’m from Leeds originally but studied at Oxford Uni. Grew up on a council estate, you melt, in Bramley. Stop projecting yourself as the country itself. Many people do well and some exceptionally go beyond that.

[@angeLxLaw]

Now all we need is Andy to guest on Sherlock 😂