Not Dick Van Dyke or Kevin Costner: Film buffs say this actor has the worst accent in a movie
As the legendary Mary Poppins actor turns 100 we take a look at the surprising winner of cinema’s worst accent.
Happy birthday to Dick Van Dyke! The legendary actor, comedian and all round good egg, turns 100 today, December 13. He was born in 1925 in West Plains, Missouri, and had a long and varied career starting as a radio DJ in Danville, Illinois in the 40s, before moving on to TV and then Hollywood success.
In addition to his outstanding success on both the big and small screens, he is infamously known for his attempt at a British cockney accent in his breakthrough film Mary Poppins.
Van Dyke has always been amused by the reactions to his accent in the film. According to Van Dyke, his voice coach, the actor J. Pat O’Malley, was Irish and was no “better at the accent than I was.” He also says nobody told him during the film how bad it was.
He told Conan O’Brien that when he goes to Britain the people are “on him like a pack of wolves” for the accent. He also explained he has a cunning story to explain it. “I made up a story. I said it wasn’t cockney. It’s from a little obscure county in the north of England. A few cockneys moved up there in the 1800s, and you probably wouldn’t ever hear it again.”
Dick Van Dyke loses out in worst accent battle
However, despite how excruciating Van Dyke’s cockney accent is, it’s NOT the worst ever in film history, according to movie experts at the UK magazine Empire.
That title goes to none other than Scottish actor Sir Sean Connery, for his role in the 1987 film The Untouchables.
Here’s a little taster:
Despite the apparently appalling accent, Connery won Best Supporting Actor for his role portraying Jimmy Malone, the veteran Irish-American officer who helps agent Eliot Ness bust gangster Al Capone.
As the old Hollywood joke went: “Sean Connery didn’t do accents. The accents had to do him
Other famously interesting accents
Connery and Van Dyke aren’t the only ones who have had accents go down for all the wrong reasons.
Kevin Costner — Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
Costner’s Robin Hood drifts in and out of an English accent like a radio station losing signal. Sometimes he really goes for it, other times he sounds exactly like Kevin Costner from Colorado. The inconsistency became part of the film’s legend, especially since nearly every other actor is fully committed to medieval English grit.
Don Cheadle — Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Cheadle’s attempt at a cockney accent is one of the most regularly roasted in modern cinema. Critics and fans alike describe it as a sort of pan-London caricature that hits every stereotype at once. Even Cheadle has admitted he went “a bit overboard,” turning the accent into one of the franchise’s unintentional running jokes.
Natalie Portman — V for Vendetta (2005)
Portman’s British accent drew a wave of criticism, mainly because it fluctuates between serviceable and oddly clipped within the same scene. Many viewers found the delivery distracting, especially alongside actors with authentic UK accents. The performance itself is well-regarded, but the accent found its place in meme culture.
Anne Hathaway — One Day (2011)
Hathaway’s Yorkshire accent gained notoriety for its unpredictability. In some scenes she sounds vaguely Northern; in others she slips back into her natural American speech. Yorkshire natives were especially baffled, calling it everything from “unplaceable” to “cosmically inconsistent.” Hathaway herself has joked about how difficult the accent was.
John Malkovich — Rounders (1998)
Malkovich’s Russian accent as the villainous Teddy KGB is so exaggerated it loops back around into brilliance. His delivery is theatrical, cartoonish, and endlessly quotable—especially the “pay him his money” scene. The accent may not be accurate, but it’s unforgettable, and for many fans it’s the best bad accent ever put on film.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.