Authenticity and Added Value

There has been a lot in the media recently about the use of actors who are supposed to be Welsh, Scottish or Irish in assorted TV and film productions but who are clearly not up to the task..........  This was on the BBC web site:

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20200116-are-authentic-accents-important-in-film-and-tv?ocid=ww.social.link.facebook&fbclid=IwAR2jqYQBtCqe1N6abvMYnS6G_E0v1pIdqh4Sbpv1eGwD_nOwrVxY4iO_n6Y

And this was Carolyn Hitt having a bit of a rant in the Western Mail not long ago:

http://brian-angelmountain.blogspot.com/2020/01/english-actors-and-welsh-accents.html

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/carolyn-hitt-welsh-tv-accent-17550613?fbclid=IwAR2aD2sZoA_nxmWKuew4wNV0wI55eHj4AzIZfKJ7JkKAlaX5nsryOEOF3Wg

This is a topic that pops up every now and then, particularly when a "Welsh" character in a high-profile drama production seems not to have a clue how to pronounce things or speak proper "Wenglish".  Clearly Welsh actors and audiences will feel greatly aggrieved when perfectly fine male and female actors are passed over for "Welsh" parts in favour of English or American actors who are perhaps better known.  Production companies will always cast "stars" if they can get them, even for roles that are not particularly well suited, if they think that "star quality" will attract viewers and put bums onto cinema seats.  So they are always looking for added value, maybe at the expense of authenticity.  But the two are related.  There is no point in casting a famous American to do a Welsh role if said actor makes such a hash of the job that the film as a whole is ridiculed -- so instead of a smash hit you end up with something that bombs in the box office.

So of course casting directors should seek out, and use, Welsh actors if they are available.  And there are scores of them out there, very clever and very professional, waiting for work.

Let's end on a lighter note.  We watched "The Two Popes" the other day.  Thoroughly enjoyable it was too, with Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins in the starring roles, both sounding very Welsh,  one playing a German pope and the other an Argentinian pope.  Win a few, lose a few........