How important are accents?

We often comment on actors’ accents when they play a character of a different nationality.  Some, such as Hugh Laurie as an American in ‘House’ do it very well, whilst others aren’t quite as successful.  Nicolas Cage in ‘Captain Correlli’s Mandolin’ and Kevin Costner in ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’ are two actors that have been mocked for their fake accents. (more…)