Acting is all about playing something you are not. That's why it's not uncommon for actors to change their accents for movies and TV shows. And while we know plenty of top-tier British actors who play American characters, such as Henry Cavill and Tom Holland, there are many lesser-known thespians who play Americans on television, but are actually British. Here are just five of them.
Cush Jumbo (The Good Wife/The Good Fight)
The actress behind one of the most interesting and charming characters in the 'The Good Wife' franchise, Lucca Quinn, was born and raised in London to a British mother and Nigerian father. On TGW and TGF, Cush Jumbo does a very convincing American accent that will surprise you when you learn that she's actually British. But once you know, it's funny to watch the moments when Lucca is asked to speak to clients on the phone in a British accent, which is the actress' real one.
Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor)
The star of ABC's hit drama series The Good Doctor plays Dr. Shaun Murphy, an autistic medical prodigy who is given the chance to become a resident surgeon at one of San Jose's most prestigious hospitals despite widespread prejudice. In addition to portraying autistic speech patterns, Freddie Highmore speaks with an American accent on the show, making it impossible to guess that he is from Camden, London.
Kelly Reilly (Yellowstone)
Although the Beth Dutton actress has had many notable roles aside from Yellowstone, where she showed off her real British accent (A Haunting in Venice, Britannia), it's almost impossible to guess that she's from the UK if you only know her from Paramount Network's hit Western drama. But don't be hard on yourself, Beth's harsh and confident American accent would fool anyone.
Oliver Stark (9-1-1)
The star of the long-running Fox/ABC procedural drama plays Evan 'Buck' Buckley, a brave and handsome firefighter from Station 118 of the LA Fire Department who has come a long way from his native Pennsylvania to Los Angeles. Because his character was born and raised in the United States, Oliver Stark uses an American accent on 9-1-1 that perfectly disguises his British origins.
Ella Purnell (Fallout)
The actress behind Lucy MasLean on Amazon Prime Video's latest release, Fallout, admits she has fooled many co-stars over the years with her American accent. Ella Purnell has appeared in many productions playing American characters (such as Yellowjackets) and has mastered the accent. So if you're confused by the fact that she's actually British, don't be – it's not your fault.