If you’ve ever had the displeasure of hearing a terrible Scottish accent while watching a film or catching up on a television series, then you know how much it can ruin your viewing experience.
In many instances, it is almost immediately noticeable when a Scottish character is being played by an actor from elsewhere.
From Mel Gibson’s famously terrible Braveheart accent to James Doohan’s disastrous attempt in Star Trek, it can sometimes feel as though there are only overwhelmingly awful Scottish accents in film and TV.
Thankfully, this isn’t the truth. While the ideal scenario would see Scottish actors taking on Scottish roles, there are some performances which leave audiences surprised to learn that the person they were watching on screen wasn’t from Scotland to begin with.
Classic examples of this include Jonny Lee Miller, Emma Thompson and Celia Imrie, each of whom boast almost perfect Scottish accents.
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However, more recent performances from actors such as Jack O’Connell in 28 Years Later or Jessica Gunning in Baby Reindeer, have significantly increased the number of good Scottish accents popping up in film and TV.
So without further ado, here are 23 of the best Scottish accents by non-native actors – including Robert Aramayo in I Swear.
9. Emma Thompson in Brave, Tutti Frutti and The Legend of Barney Thomson
It would be hard to discuss actors doing Scottish accents without mentioning Dame Emma Thompson. While she herself is English, Thompson’s mother was an actress from Glasgow giving her a natural advantage over many others. She has put this accent to use in films and TV shows such as Tutti Frutti, Brave, and The Legend of Barney Thomson. | Getty Images
10. Maggie Smith in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Harry Potter
After her role in 1969 film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Dame Maggie Smith had convinced many of those who had seen the film that she was, in fact, Scottish. While that isn’t the case, she did once again demonstrate her excellent Scottish accent in the Harry Potter films where she played Professor Minerva McGonagall. | Getty Images
11. Jonny Lee Miller in Trainspotting
When Trainspotting was first released in 1996, many fans were shocked to discover that Simon ‘Sick Boy’ Williamson was in fact played by Englishman Jonny Lee Miller. The young actor reprised his role for T2, once again recreating his spot on Edinburgh accent. | John Devlin
12. Mike Myers in Shrek
Is Mike Myers’ Scottish accent in Shrek authentic? No. Is it good? That’s debatable. Is Shrek’s Scottish accent iconic? Absolutely. | Getty Images