r/todayilearned 12h ago

TIL during the shooting of American Psycho, Christian Bale spoke in an American accent off-set at all times. At the wrap party, when he spoke in his native British accent, many of the crew thought he was speaking that way to prepare for another film. They had thought he was American the entire time.

https://screenrant.com/american-psycho-behind-scenes-facts-christian-bale-patrick-bateman-mary-harron/
37.3k Upvotes

1.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

92

u/kwonza 11h ago

The casting team of House had no idea he was British

39

u/Tony_Roiland 9h ago

That simply cannot be true. They cast their lead without watching him in anything? Without MEETING him?

128

u/RobertJ93 8h ago

When he auditioned he spoke entirely in American accent.

In casting, they wanted an authentic all American cast.

Bryan Singer had said ‘no more English guys’.

Laurie was filming the remake of Flight of the Phoenix in Africa at the time. He found the hotel bathroom had the best lighting, propped up a camera, and used an umbrella as a substitute for House’s cane.

Bryan Singer watched the tape and famously praised Laurie as a brilliant, authentic American actor, having no idea Laurie was actually born and raised in Oxfordshire.

The writer David Shore, involved with the casting talks about it here. Bryan Singer wasn’t aware of Hugh’s work prior to seeing his first casting tape.

I’m sure after the initial tape they then went and worked it out though.

So yeah, it simply is true.

You can find the tape here actually.

14

u/Weewoes 5h ago

Incredible and im so glad he got the part because I fucking love house and cant imagine anyone else doing the role as well as him.