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Denzel Washington roasted over ‘hilariously bad’ British accent in viral clip: ‘It’s giving Dick Van Dyke!’

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Online, Denzel Washington is facing harsh criticism following the reemergence of an old video from the 1988 movie “For Queen and Country,” which showcases Washington’s less-than-impressive British accent.

In the gritty crime series, an Oscar-winning actor, now aged 70 and having recently revealed surprising truths about his profession, takes on the role of a former British military paratrooper with a distinguished record, who finds himself back in the heart of London’s inner city after being discharged from the army.

The viral video depicts Washington’s character receiving the information that he no longer holds citizenship to British colonies, which leads to an emotional reaction and is widely criticized as one of the most cringe-worthy portrayals of a British accent in any movie recording.

In the clip, Denzel says, “Aren’t I willing to give up my life for the United Kingdom and its colonies? You could make me serve as the lead gunner, exposing my wounded head to explosions.

Initially posted with the title, “Denzel Washington trying on an English accent is one of the most entertaining things I’ve come across in a while,” the clip rapidly gained traction on social media platforms, prompting quick criticism.

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One commentator quipped sharply, ‘This is laughably terrible,’ while another expressed more diplomatically, ‘I admire Denzel Washington, but perhaps it’s time to reconsider one of his Oscars for this performance.’

The accent was likened to Dick Van Dyke’s notoriously exaggerated Cockney from Mary Poppins. One spectator quipped, ‘It seems like he over-learned Dick Van Dyke’s portrayal in Mary Poppins.’

I chimed in, “Many are cracking jokes, but imagine trying to pull off a Cockney accent when your vocal coach was none other than Dick Van Dyke!

One post encapsulated the general agreement: ‘It seems reasonable to say that British people are generally more proficient at imitating American accents than Americans are at imitating British ones.’

Even Denzel himself wasn’t safe from the ridicule — from himself. 

During an interview in 2024 for Gladiator II, when he portrayed a Roman emperor using an American accent, the actor was nostalgically reminded of his role in For Queen and Country by a British reporter.

Oh my goodness, let me tell you, I couldn’t help but immerse myself fully into portraying this character authentically, so much so that I chose not to use an accent for this movie. That’s right, folks! It was all about delivering a performance that resonated truly and deeply with the role, rather than adding any unnecessary layers.

With a grin, he added: ‘I was terrible in that. That accent was awful.’

As a lifestyle connoisseur, let me tell you that Denzel Washington’s recent English accent attempt has been a truly delightful sight to behold. It’s not just his acting prowess on display, but also his versatility and dedication to his craft that makes this performance stand out.

— Stephen Gibbons (@Gibboanxious) April 20, 2025

Just days ago, a previously buried video emerged, and it’s got me buzzing like never before! This is Denzel Washington we’re talking about here – the man I’ve idolized for years. And guess what? He recently made an astonishing revelation about his career that left me speechless: he doesn’t consider himself a ‘Hollywood A-lister’. Can you believe it? It’s like hearing your favorite musician admit they don’t see themselves as a pop star! Incredible!

The entertainment industry legend humorously stated that since he hails from Mount Vernon, he is essentially a “Mount Vernon actor.” This indicates his pride in his New York roots.

Appearing on CBS Sunday Morning, the John Q star added, ‘I don’t know what “Hollywood” means.’

In a recent interview, Washington, who is now featured on Broadway with Jake Gyllenhaal in the play Othello, emphasized that he has long viewed himself primarily as a stage performer at heart.

He clarified that he started as a stage actor and then moved into films, not the other way around. He honed his acting skills on the stage, not in front of a camera. In his view, movies are primarily the domain of filmmakers, who control editing, music, and other post-production elements. On the contrary, theater is an actor’s realm; once the curtain rises, performers are left to their own devices.

In the past few days, the reemerged situation and his latest remarks have followed closely after DailyMail.com disclosed a heated interaction between him and a photographer during the Cannes Film Festival.

At the red-carpet debut of his movie “Highest 2 Lowest,” the Academy Award-winning actor left spectators in awe as he responded forcefully to a pushy photographer’s advances.

During a tense moment, the actor was observed gesturing by pointing his finger towards one of the photographers.

In an exclusive conversation with DailyMail.com, expert lip reader Jeremy Freeman shared his interpretation that Denzel Washington seemed to react defensively when a photographer touched him on the arm.

As Washington turns to the photographer, he appears to shout: ‘Hey, one — one more time, stop.

He appears to communicate, “Hold on a moment, hold on a moment, don’t touch me ever again,” to the photographer, whose smile remained fixed during their interaction.

‘I’m talking to you, stop, all right,’ he continued. 

As stated by Freeman, the photographer responds to Washington with a refusal, saying ‘I’m not allowed’, followed by a chuckle and an affirmative, ‘Yes, yes, yes.’

Even with the actor’s strong gestures and assertive speech, it appears that the photographer is seen touching Washington once more in the video. Remarkably, he even dared to query, “May I take a photo?

At a certain moment, Washington, visibly exasperated, responds forcefully, saying, “Hold on, hold on, hold on! I’m serious. Hold on, stop it!

A good number of the photographers near Washington seemed to be grinning, implying they may not have grasped the extent of his anger. The one he was vocalizing towards was among them.

 

However, the actor has a long history of tense interactions with photographers. 

The outburst occurred seven months ago, following an incident in New York City in October 2024 where Washington was captured on video losing his temper with autograph seekers.

At the Museum of Modern Art, an actor who won an Oscar became irritable towards admirers upon his arrival, and this heated interaction was filmed in a thrilling video, as he attended a film event honoring Samuel L. Jackson for a charitable cause.

At the museum, the star from the movie “Man on Fire” was spotted, engaging with a fan and taking a photo together, as curious bystanders on the sidelines yelled out his name, hoping to catch an autograph.

A visibly annoyed Washington went to walk inside but then turned and addressed a fan in the crowd. 

Though the whole conversation remains unclear, it appeared that the individual gestured with a point and uttered: “I caught your message. You mention spreading affection…

‘…Respecting me’ to which the fan replied: ‘We already do.’ 

Washington responded, “When I said ‘I’ll see you when I get out,’ I meant exactly that. What seems unclear about it?

He continued by emphasizing, “It’s essentially expressing affection,” followed by a passionate exclamation: “But perhaps differently, or perhaps in multiple ways… or maybe not at all, the choice is ours!

In 2021, Washington was pictured having another fractious moment with a fan.

In New York City, the film actor was next to his vehicle when an enthusiast approached bearing a bag filled with pictures to be signed by him.

The duo had a deep discussion, with the performer appearing to impart valuable insights to the admirer.

Washington gently touched the man’s shoulder and gazed intently into his eyes, for a brief instant disregarding the need for physical distance.

During the interaction, the actor kept his mask in place, while the fan lowered theirs to their chin. At this point, the famous celebrity reached out and gently cupped their face.

A bystander asserted that he instructed someone to offer a moment of silent reflection, yet the specifics of their conversation remain unclear.

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2025-05-29 00:19

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