Irish author Marian Keyes has made a plea to Netflix, urging them not to ruin the upcoming adaptation of her bestselling novel, Grown Ups. The 60-year-old author’s book gained immense popularity in 2020, leading to her winning the author of the year award at the British Book Awards in 2022. Netflix has now commissioned a TV adaptation of the novel, but Marian has expressed concern about the portrayal of Irish accents in TV and film. She hopes that the streaming service will use actors who can accurately perform Irish accents, as she has been disappointed with previous attempts. Marian also expressed a desire to be involved in the show as much as possible.
Marian is tired of hearing poorly executed Irish accents in TV and film. She hopes that as the executive producer of the Grown Ups adaptation, she will have the power to choose the actors and even have a cameo role. Marian jokingly suggested that she and her mother could play characters in a chemist, as they both enjoy bad health. Unfortunately, bad Irish accents have become quite common in recent years, with non-Irish A-list stars facing heavy criticism for their attempts.
The film Wild Mountain Thyme, released in 2020 and starring Emily Blunt, Christopher Walken, and John Hamm, received a low Rotten Tomatoes score of 25%. The film’s accents were a major point of contention for viewers, with the consensus on Rotten Tomatoes describing them as “fatally undermined” and the film as a “wild misfire.” Another film, Irish Wish, released in 2024 and featuring Lindsay Lohan, faced intense backlash for its characters’ poorly executed accents.
Irish critics have slammed Welsh actor Alexander Vlahos for his poor attempt at an Irish aristocratic accent. But that’s not all, the film itself has also faced criticism for its portrayal of the Irish.
In 2007, Scottish actor Gerard Butler found himself in hot water after his portrayal of Irish character Gerry Kennedy. He played a man who leaves a heartfelt love letter to his wife, played by Hilary Swank, from beyond the grave.
During an interview shortly after the film’s release, Butler expressed his hopes that Irish viewers would be forgiving towards him. He explained that his whole family is Irish, hailing from different parts of Ireland. He believed that “PS I Love You” was a beautiful tribute to Ireland and its people, and he had given it his best shot. However, he also took the opportunity to apologize to the nation of Ireland.
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