Julia Roberts - Mary Reilly
Apparently Julia Roberts employed an Irish accent coach in preparation for this 1996 film - not that you'd guess from her performance. The worst part is, it was her second time attempting an Irish accent - yet it didn't sound any better.
Kevin Costner - Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Kevin Costner's excuse for this atrocious accent was that he didn't have time to learn it properly before filming. Seems like he didn't bother to even try, because most of the time he just sounds American.
Nicolas Cage - Con Air
It was supposed to be a Southern drawl, but in Con Air Nicolas Cage sounds like he has a mouthful of marbles. When he's reunited with his family and greets his wife with "Hello, honey bear" it's hard to tell what he's even saying.
Dick Van Dyke - Mary Poppins
Perhaps the crown jewel of bad on-screen accents, Dick Van Dyke's attempt at Cockney speech in Walt Disney's Mary Poppins was a complete disaster. There's even a blog that documents complaints inspired by his famous accent.
Sean Connery - The Hunt for Red October
An honourable mention goes to Sean Connery, for every one of his films where he's played a character that's not Scottish. For one, there's his portrayal of King Richard as a Scotsman in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. However, his role as a Russian submarine captain in The Hunt for Red October really takes the cake - his Russian accent is practically non-existent. There really is something cool about hearing the word "comrades" uttered in a gruff Scottish accent though.
- nzherald.co.nz