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.
Make sure you don't miss a moment of breaking news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here.
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.
21. Daniel Day Lewis in The Ballad of Jack and Rose
While it isn’t Daniel Day-Lewis’ most memorable role, he starred in 2005 drama The Ballad of Jack and Rose as cantankerous Scottish farmer Jack. His accent in the film, as can be expected of an actor of his calibre, is excellent. | Getty Images
22. Willem Dafoe in Poor Things
An actor who is very well known for his many varied roles, Willem Dafoe takes on a Scottish accent in 2023 film Poor Things. Based on the novel by Scottish author Alasdair Gray, the film is set in London instead of Glasgow with Dafoe’s character one of the only remaining Scottish elements. His accent has proven controversial, with some praising the attempt and others slating it. It definitely isn’t the best on this list, but it is also far from the worst overall. | Yorgos Lanthimos/Searchlight Pictures/20th Century Studios
23. Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland
In 2004, Johnny Depp starred alongside Kate Winslet in Finding Neverland, a biographical fantasy about Scottish novelist and playwright JM Barrie, the author behind Peter Pan. He received praise for his Scottish accent, which he credited to watching hours of Rab C Nesbitt. | Getty Images