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I have an American Dad, British Mother. We live in the states. I lost my accent when I started school. My half-accent that existed before this point was from my mother’s influence; a nanny’s influence won’t even have that impact.

She can try all she wants, but she will be disappointed!

I see nothing wrong with hiring a “Northern” Nanny so that her daughter can pick up on the accent and cultural identification. Just like I wouldn’t oppose Halle Berry hiring a Black nanny or Thalia hiring a Mexican nanny or Brook hiring a White American nanny for the same reasons.

halifaxhoney, I really like what you said about objectivity. I too am not sure why when one wants their children to retain their culture people see it as anti american. I have more than 40 US friends in the UK, when they make mac n cheese or teach their children american mannerisms or american words for objects/things despite the fact they live here, I would never dream of saying that is anti British. I would hope here we accept all the different cultures that exist and don’t feel by them keeping individuality they are doing anything wrong or being anti-British. I’ve actually never even heard someone say that here.

It could also be that Anna feels she will come back here when her daughter is school age, so she wants the transition to be easier. Hugh Laurie’s (House) kids live in England and many UK celebrities return to the UK once their children are school age, or older school age. I’ve read interviews with Chris Martin, Madonna and Guy Ritchie, Johnny Depp who say that they return or chose to move back here/move here when their children reached a certain age as they wanted them in British schools – usually the kids are somewhere between 5 and 8 when they return.

It’s cool that she wants her daughter to maintain her native accent. Which will possibly work for the first 4 or 5 years of her life that she’ll probably spend exclusively at home. But what happens when she goes to grade school? The reality is that if the majority of the kids she goes to school with speak with an American accent, that is how she’ll inevitably start speaking as well. They’re not looking at the big picture. Unless she actually goes back to live in Northern Ireland, her accent won’t quite be the same. Her mom is a grown up who’s native accent will never change, despite moving the US. She passed the age where her accent could be changed. Her daughter, however, is still young, and her accent is continually changing. I lived in a household with parents who spoke with accents. I was born and raised in the US, so my accent was primarily American. There were a few differences in how my parents pronounced words, as opposed to how Americans said it. When I was young, I pronounced some things like my parents. Once I got older and realized the difference, I pronounced them like Americans. So, in time, even if they don’t want to believe it, as long as they stay in LA, Gracie will have a predominantly American accent.

Aww, Gracie’s such a cutie! That’s awesome that Anna’s staying attached to her roots (though I didn’t even know she was British until I saw her at a press conference!)

I think it’s really cool that she wants her daughter to have the same accent but if her daughter goes to school in the US she will not have the same accent and it definately won’t be as strong.

I don’t understand why some people seem offended by Friel’s want for HER daughter to have her accent, it’s her heritage and she obviously wants her child to have a strong connection to her roots. No I’m not from England, being objective is a global trait.

We moved to the US when our son was 6 months old. He is nothing but American, despite his parents, grandparents, and all other family. Its the people that he’s with every day, the children, and of course the television (he’s got a mean Spanish vocab thanks to Dora!). He does say a few words differently, words that he hears a lot at home I suppose, household terms (“hoover” as an example, or the way that he pronounces “garage” among many). Basically, its a good cultural experience, but once the little one heads to school, she’ll be all American.

It always amazes me that people from the UK have such thinly-veiled disdain toward America (and Americans). Even a comment about “accents” can stir such polite derision. Perhaps as long as Ms. Friel is cashing American paychecks and has to live here (and speak with an American accent) to earn a living, the loss of her daughter’s accent seems a rather small price to pay.

Stef I think you’re greatly miscontruing Anna Friels reasoning for doing this. And if you heard her regional accent it is in no way “superior”.

Though I’d give an example:
Say in US someone said in a shop

Have a nice day and come back again

In the UK they might say

See you later love or terrah for now

Anna should see if there is a British school in LA, they are many in other countries and major cities, just like the American School which has branches all over the world including in the UK.