Key Takeaways:
– All American’s lead actor Daniel Ezra successfully fooled the cast and crew into thinking he was American until the wrap of the pilot episode.
– Ezra further practiced his convincing American accent and immersed himself in the culture by continuously interacting with locals and listening exclusively to LA and California rap music.
– The actor’s commendable portrayal in All American inspires numerous comments from unsuspecting viewers about his true nationality.
Maintaining the Illusion on Set
Daniel Ezra, acclaimed for his role as Spencer James in The CW’s sports drama series All American, recently disclosed that he maintained his American accent throughout the filming of the pilot episode. The native British actor’s mimicry was so captivating that it wasn’t until the wrap-up of the pilot filming that his crew and castmates discovered his actual nationality. This intriguing insight was shared by Ezra in his recent interaction with The Real.
Ezra’s Accent Game Plan
In order to immerse himself into the character, the actor went lengths to perfect his American accent. Director Rob Hardy, instrumental in teaching Ezra the ways of the street of South Central LA and Crenshaw, complimented the actor’s convincing accent. Ezra continually listened to music only from LA and Californian rap artists, practicing in real-life conversations as much as possible. During an E! interview, the actor mentioned, “I practiced going to restaurants and parks, talking to as many people as I could.”
Public Reaction to the Brilliant Subterfuge
Ezra’s authentic impression of an American consistently leaves fans astounded upon discovering he is British. The actor disclosed on Collider that a large portion of his social media comments is from followers expressing amazement about his natural accent. He believes the ultimate test of an accent is to convince a native that they are from the same area.
What to Expect in All American Season 6
With the highly-anticipated launch of All American’s sixth season, Ezra teased the audience with sneak peeks in an interview with Deadline. His character Spencer is allegedly more invested in his NFL dreams, putting his high school days of fantasizing behind him. The focus shifts towards rebuilding his team at the Greater Autonomous Region (GAU) institution.
The forthcoming season also explores the dynamic tensions between Spencer’s bonds with his friend Jordan and girlfriend Olivia. Ezra hinted at the complex storyline involving frequent clashes and reconciliation between Spencer and Jordan. “Spencer and Jordan are on very different paths. Those paths cut across and they separate,” he explained.
Navigating Romantic Relationships on Screen
Not forgetting the romantic subplot, Ezra shared insights about Spencer’s relationship with Olivia. Without revealing too much, he hinted that despite making some mistakes, the love between the couple will remain strong. An interesting mix of team rivalry, friendship strains, and romantic hiccups awaits the audience in the upcoming season.
All American continues to air on Monday on The CW, captivating viewers with the compelling storyline and Daniel Ezra’s remarkable portrayal. His commitment to character development, especially in mastering the American accent, significantly contributes to the show’s impressive success, topping Nielsen’s streaming ranks as per Forbes.
