British-born Millie Bobby Brown is a linguistic chameleon.
The 20-year-old actress raised eyebrows earlier this week after fans noticed she seemingly ditched her British accent for an American one while making the media rounds to promote her new film, “Damsel.”
However, when asked about the sudden change during an interview with TikToker Max Balegde on Friday, the “Stranger Things” star explained that she grew up in both countries and “can’t help” switching between accents based on who she is around.
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“Let me just speak to that real quick,” she said. “I’m an actor. I grew up in the public eye. I grew up in America.”
Although Brown was raised in Bournemouth, England, she moved to the States at 8 to pursue a career in acting. Three years later, she landed her big break as Eleven — an American — on the hit Netflix series.
“I come to set and I’m an actor and I adapt,” she continued. “And so I want to mimic people.”
Brown explained that when she is around Americans like Jimmy Fallon or her fiancé, Jake Bongiovi, she naturally feels the need to “replicate” their accent — and vice versa.
“Now that I’m in England I want to replicate that! I don’t do it intentionally and I’m sorry if it offends you!” she continued.
“But listen I am trying my best!”
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Balegde, who is “from a very small northern town” in England, tried to comfort the actress by noting that he experienced something similar when he went to college in a different part of the country.
“I was suddenly around southern people and my mum was like, ‘Who do you think you are talking all posh?’ and I am gonna show her that clip and say, ‘Do you know what, Joane? I am trying my best!'”
Brown’s clarification came after the “Enola Holmes” star was roasted online for speaking “like a rich valley girl” during her latest interview on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
“Her british accent is barely there anymore. I know shes been in america for a long time now but omg it used to be SO strong,” one person commented under a clip from the show.
“It almost sounds like she’s doing an impersonation of an American accent throughout this interview,” another added.
However, others thought her ability to slip in and out between accents was rather satisfying.
“She can turn her accents on and off, I love it!!” one fan gushed, while another chimed in, “It’s like watching Ross on ‘Friends’ when he was trying to phase out his british accent.”
