Simon Pegg is always near the top of my list of Brit comedy actors. Of course most of the cast of Monty Python still holds a dearer spot, but they have history. For this relatively new addition to rank so high on a very competitive list for me speaks volumes. Pegg is just pure talent, so when I found out he was going to play Scotty on JJAbrahms Star Trek Reboot, I couldnt wait.
It should hearten any Star Trek fan to hear Pegg’s devotion to the original Scotty, James Doohan. “Everything is just a tribute to James Doohan and it’s his role. I’m just very honoured to be able to step into his shoes. I just hope I do him proud.” He’s borrowing his wife’s “merry [Scottish] accent” for the part, but isn’t at liberty to say whether she’s a Highlander, a Lowlander or of that special Glasgow variety. “I’ll get sued,” insists Pegg.
It is good to hear him slip at least that much info out. I appreciate that they are keeping their actors tight lipped about the plot and spoilers. This fits JJ’s M.O. perfectly so it is to be expected.
But the ONE thing that the die hard trekkers have been whining about is hiring a Brit to play a Scott. Pegg can apparently pull off the accent well, and risking his own lashings he reveals that Montgomery Scott would retain his Scottish accent still leaving a little bit to mystery.
I think this is a suitable spoiler for Pegg to share, and adding his excitement for the role and the franchise, I am getting itchy to see this.
Pegg’s ethnicity is irrelevant. His performance was pathetic. Lamest attempt at a Scottish accent that I’ve ever heard. It was seriously as though he didn’t even practice beforehand.
Oh, and for your info, Bawjaws, the Act of Union was forwarded by a Scottish Monarch (who became the King of Great Britain) and was (and still is) supported by the majority of Scots. So much for “necessity”.
Well, there’s an SNP government in Holyrood now, so maybe “The majority of Scots” is the wrong phrase to use.
Dean, yes Scottish people are British. But that’s by necessity and not by choice!! ;~) Dean, also there’s a wide variety of accents in Scotland just like there is in England.
I don’t have a problem with Englanders playing Scots as long as they get the accent right. After all look at wur ain James McAvoy and David Tennant. They often play people from down south. Simon Pegg’s accent isn’t the worst Scots accent I’ve heard but it’s not the best!
i think we all understand what the article is about, just in future use the correct terminology when referring to people.
Skeev, No one at TMB said Pegg couldnt play a Scot. The point was that as soon as Pegg was announced, the hardcore trekkers all started barking “HE ISNT SCOTTISH” like it was a critical issue. This post was about Pegg toeing the line of JJ’s hush order on spoilers to let out that tidbit to clear the air on the issue.
I agree that Scotty should be Scottish and I have no issue with Pegg playing him. Its nearly inspired.
Considering 2 Scots have played the Doctor in Doctor Who, and banged on an English accent for the role, I say turnabout is fair play chappies.
A Brit to play a Scot? – looks like a few people here are paying attention – I suppose the decription BRIT is easier than say LIMEY or if you are going to be correct an ENGLISHMAN. – But hey who ever exspects any press reporting to be correct? not me thats for sure.
Its like saying Canadians are part of America right ? Doohan being Canadian and playing a Scottish accent is better than Simon Pegg being english playing a Scottish accent? – Have a bit of sense Movie Blog…
Let Pegg do do his his thing and cease this dumb “so say” whining from Trek fans – who we all know (and Im one too) will find fault in something cos thats part of the fun.
As an Englishman I am a minority now in my own country..would be nice now and then if people tried to get it right. –
I have complete faith is JJ and Pegg – after all hes exposed people to many accents in Lost that prob scare and confuse North America.
We are either cockney or upper class toffs in America right? cor blimney guvnor.
Hey Rodney,
i wasn’t being a dick or anything, i was just pointing it out as us English people seemed to be lumped together as purely British in North America. It’s kind of like someone calling you North American but presuming you are an American. Like Chris said however, there is no British accent. Hugh Grant doesn’t have a british accent, he has an upper class English accent. The welsh are and Northern Irish are British too and we all have vastly different styles of speech.
sorry to be picky, but i just think people should be more aware of this in North America as i don’t want us “brits” to loose our identities over there!!!
Chris, Doohan, who perfected the Scottish accent for the role of Scotty was a Canadian.
He had no trouble duplicating the Scott accent. Nor did Aussie Mel Gibson, nor does Nicole Kidman.
Plenty of actors can emulate foreign accents with ease. Thats why they call them actors.
Rodney, Pegg has an English accent – he’s from England. Britain is made up of England, Scotland and Wales. It won’t be a stretch for him as a British actor to emulate a local dialect. There’s no such thing as a British accent. Doh!
More difficult is a UK person doing a US accent convincingly and vice versa.
sfsilver, that is so funny!
Really – people are upset that someone not Scottish is playing a Scottish role? Are these people unfamiliar with a craft called acting? Is it outrageous that a human will play at Vulcan? Give me a break.
Dean, the topic was more about the accent. Pegg is clearly a Brit in accent and mailling address, where as people from Scotland have a very different accent.
They might be British by governing state, but there is still a difference between a Britt accent and a Scott.
Of course any Trekker who gets pissy about a Brit playing Scots conveniently forgets that James Doohan wasn’t a Scot, he was Canadian (a la Shatner – whom he did not like). He got the role because he was a very talented character actor who specialized in voices.
A sound engineer I know tells a great story about how he had to work a commercial with Doohan about a decade ago and they asked him to do a Scots accents. He couldn’t – it was horrible. When the producer asked him what was up Doohan replied that he hadn’t done Scots basically since the last time he played Scotty – no one was brave enough to explore the topic after that.
sorry mate, don’t mean to be pedantic, but Scottish people are British.