
Kate McKinnon is an American actress and comedian, best known for her character work and celebrity impressions on Saturday Night Live. She has a talent for accents, which she says began when she auditioned for queen of reading week in the fifth grade with an English accent. In the 2017 film Rough Night, McKinnon showcased an Australian accent, playing an Aussie singer-songwriter named Pippa. While some viewers criticised her accent as horrendous and mangled, others praised it as the best Aussie accent I've ever heard from an American.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Kate McKinnon Berthold |
| Profession | American actress and comedian |
| Known for | Character work and celebrity impressions |
| Awards | Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2016, 2017) |
| Aussie Accent in | Rough Night |
| Accent Reviews | Mixed |
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What You'll Learn

Kate McKinnon's Australian accent in 'Rough Night'
Kate McKinnon is an American actress and comedian, best known for her character work and celebrity impressions on Saturday Night Live. She showcased her Australian accent in the 2017 comedy film Rough Night, in which she played an Australian singer-songwriter named Pippa.
McKinnon's Australian accent in Rough Night received mixed reviews. Some viewers criticised her accent as horrendous and mangled, particularly after the release of the film's trailer. However, others praised her accent as the best Aussie accent I've ever heard from an American.
McKinnon herself acknowledged that her Australian accent may not be entirely spot-on but still found it amusing. She explained how she learned the accent by listening to Australian podcasts. In an interview with Jimmy Fallon, she even demonstrated her Aussie drawl, leaving the host flummoxed.
Prior to Rough Night, McKinnon had also attempted an Aussie accent in a 2015 episode of SNL, where she did a goofy impression of rapper Iggy Azalea. Her knack for accents began when she was in fifth grade, and she has since become known for her impressions and character work.
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McKinnon's knack for accents
Kate McKinnon is an American actress and comedian, widely known for her character work and celebrity impressions on Saturday Night Live. She has also appeared in numerous films, including Rough Night, a comedy about a bachelorette party gone wrong. In the film, McKinnon plays an Australian singer-songwriter named Pippa, showcasing her take on an Aussie accent.
McKinnon's talent for accents began early on in her life. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she recalled how, in the fifth grade, she auditioned to be "the queen of reading week" using an English accent. The positive response she received sparked a lifelong interest in accents and impersonations.
While McKinnon's Australian accent in Rough Night received mixed reviews, with some viewers finding it amusing and others less than perfect, it showcased her versatility and commitment to her craft. She reportedly prepared for the role by listening to Australian podcasts, demonstrating her dedication to authenticity.
McKinnon's ability to adopt and impersonate accents has been a defining aspect of her career. Her impressions of public figures such as Hillary Clinton and Kellyanne Conway on Saturday Night Live have garnered particular acclaim, showcasing her talent for not only adopting an accent but also capturing the mannerisms and characteristics of her subjects.
In addition to her Australian accent in Rough Night, McKinnon has also showcased her versatility in other roles. For example, she played Dr. Jillian Holtzman, an off-kilter gadget engineer in Ghostbusters, demonstrating her range in both comedic timing and character portrayal.
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Other celebrity Australian accents
Kate McKinnon's Australian accent has received praise from fans, with some describing it as the "best Aussie accent they've ever heard from an American". McKinnon's accent was featured in the film "Rough Night", in which she stars alongside Scarlett Johansson, Zoë Kravitz, Ilana Glazer, and Jillian Bell.
Now, let's take a look at some other celebrities who have attempted the Australian accent:
Jude Law
Despite being a talented actor, Jude Law's Australian accent in the film Contagion was described as "baffling". It took viewers several watches to realise that his character was meant to be Australian.
Elisabeth Moss
Elisabeth Moss's Australian accent in the series "Top of the Lake" was not well-received. Her accent was described as existing in a "spooky netherworld between Australian and American".
Benedict Cumberbatch
While playing the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, Benedict Cumberbatch's Australian accent received mixed reviews. Assange himself described the experience of listening to Cumberbatch's performance as "grating". However, Cumberbatch did manage to capture some of Assange's vocal fry and vowel sounds.
Benadryl Cucumberbundt
In an article by The Guardian, this unusual name was given to an unnamed actor who attempted an Australian accent. Unfortunately, the accent was not well-received, with the article describing it as "pretty good" in a sarcastic tone.
Miranda Otto
While you may know her for her British accent in "Lord of the Rings", Miranda Otto is actually Australian. She has successfully pulled off an American accent in "24: Legacy" and "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina".
Simon Baker
Simon Baker is known for his impressive American accent in "The Mentalist". Fans were shocked to hear his native Australian accent, proving that he had perfected his American counterpart.
In conclusion, while Kate McKinnon's Australian accent has received positive reviews, it is clear that mastering this accent can be a challenge for many celebrities. As noted by Leith McPherson, the head of voice and movement at the Victorian College of the Arts, "there is no one Australian accent", which may contribute to the difficulty in replicating it accurately.
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The best and worst Australian accents
Kate McKinnon's Australian accent has received mixed reviews. While some viewers have praised her accent as the “best Aussie accent [they've] ever heard from an American”, others have described it as “horrendous” and “mangled”.
McKinnon showcased her Australian accent in the 2017 comedy film "Rough Night", where she played an Australian singer-songwriter named Pippa. In preparation for the role, McKinnon listened to Australian podcasts and practised her accent. However, despite her efforts, some viewers were not impressed with her accent, with one online commenter expressing that they found it “horrendous” and another stating that it was “mangled”.
On the other hand, some viewers found her accent impressive and amusing. One viewer from Australia and Finland commented that although McKinnon's accent was not perfect, it was "so damn close and amazing". Another viewer praised McKinnon's talent and found her Australian "hello" entertaining.
Kate McKinnon is known for her character work, celebrity impressions, and knack for accents. She has been nominated for several awards for her work on Saturday Night Live, including Primetime Emmy Awards and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics. She has also won awards such as the Logo NewNowNext Award for Best Rising Comic and the American Comedy Award for Best Supporting Actress, TV.
In conclusion, while some may argue that Kate McKinnon's Australian accent is not perfect, it has certainly garnered attention and added to her reputation as a talented actress and comedian with a good ear for accents. Whether loved or hated, her accent in "Rough Night" has become a topic of discussion and interest among viewers.
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How McKinnon learned the accent
Kate McKinnon's knack for accents began when she was in fifth grade. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she said: "I think the genesis of my entire life, probably, was the smiles I elicited doing this British accent. I've been chasing that dragon ever since."
Her talent for accents has been evident in her work on Saturday Night Live, where she became known for her character work and celebrity impressions. In 2015, she did a goofy impression of Mullumbimby rapper Iggy Azalea on an episode of SNL, showcasing her versatility and willingness to experiment with different voices.
In the 2017 film Rough Night, McKinnon took on the challenge of portraying an Australian character, Pippa, an earnest musician from Australia. To prepare for the role, McKinnon listened to Australian podcasts, which helped her develop her Aussie accent. While some viewers criticised her accent as horrendous or mangled, others praised it as "the best Aussie accent I've ever heard from an American".
McKinnon's ability to capture the essence of an accent, even if not entirely spot-on, adds to the humour and entertainment value of her performances. Her commitment to perfecting her craft, whether it's through podcast study or her early experiments with British accents, showcases her dedication to her art.
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Frequently asked questions
Kate McKinnon's Australian accent has received mixed reviews. Some viewers have described it as "horrendous" and "mangled", while others have praised it as "the best Aussie accent I've ever heard from an American". McKinnon herself has said that the accent may not be "entirely spot-on", but it is still "pretty dang amusing".
Kate McKinnon's Australian accent was first showcased in the 2017 comedy film *Rough Night*, in which she played an Australian singer-songwriter named Pippa.
Kate McKinnon learned her Australian accent by listening to Australian podcasts.
Yes, Kate McKinnon is known for her character work and celebrity impressions. She has also done a British accent, for which she auditioned for "the queen of reading week" in the fifth grade.





























