Fargo Season 5 is now available to watch. Although the series stars some of the brightest names in Hollywood, avid fans can't help but wonder about the accent of Jennifer Jason Leigh in Fargo.
In this explainer guide, we'll be talking about the actress' accent in the series. Before anything, let's talk about Fargo and the nature of the series.
Who Does Jennifer Jason Leigh Play in Fargo?
Fargo Season 5 is set in Minnesota and North Dakota in 2019. The series follows Dorothy "Dot" Lyon (played by Juno Temple), who appears to be a typical housewife. Unfortunately, she's got secrets that put her family in peril.
Playing opposite her is Jennifer Jason Leigh, who stars in the series as Lorraine Lyon. Her role is described as the wealthy, cold, and conservative mother of Dot's husband, Wayne (played by David Rysdahl).
Since Fargo is set in the Midwest, this best explains things. More importantly, it justifies the reason for Jennifer Jason Leigh's accent in Fargo.
What is Up With Jennifer Jason Leigh's Accent in Fargo?
This actually isn't the first time Jennifer Jason Leigh got criticized for her accent.
The actress received criticism for her accent in the 1994 historical drama, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle. One of the reviews shared that Leigh's "terrible accent and mumbling ruined this film."
While we wouldn't exactly agree with this sentiment, users on Reddit have also shown their disdain for Jennifer Jason Leigh and her accent in Fargo. To prepare for her role, Leigh put on a mid-atlantic accent, which was fitting for the setting of the TV series.
But while there were many who found Jennifer Jason Leigh's accent in Fargo "extremely offputting," some were apologetic about it. They even pointed out that it was a homage to Coen's The Hudsucker Proxy, in which Leigh used a Transatlantic accent.
Another Redditor shared that Leigh was fond of playing "unsympathetic, strange characters" and that "once you get them, you can't help but love them."
Apart from her accent, some users couldn't help but feel like Leigh looks about four years older than her son. But on Reddit, a user pointed out that Leigh's role had money to burn. This allowed her to maintain her youthful appearance. Not to mention, Leigh is actually 61 years old while Rysdahl is 36; so it's not really a gap of four years.
How about you, are you bothered by Jennifer Jason Leigh's accent in Fargo too?
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