After having several conversations with fans about Jamie Dornan’s accent and how he went from his heavy Irish accent to American Christian Grey, I decided to try and search out the person responsible for working with him for the movie. I was soon able to come up with the name of the dialect coach for Jamie, Jess Platt. I quickly found on IMDb his long list of movies and actors he has worked with over his career. There is a great article he did several years ago in which he talks of his work:    Those Fabulous Phonemes by BackStage.  You can also see more of his career history at his IMDb.

I was able to acquire his email and sent off a friendly request for information about his work on Fify Shades of Grey and with Jamie Dornan. He replied back that he would be happy to answer any questions. I came up with some questions that I hoped would cover his work on the film. Here is the questions and answers.

How long did you have to prepare with Jamie before filming began:       I worked with him on his audition as well as prepping him for the film. I think we worked for about 2 weeks and then of course, I was there on set every day.

Were you contacted right when he was casted:          See above: I got him through his audition.

How much time were you together with helping him:    Prep was about an hour a day.

What did you focus on with helping him with his accent:        Giving him an American accent! Teaching him the sounds that were American.

What methods did you use:    My own method. I’ve been in the dialect business for 20 years.

What types of words or phrases had Jamie lapsing back to his Irish accent:   That’s not the process.

How did you prepare for the iconic phrases from the books:     None of these phrases is special as it relates to dialect.
Laters Baby
Where have you been
You should steer clear of me
This is what I want and I want it with you
What are you doing to me
It’s you thats changing me

What were the most difficult parts to work on and easiest:    Specific sounds that are very foreign to someone from Belfast.

Is there a certain pacific northwest way of speaking for Christian Grey:    Not really. The director wanted more like “general American.”

Did you also help with Dakota? In the bar scene where she imitates Christian Grey:      No.

Did you work with other actors:    Yes. Rita Ora on both American and French.

What was your overall impression of the filming experience:   Pleasant job.

How long were you in Vancouver BC:      2 weeks before shooting through wrap and then for the additional photography.

Had you worked previously with any of the people involved with the movie:    No.

Will you be back for DARKER:     Don’t know yet.

Whats your current project:     Just finished Eddie The Eagle and working part time on XMen-Apocalypse

Thank you so much to Jess Platt for responding with this movie information.

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