Greater Boston Video: What It Takes To Nail The Boston Accent

The movie "Black Mass" has been filming in Boston and Cambridge for the last couple of weeks, with a high profile list of actors in the cast, including Johnny Depp. And as we locals certainly know, getting that Boston accent right can make or break the movie.

[friedaclaxton]

You know what it takes? Being born in Boston to a lower middle class family that’s what. 💥

[titletownakaboston]

When I moved to California, people would ask me to say, "Park the car in Harvard Yard". I would tell them, "It's illegal to pahk tha cah in Hahvid Yahd".

[tillygirl]

Angela Peri's accent is a TRUE Boston accent - from where in Mass, I don't know.
I'm guessing she's from somewhere in the South Shore.
I love that she pointed out the tight lip talking, like a ventriloquist - she nailed that mannerism right off.
God, I miss Massachusetts and the people.
I live in California now...yeah, yeah, the weather is great and its beautiful, but I do miss the easy-going, energetic conversations with people from the Boston Bay Area.

[athhar]

So many of these actors seem to mix up the North Shore, Cape, RI, and NH all into one attempt.

[tea]

I don’t why I’m watching this I live in Massachusetts

[cutzymccall]

The “problem” with a Boston accent is that there are so many variations from neighba-hood ta neighber-hood.

[LizInTheB]

Melissa Leo did THE best job of nailing the accent than any other non-Bostonian I've ever heard. It wasn't perfect, but it was damn close!

[KeyserTheRedBeard]

interesting upload GBH News. I smashed the thumbs up on your video. Continue to keep up the superior work.

[jaenmartens]

I grew up in Newton. Boston accident is a kinder attitude than the Jersey or NY. Gotta do the Irish twinkle of kinship or the Portuguese warm humor.

[bellabookitty]

Johnny has transformed again. Btw, thanks for this video. This is fun stuff.
Have a great day. 😎

[RyderTheGayRaptorUwU]

Leonard Nimoy is from Boston? didn’t know that

[burgermister]

Ok I'm from New Hampshire I have a Boston accent

[gggreggg]

there are several Boston accents.  the two major ones are the lower class accent and the educated accent. the one mostly discussed is the lower class accent.

[billlohan]

The accent is not easy. They should find locals that have done amateur theatre and give them acting lessons. I grew up with tons of people that could do it

[tommyoneill]

When I moved to Florida and met other Bostonians they all agreed I had a wicked strong Boston accent, little did I know yrs later this subject keeps coming up.My boss told me to talk loud and slow with my hands in my pocket because you wicked talk with your hands like a Gangster.Wicked

[bostondan]

Why do people call it a South Boston accent? The Boston accent can be heard throughout Eastern Mass, and even up to Maine. You actually hear it more in the Burbs than the City today. Do people think Boston is like Chicago and is North/South? Lowell, MA Home of Mickey Ward is closer to NH than Boston.

[tsoioleg]

I am from Chicago and work in Back Bay and only hear it from blue collar people like construction guys or in the grocery store

[tommyoneill]

Just so you know my buddy did 17 yrs in Florida State Prison and came home with a drawl so watch what you ask for.

[edwardmiessner]

Those interns must have been from one of the cities in the Great Lakes area. The way they say "f***" out there is the same way native Bostonians say "fork."

[jake]

She's no bitch. That's Emily Rooney. She's Andy Rooney's daughter.