The Accidental Accent: How Lucien Laviscount’s ‘Wrong’ Voice Landed Him a Scream Queens Role

You know, sometimes the path to success isn't a straight line. Often, it's a winding road filled with little detours, a few self-doubt detours, and, if you're lucky, an unexpected phone call that changes everything. And for actor Lucien Laviscount, that pivotal moment arrived during the rather high-stakes audition process for Ryan Murphy’s cult-favorite horror-comedy, Scream Queens.

Picture this: Laviscount, like many actors vying for a shot in Hollywood, was diligently — painstakingly, you could say — working on an American accent for his audition tape. It's the standard, right? Most roles in American productions, well, call for an American voice. He'd put in the hours, practiced the inflections, striving for that seamless, unidentifiable 'North American' sound. He'd submitted his tape, probably replaying it in his head a thousand times, critiquing every syllable. Honestly, who hasn't been there, scrutinizing their own efforts after a big moment?

But then, the twist. The very next day, his phone rings. And who’s on the other end? None other than the visionary himself, Ryan Murphy. Imagine that — a direct call from the showrunner, the creative force behind some of TV's most iconic series. It's the kind of call that makes an actor's heart skip a beat, wondering, 'Is this it? Have I blown it? Or...?'

Murphy, in his characteristically direct fashion, cut straight to the chase. "Don't do the accent!" he declared. Not a suggestion, not a polite request, but a clear instruction. It must have been a moment of sheer bewilderment, followed by, I imagine, a wave of profound relief. All that effort, all that meticulous vocal gymnastics, rendered utterly unnecessary by a simple, powerful directive.

Turns out, Murphy wasn’t looking for another flawless American voice. He wanted Lucien. He wanted the genuine article, the distinct, natural British cadence that is uniquely Laviscount's. That authentic voice, the one he'd been trying to hide, was precisely what would make his character pop in the ensemble cast. It’s a wonderful reminder, isn’t it, that sometimes our perceived 'flaws' or differences are actually our greatest strengths, the very things that make us stand out?

Laviscount has since recounted this anecdote with a mixture of humor and genuine surprise, admitting he’d fully expected to be told he hadn't quite nailed the American twang. Instead, he was being told to simply be himself. And just like that, with one unexpected phone call and a wonderfully counter-intuitive instruction, a memorable role was secured, all thanks to embracing what was truly authentic.