Telegraph asks: What do Americans really think it's like in Britain?

To be fair, though, Hans Gruber was German....

That explains why Brits are so often cast as villains in Hollywood films. Having said that, I once asked the actor Alan Rickman about this – he played the baddie in Die Hard – and he had a different explanation. “It’s because we can act, dear boy,” he said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11340482/What-do-Americans-really-think-its-like-in-Britain.html

Good ol' Alan Rickman!

Good ol' Alan Rickman!

You know, looking back, could there ever have been a different Prof Snape?

You know, looking back, could there ever have been a different Prof Snape?

Or Mr. Slope in Barchester Chronicles?

Or Mr. Slope in Barchester Chronicles?

Darn it you got me on that! Had to look it up....

I was disappointed in this article. Most of the "evidence" presented was based on one person's (the writer) experience from 10-20 years ago.

Yeah, that old Dick van Dyke reference has been kicked around for ages too.

Yeah, that old Dick van Dyke reference has been kicked around for ages too.

I watch the opening to the Dick Van Dyke show over and over sometimes....

It says everything:

I suppose that the view some/many of Americans have of the UK/Britain is understandable.

Why should the average US citizen have a more meaningful understanding and appreciate of life in the UK than say,Cyprus or Indonesia?

Ture many US citizens work here in roles such as the military, in industry and finance but they are in the minority.

The US is such a vast diverse country and if your born and grew up there, its understandable that you might not know or even wish to know what lies beyond your home shores.

As for special relationship..well that is a total myth and an embarrassment to your average Brit.

I suppose that the view some/many of Americans have of the UK/Britain is understandable.

Why should the average US citizen have a more meaningful understanding and appreciate of life in the UK than say,Cyprus or Indonesia?

Ture many US citizens work here in roles such as the military, in industry and finance but they are in the minority.

The US is such a vast diverse country and if your born and grew up there, its understandable that you might not know or even wish to know what lies beyond your home shores.

As for special relationship..well that is a total myth and an embarrassment to your average Brit.

Agreed.

As for the special relationship, you only have to look at Cameron's recent remark that Obama sometimes calls him "Bro". Talk about cringe. But then, as Brits, we do love a good cringe.