Why did Patrick Stewart play a Frog in TNG?

[senor boogie woogie]

Hola!

I didn't know how else to write a title to the question, no insult to the Frog Trekkies!

Why did they make Patrick Stewart a Frenchman instead of a British captain? The man is very English, a Shakespearean actor with an accent to match. Stewart never to even tried a hint of a French accent. At least Walter Koenig did a half decent Russian accent.

On the same note, why wasn't Linda Park's heritage Korean (like her) instead of Japanese? I lived in Korea, and Koreans are their own language and culture. Japanese are not liked in Korea (as well as China) and I am sure the lovely Miss. Park ( a first generation Korean) gritted her teeth when she had to say she was Japanese.

The Enterprise writers were total dumbasses, but what was Roddenberry's excuse?

Senor

[Lord Borg]

Just because someone (especialy the actor) is from a certain place, dont mean the Characters gotta be to

[Otter]

Well, I 4 one would have liked it if they had let Patric play an english man

[DeltasVoyager]

how cares where he was from, its not real you know

[Voyager2004]

Ya. just b/c the actor's not from france, doesn't mean the character can't be. Now, I do have to say that any actor playing a character from a place from a country or whatever with an accent, should at least attempt an accent. but, then again 7 years is a long time...

[Leo Wyatt]

I, personally love Patrick Stewart's accent. I think it is sexy . I love anything with him in it.

[robbiewebster]

just because someone is from one place doent mean they have to talk like the stereotypical person from that place

[magenta]

It was a bit wierd,the captain is obviously english,it would have been better if they let him be english.But being french made him much more interesting!

[purple_kathryn]

I don't get while you felt the need to call french people frogs then apologise in case they found it insulting.

Why not just say French?

Anyhow.....Gene presumably had this character JLP all laid out in - his backgroud etc. PS was clearly the best actor for the roll and instead of him putting on a stupid fake accent (wouldn't that pee you off after 7 series?) just let him talk naturally.

Otherwise no it makes no sense.

Kathryn

[Voyager2004]

ya that would p me off also having to do the same accent for 7 years. But at the same time, to keep the accent in line with the character, they could have kept the entire background, just set off somewhere in England so he could have his english accent. His character could have done everything as an Englishman. Not that difficult if you ask me.

[madlilnerd]

Maybe he's actually speaking in French and the universal translator translates it so that he has his wonderful English accent.