Stanley Tucci may have made a successful life over the pond, but it appears that he is still navigating a few linguistic potholes at home—thanks to his youngest children’s very correct British accent.
The Lovely Bones actor spoke on Live with Kelly and Mark on Tuesday, April 29, to discuss parenting children in the UK and the humorous language barrier that comes with it.
Tucci, 64, has lived in the United Kingdom for over 13 years, and it shows in the way his younger children, Emilia, 7, and Matteo, 10, communicate.
As he explained to presenters Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, the accent difference in their home is genuine.
“I do, yes. When asked if he ever had to “speak British” to converse with them, Tucci answered it’s an entirely other language.
“Who was it?” Was it Churchill who stated that America and England are the same country divided by a similar language? My tiny children have British accents, so it’s always funny.”
Ripa, always ready with a quick quip, inquired whether his children “naturally sound smarter” than him. Tucci did not hesitate. “Without doubt. And they’re genuinely smarter than me.”
The Devil Wears Prada star is no stranger to parenthood; he is a father of five.
He has three elder children, twins Isabel and Nicolo, 25, and daughter Camilla, 21, with his late wife, Kate Tucci, who died of breast cancer in 2009.
Tucci has spoken openly about the unusual familial dynamics that come with mixing houses.
In a previous interview with The Guardian, he applauded Blunt for taking on her part with elegance and compassion.
“It is not easy to find somebody who is going to take on three teenagers and a widower,” he informed me. “That is a lot. But she was eager to take up the challenge. She takes care of the kids as if they were her own, and being a stepparent is a difficult responsibility.”
So, while the Tucci home may seem like an international summit at times—with tea, sarcasm, and the occasional “mum” tossed in—one thing is certain: it’s full of love, laughter, and a hint of language difficulty.
