Agyness Dean used to fake an American accent.
The 31-year-old former model - who was born in Greater Manchester, England - moved to Los Angeles almost five years ago but local residents still have a hard time understanding her Lancashire tones.
She said: "In LA, everyone thinks I'm Australian. I tell them I'm English and they say 'same thing'.
"My accent has definitely softened because when I first came over, I had to put on an American accent as no one understood a word I was saying."
The 'Electricity' actress - who is married to actor Giovanni Ribisi - gave up modelling because she wanted a new "challenge" and admits it is only now she is out of the fashion industry that she can really see what a good time she had during her catwalk days.
She added to Stylist magazine: "When I was modelling, I found the attention embarrassing and surreal. Not in a bad way, but because it felt like the attention was undue.
"I now feel like I didn't have perspective because it was all so much, but it was a great time in my life.
"Getting out of modelling was a conscious decision though. I fell into it after I was spotted and had an amazing 12 years, but I was craving a challenge.
"I've always been very private and I didn't intentionally drop out of the public eye, it happened because I moved to LA and all my focus was on my career change."

Azealia Banks changed "in a good way" when she started taking drugs.
The 22-year-old rapper split from her much-older boyfriend when she found fame and though she initially slipped into a "deep depression", she began experimenting with mood-altering substances and enjoyed the effect they had on her.
She said: "He got into jealously and all that. So once we broke up, I went into this deep, deep depression.
"I was doing a lot of drugs. And I went to a lot of places with myself. I saw a lot of things in other realms. My circuitry started to switch. In a good way.
"Those things, they knock the crust off your third eye. Just like, wooooo - you can see ghosts and s**t."
Azealia was 17 when she began dating the 43 year old and he didn't like her partying because of his own past experiences with substance abuse.
She added to NME magazine: "I was a little girl. Everything he said was like what I had to do. And he was very controlling.
"He didn't want me to do drugs because he'd had a substance problem and been to rehab. When '212' came out, I'd barely had a beer."

Sir Paul McCartney agreed to soundtrack a video game to "infiltrate" his children and grandchildren's lives.
The Beatles legend has recorded the theme tune for new game 'Destiny' and agreed they could use his song 'Hope for the Future' because he thinks it's the only way he can now get his family to listen to his music.
He said: "I know from my kids and my grandkids, they just bury themselves in a game and I don't think they've got time to listen to my music.
"Their agenda is pretty full with all the other stuff, you know, so I like the idea of infiltrating into their agenda."
The 'Hey Jude' singer admitted to trying his hand at the game but "wasn't very good" and his lives didn't last very long.
He confessed: "I wasn't very good at it, but I'm not very good at games.
"I've got so much else to be getting on with, I can't have my face in a screen, you know, bopping along in a game.
"I had a go and it was great, but I got mashed almost instantly. The aliens mashed me."
Paul previously appeared as a playable character in 'The Beatles: Rock Band' and even though he stuck to his own instrument, he still lost against his family.
He told NME magazine: "I played that with my kids and they creamed me.
"I even played the bass thinking I'd have an edge, but it's all these little bombs coming at you and it's not like playing bass for real.
"I just said, 'It doesn't matter if I win or lose - I wrote it.' "
'Hope for the Future' is released on December 8.

Scott Disick is "taking care" of Kourtney Kardashian as she prepares to give birth again.
The couple, who have been arguing over the 31-year-old entrepreneur's drinking and partying in recent months, are reportedly in a much better place ahead of the arrival of their third child later this month, as there has been a noticeable change in Scott's behaviour.
A source said: "For the first time in a long time, Kourtney said she has nothing to complain about when it comes to Scott."
Scott checked into rehab for five days over the summer after being hospitalised for alcohol poisoning, but is now attempting to get his life back on track for the sake of their family, including son Mason, four, and daughter Penelope, two.
The insider told gossip website RadarOnline.com: "Even though Kourtney is moody, Scott has actually been good to her and to the kids this past week.
"He is taking care of her and she says she is content right now. She even referred to him as her sweetheart!"
Scott recently admitted he was convinced he was going to die when he nearly overdosed on alcohol and sleeping pills in June and Kourtney, 35, threatened to leave him unless he sought treatment.
She said on their show 'Kourtney & Khloé Take The Hamptons': "You're either going to be away for a month - or be away from them [the children] forever."

Blake Lively feels her "strongest and sexiest" when she gets dressed up.
The 27-year-old 'Savages' actress, who is currently expecting her first child with husband Ryan Reynolds, admits she feels a lot more confident when she gets pampered by professionals.
She said: "When do I feel my strongest and sexiest? I don't know. Maybe when I've got a lot of good hair and makeup on."
The former 'Gossip Girl' star, who recently launched her new lifestyle website Preserve, hinted she has no plans to take a step back from her Hollywood career after she gives birth.
She told E! News at the L'Oréal Women of Worth Celebration in New York City on Tuesday night (02.12.14): "The women that I'm attracted to are the women who never sit back and say, 'Okay, I'm done, I'm good.' And you see that here tonight with the women who are being honoured. You look at the changes they've made in the world and they're just not complacent and that's pretty cool to hear their stories."
The blonde beauty is looking forward to Christmas and admits it was very difficult for her to select gifts for her recent gift guide on her lifestyle blog.
She said: "It was very hard to narrow it down. I like Christmas too much so it was just like I wanted everything Christmas-y. And I really actually use everything that's on the site, so my poor husband, our house is just like filled with this stuff that I'm using all the time. So I love it."

Davina McCall was the big winner at the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women Awards on Wednesday night (03.12.14).
The 47-year-old TV presenter - who fronts 'Got To Dance' on Sky1 - was thrilled to pick up the Ultimate Editor's Choice gong at the ninth annual glitzy ceremony, sponsored by Baileys, at the One Mayfair hotel in London.
Upon receiving the award, she said: "There's something so powerful about girls together. I remember the day I was no longer in the FHM top 100, but this means so much more."
'The X Factor' judge Mel B, 39, was shocked to be named the Ultimate TV Personality.
She said: "I didn't think I would win an award for just saying what the f**k I want. I don't win awards. Thank you Cosmopolitan. You've boosted my confidence so who knows what I'll say on Saturday."
'This Morning' stylist and former model Abbey Clancy was also surprised to be named the Ultimate Style Icon.
Upon receiving her accolade, she told the 250 guests, including Kelly Brook, Pixie Lott, Tulisa and Danny O'Donoghue: "I feel a bit silly collecting this in the company of such amazing women tonight. I never thought I would be called a style icon."
Dame Vivienne Westwood was named the Ultimate Icon, Ella Henderson won the Ultimate Uk Music Artist award and The Saturdays picked up the Ultimate Fabulous Friends trophy.
Member Mollie King said: "It's such a huge compliment - whatever we've achieved with our musical careers it's great that people have noticed what good friends we are and that we will be friends for life."
Taylor Swift and Lena Dunham were also honoured, while McBusted were named the Ultimate Men of the Year.
The star-studded event, hosted by Fearne Cotton, also celebrated the achievements of six ordinary women, chosen for their outstanding personal achievements, acts of courage, bravery and determination.

The full list of winners:
Ultimate Editor's Choice - Davina McCall

Ultimate #FabulousFriends in association with Baileys - The Saturdays

Ultimate TV Personality - Mel B

Ultimate Sports Star - Jo Pavey

Ultimate Style Icon - Abbey Clancy

Ultimate UK Music Artist - Ella Henderson

Ultimate Icon - Dame Vivienne Westwood

Ultimate Writer - Lena Dunham

Ultimate Men of the Year - McBusted

Ultimate International Man of the Year - Samuel L Jackson

Ultimate Breakthrough Actress - Natalie Dormer

Ultimate International Music Star - Taylor Swift

Ultimate Funny Woman - Morgana Robinson

Ultimate Inspiration - Ellen Page

Kesha's mother is countersuing Dr. Luke.
Pebe Sebert claims the music producer, who is also embroiled in a court battle with the 'Tik Tok' hitmaker, claims she suffered emotional distress and post-traumatic stress disorder after he allegedly raped her daughter in a way "not to be tolerated in civilised society."
The 58-year-old singer also alleges the record executive - real name Lukasz Gottwald - acquired the name 'Dr.' because he used to deal drugs to celebrities when he worked as a guitarist on 'Saturday Night Live' for 10 years, and claims he boasted about taking girls out, getting them drunk and having sex with them.
She says the 41-year-old musician tormented and abused her by violating her daughter and she had to be medicated during a therapy session because she became hysterical when talking about him.
Her court documents largely restate claims made by Kesha in her lawsuit, according to gossip website TMZ.com.
The 27-year-old star filed legal papers in October seeking to have her record contract with Dr. Luke dissolved and accused him of sexually, physically, verbally and emotionally abusing her for almost a decade.
Shortly afterwards he filed a countersuit against the blonde beauty and also a separate lawsuit against her mother, claiming Pebe orchestrated a smear campaign of lies against him and tried to extort him in a desperate attempt to get Kesha out of her contract with him.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's relationship is reportedly in "turmoil."
The couple, who confirmed their engagement in January after less than two years of dating, have put their wedding on hold following speculation the 28-year-old actress was "unhappy" with her fiancé's strange presentation at an awards ceremony last month, where he appeared to be drunk.
A source close to the pair said: "There's not rush to marry at the moment. Johnny is crazy in love with Amber, but there is turmoil in the relationship."
The actress is currently filming 'Magic Mike XXL' and friends think she may be losing interest in the 51-year-old 'Lone Ranger' actor, who has daughter Lily-Rose, 12, and son Jack, 12, with ex-girlfriend Vanessa Paradis.
The insider told PEOPLE magazine: "She is not really ready to settle down. Amber flirts and has many different kinds of relationships."
Amber was previously said to be have been mortified by Johnny's sloppy behaviour at the Hollywood Film Awards in November.
A source said at the time: "Amber couldn't believe he had made such a fool out of himself.
"This reflects really badly on her, and she's not happy about it."

Keira Knightley's ex-boyfriend Rupert Friend is engaged.
The British actor, who split from the 29-year-old star in 2011 after five years of dating, is set to marry Paralympian and model Aimee Mullins, 38, after proposing after more than a year of dating.
The couple's happy news was announced at L'Oréal Paris' Women of Worth Celebration in New York City on Tuesday night (02.12.14), when the blonde beauty, who is an ambassador for the cosmetics company, took to the stage to introduce one of this year's honorees.
A source told PEOPLE.com: "[L'Oréal] gave her a congratulatory shout-out when calling her up to the stage, which prompted a ton of applause from the audience.
"It was really sweet because Aimee was tight-lipped about it earlier in the night, not wanting to take attention from the honourees."
Aimee - who was born with a medical condition that resulted in the amputation of her lower legs - then celebrated the news with 'Homeland' star Rupert, 33.
An eyewitness said: "He was very doting the whole night, pulling out her chair, opening the car door. They were really adorable, just enjoying the night and each other's company."
Rumours the duo are set to tie the knot first start swirling in October and a source told the MailOnline at the time: "They are engaged. They come on set together holding hands and are obviously very much in love."
Rupert and Keira split following speculation that gruelling work commitments had driven them apart.
The 'Imitation Game' beauty married the Klaxons rocker James Righton, 31, in France in May 2013.

David Duchovny's ex-wife Téa Leoni is reportedly dating her 'Madam Secretary' co-star.
The 48-year-old actress, whose divorce from the former 'X-Files' star was finalised in August, has moved on with Tim Daly, who plays her husband on the CBS series.
A source told E! News: "It's relatively new."
In September, Téa insisted she and David, who have two children, daughter Madelaine West, 15, and son Kyd Miller, 12, were still close after he quietly filed for divorce in June.
She said: "Listen, David gave me the two greatest gifts on the planet; I don't know how I could ever hate him. We've always loved each other, and we adore these kids.
"I'm not playing stupid - I understand feelings can get hurt and things can get icky. We've had our moments like that. But these kids are too important, and he feels the same way, I know it."
The pair got married in 1997, but separated for the first time in 2008 with Duchovny checking into a facility to be treated for sex addiction the same year.
They soon rekindled their romance but split again in June 2011.
The actress and her new beau went to the same boarding school in Vermont, but graduated 10 years apart.
Daly, 58, who has also two children from a previous marriage, previously said: "We had a few of the same teachers, which is really crazy."

Kelly Rowland is grieving the death of her mother.
The 33-year-old singer, who gave birth to her first child, Titan, with husband Tim Witherspoon on November 4, has confirmed Doris Rowland Garrison, 66, passed away on Tuesday (02.12.14), one day after going into cardiac arrest.
In a statement to E! News, the former Destiny's Child star said: "It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my mother, Doris Rowland Garrison. She was an incredible soul who made countless sacrifices so that I could become the woman--and now mother--I am today. We humbly appreciate all the love and support and only ask for privacy during this difficult time."
The 'Motivation' hitmaker praised Doris for enabling her to "dream so big" in a public letter she penned for Mother's Day in 2008.
She wrote at the time: "Momma, I remember when you'd clap your hands and listen as I sang along every week to the theme song for the show 'Amen'. You'd look at me like I was the sun and the moon and say, 'Sing up, baby...a little louder.' It meant so much that you believed in me.
"It was because of your strength and sacrifice that I was able to dream so big. "
Kelly first announced she and Tim were expecting their first child in June, just one month after they tied the knot in a low-key ceremony in Costa Rica.

Kim Kardashian West has praised Kourtney Kardashian for posing nude while she's pregnant.
The reality TV gushed about her "beautiful" older sister and voiced her support for Kourtney's decision to bare all in the latest issue of DuJour magazine shortly before she gives birth to her third child with boyfriend Scott Disick later this month.
The 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' beauty shared a picture from the risky photoshoot on Instagram, with the caption: "Kourtney is such a beautiful pregnant woman! Pregnancy is beautiful and powerful and she really embraces it!"
Despite being a fan of Kourtney's images and recently stripping down herself for Paper magazine, the 34-year-old star is still upset that private images of her were leaked online earlier this year.
She told the January issue of ELLE UK magazine: "I feel violated because these are private pictures. I didn't choose for them to be out there. But I'm also realistic. I'm on covers of magazines practically naked, so I can't go crazy about it. The only choice I can make is to not let it shake me up. I'm not having that choice taken away from me."
But Kim has no regrets about posing nude last month.
She said: "I did it as an art project that was going to make me feel confident and feel good. And it taught me to do what you want to do. Everyone should do what they they are comfortable with, and I'm never one to preach, but I felt really positive and really good about myself."