A prequel to Yellowstone, the Paramount+ western series 1923 centers on Jacob Dutton and Cara Dutton, the patriarch and matriarch of the Dutton family in the 1920s. The first episode of the show shows viewers the lives and journeys of the couple and their relationships with the other Duttons. While Jacob is a typical Dutton patriarch with a commanding demeanor and unmatched courage, Cara is a poignant presence who can pull the trigger without batting an eyelid when necessary. Another trait that makes Cara a unique Dutton persona is her accent. Since Helen Mirren’s accent must be almost unrecognizable for some, here’s everything you need to know about it!

What is Cara Dutton’s Accent?

Helen Mirren speaks in an Irish accent to play Cara Dutton in 1923. Although the Duttons came to Montana from Texas, Cara is not Texan. According to the actress, Cara belongs to a group that has been an integral part of American society and its social fabric for years. “I see Cara as an immigrant,” Mirren told Vanity Fair. As such, the actress insisted on speaking with an Irish accent to do justice to her character’s backstory.

“One of the things I wanted was for him to speak with an Irish accent, not an American accent,” he added. Mirren also wanted to speak with an Irish accent, like Cara on the show, to ensure that immigrant traits were adequately portrayed in the western drama. “It always bothered me a little bit about Westerns that so many people speak with a modern American accent, when in fact many of them are recent immigrants,” Mirren said in the same interview with  Vanity Fair. No wonder his wish came true in the show from the ‘Yellowstone’ universe Emphasizes the importance of cultures, particularly in the depiction of Native Americans. Cara’s story and Irish accent have undeniable importance given how the show tries to elevate the voices of strangers. “The great Irish immigration to America because of potato hunger happened in the late 19th century. That fits perfectly chronologically for Cara. She’s in her 60s now, let’s imagine.

So I think she would have come from Ireland as a young woman. I think that’s one of the fascinating things about America. The people who have come and continue to come are people of tremendous resilience and tremendous courage and independence,” added Mirren, explaining Cara’s story. “1883” and “1923” are shows centered around people who left their homes in search of better living conditions and ways of surviving, especially considering the Duttons’ move from Texas to Montaña. Cara is also someone who left home in search of a better life. His accent is a reminder of his incredible and inspiring past.

Read More: Does Jack Dutton Die in 1923? What Happened to Jack Dutton?