Amistad/Trivia


 * Fake American:
 * Brit Nigel Hawthorne plays American president Martin Van Buren. This was, however, averted with Anthony Hopkins, who despite being born in Wales is a naturalized American citizen. Despite this fact, some American actors became furious at Steven Spielberg for casting an "Englishman" (as noted, Hopkins is Welsh, not English) in the leading role of an American president.
 * Several other Brits also play Americans, namely Jeremy Northam and Pete Postlethwaite.
 * Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard plays Lewis Tappan.
 * Fake Nationality: Evident in the actors portraying Ruiz and Montes: One is Mexican-American, the other Puerto Rican, and none hide their accents. Also, Canadian-New Zealander Anna Paquin as Queen Isabella, and Cuban-American Tomas Milian as the Spanish Ambassador.