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Dev Patel Absolutely Nails His Aussie Accent In First 'Lion' Trailer

The film, which is based on a true story, also stars Nicole Kidman, David Wenham and Rooney Mara.

Actors around the world, take note. That's how you do an Aussie accent.

British actor Dev Patel (of 'Slumdog Millionaire' fame) has shown his impressive ability to perfect the infamously difficult Australian accent in the first trailer for upcoming film 'Lion'.

Based on a true story (and also the memoir A Long Way Home), 'Lion' follows the extraordinary journey of Saroo, who, at five years of age, manages to get spectacularly lost in India after getting on the wrong train.

He ends up thousands of miles away in Kolkata, where he is eventually adopted by an Australian couple, the Brierleys (played by Nicole Kidman and David Wenham) and flown to start a new life in Tasmania.

Dev Patel as adult Saroo in 'Lion'.
YouTube
Dev Patel as adult Saroo in 'Lion'.

Growing up in Hobart, Saroo buries the little he remembers of his Indian past until adulthood, when a chance meeting with some other Indians ignites a spark in him to locate his home village and Indian family. Using Google Earth (yes, really) Saroo embarks on one of the greatest needle-in-a-haystack searches of all time, with unexpected results.

The film, which was shot in India, Tasmania and Melbourne, has already set Oscar predictions flying and was also recently announced as part of the upcoming Toronto and London Film Festivals.

One thing's for sure, when it comes to Patel's performance, there's no risk of a repeat "that dingo's got my baby!" in sight.

'Lion' was directed by Garth Davis, written by Luke Davies and produced by Angie Fielder, Iain Canning and Emile Sherman.

It is due to be released across Australia on 19 January 2017.

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