Charlie Heaton didn’t try to build his Newfoundland accent from a few lines on a script. To prepare for Netflix’s coastal thriller Below, the actor spent time in local bars outside St. John’s, listened to people from the region, and leaned on local performers and a dialect coach. The effort mattered because Wade Penney, Heaton’s character, is meant to feel like someone who belongs to the fictional fishing town of Snook’s Arm—not an outsider imitating a distinctive way of speaking.
In Netflix Tudum’s behind-the-scenes coverage, Heaton described going to bars and absorbing the local culture. He recalled how quickly residents made him feel welcome: his driver even offered to bring him supper because she lived nearby. That small exchange helped illustrate the close-knit community the series tries to portray. It also gave Heaton more than vocabulary to study; it offered a sense of how people relate to one another.
Why the Newfoundland accent was more than a voice exercise
Regional accents are not just a collection of unusual vowels. Rhythm, pace, word choice, and the way people respond to each other all contribute to whether a performance feels convincing. Newfoundland speech has a history shaped by settlement and fishing communities, including strong Irish and English influences. The result varies across the province, so there is no single sound that represents every Newfoundlander.
For Below, the cast needed to sound as if they shared a home and a family history. Heaton and Josh Hartnett worked with the same dialect coach and practiced together, helping the Penneys sound connected even when their characters were arguing or struggling to understand one another. Heaton has said that at first it was difficult to hear the rules of the accent; local performers and background actors offered practical help on set.
Local bars helped Heaton understand the people behind the dialect
Heaton’s bar visits were not about collecting a few colorful phrases to sprinkle into dialogue. The point was immersion: listening to how people tell stories, tease friends, welcome strangers, and speak when they are not performing for a camera. Those details can shape a character’s behavior as much as the accent itself.
One of the most revealing details from Heaton’s account was the driver’s offer to bring him dinner. He was surprised by the generosity, while his driver treated it as ordinary neighborly kindness. That moment fits the warmth described by the cast and creator Jesse McKeown, who drew inspiration from Newfoundland’s landscape and community life. In a show full of strange events and looming danger, everyday hospitality helps make the town feel lived-in.
How the accent connects to Wade Penney
Wade is Calvin Penney’s oldest son. While other members of the family have left Snook’s Arm, Wade remains in town, where he is known for getting into mischief and struggling to move forward. Heaton told Tudum that locals helped him recognize a familiar type of young person: someone who makes their own fun and is known around the island.
That observation is useful for the performance. Wade’s voice needs to fit his background, but so do his silences, his humor, and the way he interacts with his father and neighbors. If the dialect feels authentic, viewers can spend less time noticing an actor’s effort and more time believing the relationships at the center of the story.
Why filming in Newfoundland made a difference
Below was filmed on location in Newfoundland, giving the cast direct contact with the landscape and people the story is built around. Heaton also described the unfamiliar experience of being out on the ocean, including time in boats and kayaking. Real locations can add physical details that are difficult to reproduce on a soundstage: the weather, the movement of the water, the scale of the coastline, and the way a small community sits beside a vast sea.
The setting is more than scenery. The show’s fishing economy, family tensions, and fear of losing a way of life all depend on the relationship between residents and their environment. The local accent is another part of that identity. Getting it right helps the fictional town feel specific rather than interchangeable with any generic seaside village.
Watch the official Below trailer
The official trailer offers a look at the setting and the characters Heaton and his co-stars worked to bring to life. For the details behind the accent, Netflix’s own reporting is the clearest source: it includes Heaton’s comments about the bars, the welcoming locals, and the dialect work.
Watch Netflix Tudum’s official Below teaser and read the cast’s comments. You can also stream the series through the official Netflix page for Below.
Did Charlie Heaton really spend time in Newfoundland bars for Below?
Yes. Netflix Tudum reports that Heaton spent time in bars outside St. John’s to absorb local culture while preparing to play Wade Penney. His preparation also included working with the dialect coach and learning from local people involved in the production.
Did Charlie Heaton and Josh Hartnett use the same dialect coach?
Yes. Netflix Tudum says the actors shared a dialect coach so the Penney family would sound as if they came from the same place. The cast also worked together on the accent.
What character does Charlie Heaton play in Below?
Heaton plays Wade Penney, the oldest son of Josh Hartnett’s character, Calvin Penney. Wade stays in the small Newfoundland community while other members of his family have left.
Where can you watch Below?
Below is streaming on Netflix. Visit the official series page for availability and episodes.
Sources
- Netflix Tudum — Below teaser and cast interviews
- Netflix Tudum — Below cast guide
- Los Angeles Times — Josh Hartnett and Charlie Heaton on building their father-son relationship
By Shivam Das
