Some were surprised to hear Rachel Zegler give her character, Lucy Gray Baird, a deep Southern accent in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, but there could be a logical explanation. The 2023 dystopian action film is based on Suzanne Collins’s novel of the same name, which chronicles the 10th Hunger Games and Coriolanus Snow’s descent into becoming the ruthless president he is in the first three books. Coriolanus, as an 18-year-old, was one of the chosen Capitol students to be the first-ever mentors for the annual Games, and he was assigned the female tribute from District 12 — Lucy Gray.
The book never mentions Lucy Gray having a thick Southern accent, but when she first appears at the Reaping ceremony in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, she has a distinguishable drawl. The character’s enunciation was likely a choice made by the director or producers (or even Zegler herself), and after seeing the movie in theaters, some were curious as to why. However, when examining Lucy Gray’s background and the location of District 12, her accent makes sense within the story’s context.
Lucy Gray’s Nomad Background Could Explain Her Southern Accent In Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes
Lucy Gray is a member of the Covey, a group of nomad musicians who were forced to settle in District 12 following the end of the First Rebellion War in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. They used to travel from place to place, but following the conclusion of the Dark Days, the Capitol enforced strict rules that forbade its citizens from leaving their districts. Lucy Gray was 16 years old at the time of the 10th Hunger Games, meaning she was only six when she and her family settled in the Seam in District 12. Perhaps before then, Lucy Gray was located in more Southern territories, which could explain her accent in the film.
It is also possible that her accent was developed in District 12, which is located in the Appalachian area of the United States. A Southern Appalachian accent could be attributed to Lucy Gray in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The only confusing part of this theory is that most people in District 12 don’t have the same accent. Sixty-four years later, Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Haymitch Abernathy, and many other characters don’t speak the same way Lucy Gray does in the prequel. So, it might be more likely that Lucy Gray’s accent developed before settling in District 12.
12 Biggest Ways The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes Connects To The Hunger Games
The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes serves as a prequel to the first four Hunger Games movies and contains plenty of connections to the other films.
What Was The Point Of Lucy Gray Baird’s Accent?
Lucy Gray’s deep Southern accent in the 2023 movie was intentional and might have served a purpose outside of informing the audience of where she was from. She was undoubtedly one of the most well-liked tributes during the 10th Hunger Games due to her charm and ability to connect with people. Part of Lucy Gray’s charm was her accent, which made people (like Coriolanus) drawn to her. Additionally, Lucy Gray’s Southern drawl added to the folksy nature of her character in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
