I am sorry for those who say she is British, one says she was born in Staffordshire, England, UK, the other that she was born in Blackpool, which is in Lancashire, because if they know some Nancy Travis, it doesn't seem to be her.
Every single source I see on the net says she was born in Astoria, New York, USA
or just New York, NY. Of course I cannot read all biography pages.

Gwyneth Paltrow's English accent is absolutely superb. I was stunned when I found out she was American.
Justice for the 96
-15th April 1989
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE

It's 'okay' as far as an English accent goes. I watched the film when I was young and assumed she was British. But then when I watched it later as an adult I spotted flaws and suspected she was American. (Or had a naturally American accent, at least).
It's not the worst English accent I've ever heard. (That's where Dick Van Dyke comes in) But there are scenes where you can spot it's not her natural accent. Lots of them.
The accent I think she's trying to emulate is the 'Queen's English' accent, which is what most of the world assumes is the sole British accent, forgetting all the English regional, Welsh regional, Scottish regional, and N. Irish accents. What they don't realise is that only about 1% of Britain now has that accent!
But the American I've seen best pull off this 'Queen's English' accent is Renee Zellweger in Bridget Jones. Can't fault the girl. Well done.

yeah that makes sense
Teri Palamar

for me there is no such thing as a british accent.
First of all, yes there is. I have a British accent. It's not the only British accent possible - that I know - but one can tell it's British.
The woman in this film speaks like no other English person. Just like a South African or an Australian person has their own accent, you can tell it's not an English accent. Just like the stupid woman in this film.
Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoile

not everyone from england speaks in a posh accent. and besides we have so many regional accents, you cannot define what is a british accent- we have the scouse accent from liverpool, mancunian in manchester, brummie in birmingham, geordie in newcastle- not just london accents.
i was born in middlesex, london, england in the uk and people like myself who were born in the uk- which is made up of england, scotland, wales and northern ireland all have different regional accents.
for me there is no such thing as a british accent. its like saying there is an american accent- but you go to brooklyn new york, the mid- west in minnesota or milwakee, texas in the US to name and they too have different regional accents.

thank you karlhinze, i agree
"You know what they say, if you cant say anything nice about a person, come sit by me."

I don't believe I'm seeing this. I'm English and, believe me, this lady is NOT. It's a terrible accent. One of the worst I've ever heard in a film. I mean, nobody from England speaks with that accent.
Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers!

I thought the accent was quite convincing until she said "gotten". It's not a word an English lady would use!

I found no trace of her accent being laboured. Seemed very natural to me
"Now the whole world's gonna know that you died scratching my balls"

she is american.
"by the time im finished with you, youre gonna wish you felt this good again"

Im a bit late on this to but had to say something.
yes she is english. Born in blackpool lived down the road in fleetwood before moving to america.
And im married to her cousin.

im a bit late on this but thats a joke right?
Her accent was awful!
"by the time im finished with you, youre gonna wish you felt this good again"

I'm a Brit and I thought both her and Dick Van Dyke were good.
Spare a talent for an old ex-leper?
Life of Brian

I'm a Brit and I was fooled! Normally, I can pick out fakers in no time! I only found out she was American today!!!! I just thought I was always hearing about some American named Nancy Travis and then I found out it was her!

I've met a lot of British people - I was in the UK for a long time - and I think that Nancy Travis' accent is one of the most convincing I've ever seen in a movie. In fact, when I first saw her with an American accent, I thought, "That just doesn't sound right." I was stunned when I found out she wasn't British!

She sounds quite english. there is no hint of a welsh or american accent at all!

Oh shut up you little beep!

What a crock?

hamlet,
Why do you say she is from England? She is from New York City. I think she did a great job with the accent, but she is American, not English.
So many English actors do a great American accent, and here is a case of the opposite.

Dick Van Dyke played an English role in Mary Poppins? I thought that was just bad slang.
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Actually, Nancy Travis ("the girl who played Sylvia") is from Staffordshire, England, UK. Her whole family is originally from Cardiffe, Wales, UK. I assure you, her English accent is spot on, as opposed to be being totally off as you so succinctly put it. There's no imitation because one cannot imitate what one is unless we're speaking of caricature. Her "American" accent in the Mike Myer's comedy, "So I Married An Axe Murderer" was less convincing than her native British twang. Oh, and by the by, Dick Van Dyke's "English" accent for Mary Poppins resembled more of an Australian accent than anything else.

yeah me 2
Teri Palamar

that's so funny i thought that about her real accent too!!
her english accent convinced me totally as a kid, i assumed she was english, and it still convinces me today. i'm really surprised to hear that the thread starter thought it was quite so bad!!
for bad english accents, i would have to refer to the usually great natalie portman and christina ricci. it's not that they were dick van dyke bad, but they sound so strained and also don't always do the correct accent for their character. that's just my opinion though