Actors don’t know how to do southern accents. We call it the “Blythe Danner accent” here. She doesn’t know what she’s doing but she always gets cast as a lady southerner. British actors tend to do a better job of it.
The one accent I’m having trouble with is the African-American southern accent. My lovely lawncare guy must be speaking Geechee or something! I have never understood a word he has said but just stand there nodding my head and smiling. Good lawncare guy, though!
If you saw “The Pacific” Rami Malek, nailed the New Orleans accent.