MomSkoop
Hollywood stars often surprise us with hidden talents, and one of the most impressive is speaking multiple languages. Many celebrities grew up in multicultural homes, traveled the world, or simply love learning new tongues. Their language skills help them connect with fans globally and take on diverse movie roles. Get ready to discover which famous faces are secretly polyglots!
1. Natalie Portman
Born in Jerusalem and raised across multiple countries, Natalie Portman has mastered an astonishing array of languages throughout her life. She speaks Hebrew fluently from her Israeli roots, French from living in Paris, and studied Japanese and German at Harvard University.
Her Spanish skills came from childhood tutors, and she even learned Arabic for specific film roles. Portman once conducted entire interviews in French, impressing journalists with her perfect accent.
Beyond acting, her linguistic abilities have made her a true global ambassador for various humanitarian causes worldwide.
2. Viggo Mortensen
Growing up between Argentina, Denmark, and the United States gave Viggo Mortensen a natural gift for languages that few can match. He speaks Spanish and Danish like a native, having spent formative years immersed in both cultures.
French and Italian came next through his love of European cinema and literature. Mortensen also learned Norwegian and Swedish, which are closely related to his Danish heritage.
During Lord of the Rings filming, he picked up conversational Elvish! His passion for poetry and writing in multiple languages showcases his deep intellectual curiosity about different cultures.
3. Shakira
This Colombian superstar proves that music and language go hand in hand beautifully. Shakira’s native Spanish flows effortlessly alongside her excellent English, which she perfected to break into the American market.
Portuguese became essential for connecting with Brazilian fans, while French came from her relationship with a French-speaking partner. She also knows Italian and has studied Arabic, honoring her Lebanese heritage.
Shakira even understands Catalan from living in Barcelona for years. Her linguistic range allows her to write songs in different languages, making her one of music’s most versatile international artists.
4. Mila Kunis
Few people realize that Mila Kunis didn’t speak English until moving to America at age seven from Ukraine. Russian remains her first language, spoken fluently at home with family members.
English came through immersion in Los Angeles schools, where she worked incredibly hard to lose her accent. She later learned Spanish for fun and has showcased it in interviews.
Kunis also picked up some Yiddish from her Jewish background. Her journey from non-English speaker to Hollywood star demonstrates remarkable dedication and adaptability in mastering new linguistic skills.
5. Tom Hiddleston
British charm meets linguistic brilliance in Tom Hiddleston, who studied languages at Cambridge University with genuine enthusiasm. Beyond his native English, he speaks French, Spanish, Italian, and Greek with impressive fluency.
Hiddleston learned Russian for specific theater roles and can handle basic Mandarin Chinese. His classical education included Latin and Ancient Greek, which he still remembers fondly.
Watch any international press tour and you’ll see him switching languages mid-conversation effortlessly. His polyglot abilities reflect his deep respect for different cultures and commitment to connecting authentically with worldwide audiences.
6. Sandra Oh
Canadian-born Sandra Oh brings Korean heritage and Western upbringing together through her impressive language portfolio. She speaks English and French fluently, having grown up in bilingual Canada.
Korean was her first language at home, though she admits her skills got rusty over time. Oh worked hard to relearn Korean for certain acting projects and family connections.
She also studied Spanish in school and has basic conversational ability. Her multicultural background has shaped her perspective on representation in Hollywood, making her an important voice for diversity and inclusion across the entertainment industries.
7. Christoph Waltz
Austrian brilliance shines through Christoph Waltz, who effortlessly switches between German, English, and French without missing a beat. His German comes naturally from his Austrian upbringing and theater training in Vienna.
English became essential for Hollywood success, and he speaks it with sophisticated precision. French flows beautifully from years of working in French cinema and theater.
Waltz also handles Italian comfortably from having lived in Europe. His linguistic talents earned him two Oscars for roles requiring perfect multilingual delivery, proving that language mastery can genuinely elevate an actor’s career trajectory significantly.
8. Jodie Foster
Child prodigy turned polyglot, Jodie Foster attended a French-language prep school in Los Angeles, which sparked her lifelong love of languages. She speaks French so perfectly that she dubs her own movies for French audiences!
Spanish came from dedicated study and practice throughout her career. Foster also learned Italian and German, using them confidently during European film festivals.
Her education at Yale further refined her linguistic sophistication. Did you know she’s directed films in French? Foster’s intellectual curiosity and dedication to language learning set her apart as one of Hollywood’s most cultured talents.
9. Gwyneth Paltrow
Surprising many fans, Gwyneth Paltrow speaks Spanish with near-native fluency after spending a gap year in Spain as a teenager. That immersive experience transformed her language abilities permanently.
She studied French in school and maintains conversational skills today. Italian came from family travels and her love of Italian culture and cuisine.
Paltrow has given entire Spanish-language interviews without hesitation, stunning journalists with her authentic accent. Her language skills complement her lifestyle brand’s international reach, helping her connect with diverse communities. Beyond acting, she uses these abilities for business expansion into global markets successfully.
10. Ben Affleck
Not many people associate Ben Affleck with languages, but he speaks Spanish remarkably well from living in Mexico during childhood. His family spent time there, giving him authentic immersion.
Affleck studied Spanish formally and practices regularly to maintain fluency. He’s also learned some French and Arabic for specific film roles requiring linguistic authenticity.
Watch interviews where he confidently converses in Spanish with Latin American journalists. His commitment to language learning shows dedication beyond just memorizing lines. Affleck believes speaking other languages helps him understand different perspectives, enriching both his personal life and professional storytelling abilities.
11. Audrey Hepburn
Hollywood’s eternal icon, Audrey Hepburn, spoke five languages fluently, a talent born from her remarkable international upbringing during wartime Europe. English and Dutch were native tongues from her British-Dutch parentage.
French came from schooling in Belgium and Switzerland, while Italian developed during her years living in Rome. She also spoke German and Spanish conversationally.
Hepburn’s linguistic abilities helped her later humanitarian work with UNICEF, allowing personal connections with children worldwide. Her elegance extended beyond appearance into cultural intelligence and genuine communication. Even decades after her passing, she remains an inspiration for combining grace, talent, and multilingual sophistication beautifully.
12. Will Smith
Charisma meets linguistic ambition in Will Smith, who has quietly studied multiple languages throughout his blockbuster career. Beyond English, he speaks Spanish conversationally after years of dedicated practice and tutoring.
Smith learned some Mandarin Chinese for business ventures and cultural appreciation. He’s also picked up basic Italian and French from international filming locations.
His son Jaden inspired him to embrace language learning as family bonding time. Will often surprises foreign fans by greeting them in their native languages during promotional tours. His enthusiasm for communication shows that language learning isn’t just academic—it’s about building genuine human connections across cultural boundaries worldwide.