Hollywood tends to celebrate actors for their charisma, physicality, and emotional range. But one skill often overlooked is multilingualism. Yet dozens of major stars quietly switch between languages with the kind of ease most of us reserve for ordering takeout. And for many of them, this fluency isn't just a fun party trick. It's a creative tool that gives their performances an added edge.
These roles often reveal a new side of actors we thought we knew, whether that means embracing cultural heritage or stretching into unfamiliar genres. That's why this list focuses on actors who don't just speak another language. They've used those linguistic skills in various Hollywood blockbusters and international productions, which you can check out on Netflix, Hulu, and more.
Jodie Foster - English/French
Jodie Foster has always projected a kind of precise intelligence that sets her apart from her Hollywood peers. And nowhere is that clarity more evident than in The Silence of the Lambs (1991). As FBI trainee Clarice Starling, Foster delivers a quiet, observant performance as her character seeks the help of an imprisoned serial killer to catch another murderer. It's the film many viewers know her for, and it's perfect for audiences who gravitate toward psychological thrillers.
But what often surprises people is that Foster is also fluent in French and acts in the language with the same emotional exactness she displays in English. Her fluency shines in Vie Privée (2025), a story about a young woman's rise to stardom that spirals into chaos as fame consumes her personal life. If you're exploring Foster's body of work beyond the usual Hollywood fare, the French film offers a sharp contrast between her stoicism and her cinematic fluidity.
Johnny Depp - English/French
Johnny Depp's English-language career is practically defined by his offbeat charisma. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) remains his most iconic mainstream performance, which mixes unpredictability and theatricality in a way few actors could pull off without collapsing into caricature. The story follows Jack Sparrow, a pirate who teams up with a blacksmith to rescue a kidnapped woman from cursed undead sailors.
It's a film for fans of character-driven adventure, where the lead actor's personality becomes synonymous with the franchise. But Depp is so much more than that. In 2023's Jeanne du Barry, the actor puts his French-speaking skills on display. The story follows a working-class courtesan who rises to prominence as the favorite of King Louis XV. The film leans heavily into period drama aesthetics, making it perfect for viewers who enjoy court intrigue and lush historical settings.
Vera Farmiga - English/Ukrainian
Vera Farmiga is best known for her role in 2013's The Conjuring and its subsequent sequels. The story follows the Perron family, who seek out the help of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren after they are terrorized by a dark presence in their new farmhouse. It's a film best suited for horror fans that prefer atmospheric dread over cheap shocks. And Farmiga, whose empathetic presence deepens every scare, is at the heart of why the film spawned a franchise.
But what many people don't realize is that Farmiga, who grew up in a Ukrainian-speaking household, often uses that language in various projects, like the gritty crime thriller Running Scared (2006). The story follows a low-level mob member who races through a violent criminal underworld to recover a missing gun tied to a murder. The movie is ideal for audiences who appreciate crime dramas with a surreal, almost feverish momentum.
Viggo Mortensen - English/Danish
Most audiences know Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn from 2001's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), which follows a young hobbit who goes on a quest to destroy an ancient ring that holds great power. The actor reprised the role in two more films in the franchise that appeal to fans of adventure and fantasy. Mortensen's performance can best be described as a sort of quiet heroism with a command of physicality, which remains central to his international fame.
Yet beneath that blockbuster persona lies a much more linguistically flexible actor. Mortensen is fluent in Danish, and his multilingual upbringing has informed several of his more intimate, character-driven films. In 2020's Falling, the actor uses Danish in select scenes to bring authenticity to a story about a man struggling to care for his increasingly volatile father due to their fractured relationship. The film is slow, reflective, and aimed at viewers who enjoy family dramas.
Sebastian Stan - English/Romanian
Sebastian Stan has become one of the most popular stars in modern cinema thanks to his role as Bucky Barnes/the Winter Soldier in the MCU. He went on to expand his range by starring in movies like Fresh (2022). Perfect for fans of dark thrillers, the story follows Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a young woman navigating the modern dating scene. When she meets Steve (Stan), Noa thinks she's finally found the perfect man. But she soon discovers that his appetite for romance is much too literal.
What fans may not realize is that Stan is a Romanian native and speaks the language in his movies whenever the opportunity arises. In 2016's Captain America: Civil War, which continues the story of Steve Rogers as different ideologies fracture The Avengers, the actor speaks Romanian in his first scene set in Bucharest, Romania, as he plays a man hoping for redemption. It's a must-watch for fans who enjoy superhero films with a deeper message about morality.
Priyanka Chopra - English/Hindi
Priyanka Chopra is one of the few true crossover stars who has built parallel careers in Hollywood and Bollywood. In the U.S., she's probably best known for her role in Baywatch (2017), where she plays a criminal mastermind drug smuggler, whom a group of lifeguards tries to take down. The role introduced many Western viewers to her on-screen charisma, while the movie itself is a must for fans of campy action comedies.
But that's only one angle of Chopra's versatility. To understand her full range, you have to look at her Hindi-language work in some of Bollywood's biggest blockbusters. The 2004 film Mujhse Shaadi Karogi showcases her romantic-comedy skills opposite Indian cinema veterans Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar. The story follows Sameer and Sunny, who both fall in love with the same woman. The movie is a must for viewers who enjoy light-hearted stories (with subtitles).
