Speaking multiple languages is a huge perk in any industry. Communicating with a wider range of people can be a great asset, whether you’re working with the public in person or online. Even celebrities work hard to learn multiple languages. Here are a few celebrities you didn’t know could speak French.
Whether learning for a role or enjoying traveling to a particular area, celebrities often expand their language knowledge for several reasons. French is one of the most luxurious places to visit, so knowing French is a valuable skill. Let’s dive into the celebrities you didn’t know could speak French and the reason behind their mysterious knowledge.
7. Tom Hiddleston
Tom Hiddleston is one of the newest loved actors since his big role in the MCU world as Loki and is also one of the many celebrities you didn’t know could speak French. While he started his career with a few films like Unrelated in 2007 and Archipelago in 2010, he’s most known for his role in the MCU franchise through the films and his own personal spin-off following his story from 2021 to 2023.
Interestingly enough, though, is that Tom Hiddleston can speak English, French, Spanish, Latin, and Ancient Greek. While only conversational, Hiddleston is seen speaking French in Paris while signing autographs for fans and at the premiere of Thor where he prepared a short speech in French. As for his knowledge of the dead languages that is thanks to his studies at the University of Cambridge.
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6. Hugh Jackman
One of the many celebrities you didn’t know could speak French is Australian actor, Hugh Jackman. Jackman really began his career through the breaking role of Wolverine in the X-Men franchise and is most known for that, as well as his work in Les Miserables.
His versatility in roles as well as his kind-hearted personality. Unexpectedly though, a while back fans were graced with an amazing gem of Hugh Jackman speaking French in a video. While he might have stumbled through some phrases, it gave us a glimpse at his foreign language skills and his amazing humor.
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5. Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp is an iconic figure, and one of the many celebrities you didn’t know could speak French. The actor and musician started his career in 1984 with a role in A Nightmare on Elm Street and has since reached astronomical heights with a slew of iconic roles.
A few examples include the Pirates of the Caribbean, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissorhands, Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, Corpse Bride, and just so many more. In 1998, Depp was dating a French actress, Vanessa Paradis, and were together for 14 years with 2 children. While he confesses to having a horrible accent, he can speak French to the point where he can understand and speak to his loved ones.
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4. Gwyneth Paltrow
One of the many celebrities you didn’t know could speak French is Gwyneth Paltrow. The actress and businesswoman established herself in mid-budget and period films during the 1990s to the early 2000s, and soon transitioned to blockbusters and franchises, with some of her most known titles being Emma, Sliding Doors, Shakespeare in Love, and her lovable role as Pepper Potts in the MCU franchise.
She’s also quite brilliant, as she can speak 3 languages: English, Spanish, and French. While not completely fluent, she can speak conversationally as her family frequently visits the South of France. She can even speak French during some interviews.
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3. Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper is yet another well-known actor and filmmaker. He began his career in television and film in 1999 as a guest role in the series Sex and the City, and soon rose to the top with some of the most well-known roles in A Star is Born, American Sniper, Silver Linings Playbook, and American Hustle.
While he was raised in an English-speaking home and attended English-speaking schools, he spoke about his curiosity after watching Chariots of Fire when someone was speaking French. From there, he began studying and has shown off his skills during tours and interviews around France.
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2. Emma Watson
One of the many celebrities you didn’t know could speak French is Emma Watson. Watson is mostly recognized for her major role in the Harry Potter series where she played Hermione Granger throughout the franchise, but is also known for her role in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast.
The English actress has admitted to her talent in speaking French but has also said that she doesn’t speak it as fluently as she used to. She’s been open to the fact that she was exposed to the language until the age of five since she was born there, but upon moving with her parents to London, she didn’t retain a lot of the language.
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1. Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster is an actress and filmmaker who began her journey through various Disney films as a teenager — and is one of the many celebrities you didn’t know could speak French. While she was a childhood star in Disney, she is most famous for her roles in Taxi Driver, Silence of the Lambs, The Accused, and The Brave One. She was a gifted child who could read by the age of three, making her knowledge of language a bit easier.
But the real reason she’s so fluent in the language is due to her attendance at French-language prep school Lycée Français de Los Angeles. Thanks to her fluency in French, she’s been able to act in French films and also dub herself in French-language versions of most of her English-language films. If that’s not impressive enough, then you might be shocked to know that she can also get by in Italian, Spanish, and German.