Hispanic Actors Who Are Atheists

The influence of the Catholic Church has historically been a dominant force in Spain and Latin America, yet many modern entertainers are stepping away from these religious roots. A significant number of male actors from Hispanic backgrounds now identify as atheists or agnostics, preferring secular worldviews over spiritual dogmas. These performers often cite scientific reasoning or a focus on humanism as the driving forces behind their lack of belief. Their public declarations help normalize secularism in cultures where religious tradition is deeply ingrained.

Javier Bardem

This Academy Award winner is one of the most recognized Spanish actors in the world. He garnered critical acclaim for his chilling performance in the Coen Brothers film ‘No Country for Old Men’ and his role in ‘Skyfall’. Bardem was raised in a Catholic environment but later moved away from organized religion. He famously stated in interviews that he does not believe in God and instead believes in Al Pacino. His secular worldview often informs his artistic choices and public statements.

Pedro Pascal

The Chilean-born star has become a massive global icon through his roles in ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘The Last of Us’. Pascal has described himself as agnostic when asked about his spiritual beliefs. He has stated that he finds the concept of a specific God to be somewhat silly but remains open to the mystery of existence. His family fled Chile during the Pinochet dictatorship and he grew up in a politically active but secular environment. He focuses his energy on social justice issues rather than religious dogma.

Antonio Banderas

This Málaga-born actor became an international sex symbol with films like ‘Desperado’ and ‘The Mask of Zorro’. Banderas has defined himself as an agnostic who does not subscribe to fundamentalist beliefs. He respects the cultural traditions of his home country and participates in Holy Week processions for their heritage value rather than religious devotion. He admitted in interviews that he tries to teach his children to be open-minded rather than strictly religious. Banderas prefers to approach life with a sense of humor and philosophical curiosity.

Gael García Bernal

Gael García Bernal is a Mexican actor known for his work in ‘Y tu mamá también’ and ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’. He has described himself as culturally Catholic but spiritually agnostic. The actor values the rituals and cultural aspects of his heritage without adhering to the supernatural dogmas of the church. He often speaks about the importance of social action and human connection over religious affiliation. His work frequently explores complex social and political themes affecting Latin America.

Ricardo Darín

Ricardo Darín is widely considered one of the greatest living actors from Argentina and starred in the Oscar-winning ‘The Secret in Their Eyes’. He has been very explicit about his lack of religious faith in various press appearances. Darín considers himself an atheist and has expressed that he does not need a god to navigate his life. He often approaches his characters with a grounded realism that reflects his secular humanism. His focus remains on the human condition and earthly justice.

Guillermo del Toro

Although primarily known as a visionary director for films like ‘The Shape of Water’, del Toro has also done voice acting and cameo roles. He was raised in a strict Catholic household in Mexico but eventually rejected the faith. He has referred to himself as a raging atheist who views the universe as a place of chaotic beauty without divine intervention. His films often deconstruct religious imagery and explore the monsters created by human institutions. Del Toro finds spirituality in art and storytelling instead of organized religion.

Fernando Fernán Gómez

This late giant of Spanish cinema was an actor, director, and writer who appeared in over two hundred films. Fernán Gómez was a declared anarchist and atheist who lived his life according to libertarian principles. He requested that his coffin be draped in the red and black anarchist flag upon his death rather than receiving religious rites. His work in films like ‘The Tongue of the Butterflies’ often championed education and reason over superstition. He remains a symbol of intellectual freedom in Spain.

Francisco Rabal

Francisco “Paco” Rabal was a legendary Spanish actor who worked extensively with director Luis Buñuel in films like ‘Viridiana’. He was a committed Communist and held strong anti-clerical views throughout his life. Rabal shared a deep friendship with Buñuel that was rooted in their mutual rejection of religious hypocrisy. His performances often embodied the earthy and rebellious spirit of the Spanish working class. He remained secular until his death and left a legacy of socially conscious cinema.

Luis Buñuel

Luis Buñuel was a filmmaker and actor who is considered a father of cinematic surrealism. He famously declared that he was an atheist thanks to God. His films such as ‘The Golden Age’ and ‘The Milky Way’ are renowned for their subversive humor and relentless attacks on the Catholic Church. Buñuel acted in his early projects and made cameos throughout his career. His entire body of work serves as a critique of bourgeois morality and religious repression.

Alejandro Jodorowsky

The Chilean-French artist is known for his avant-garde films like ‘The Holy Mountain’ and ‘El Topo’. Jodorowsky describes himself as an atheist mystic who explores spirituality through psychology and art rather than theology. He developed a form of therapy called Psychomagic that uses symbolic acts to heal trauma without invoking deities. His work blends religious iconography with countercultural themes to challenge established beliefs. Jodorowsky acts in many of his own films and serves as a spiritual guide for secular seekers.

Fred Armisen

Fred Armisen is a comedian and actor of Venezuelan and German descent known for ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘Portlandia’. He has openly identified as an atheist in interviews discussing his background and beliefs. Armisen approaches life and comedy with a secular perspective that finds humor in human idiosyncrasies rather than divine order. His work often satirizes social norms and alternative lifestyles without a religious lens. He represents a modern generation of entertainers who are casually non-religious.

Louis C.K.

Louis C.K. is a stand-up comedian and actor who holds Mexican citizenship through his father. He frequently discusses his lack of belief in God during his stand-up routines and in his show ‘Louie’. He identifies as an agnostic or atheist depending on the context and often jokes about the silence of God. His comedy explores the darker and more confusing aspects of existence without relying on faith for answers. He tackles moral dilemmas from a strictly human and often cynical perspective.

Sergi López

Sergi López is a Catalan actor who gained international fame for his villainous role in ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’. He has stated in interviews that he is not a believer and approaches life without religious faith. López is known for his political activism and support for leftist causes in Spain. His career includes a mix of intense dramatic roles and comedies that often challenge social conventions. He relies on human resilience and solidarity rather than divine providence.

Santiago Segura

Santiago Segura is the creator and star of the immensely popular ‘Torrente’ film franchise in Spain. He describes himself as a skeptic who would love to have faith but simply does not possess it. Segura has joked that life would be easier with religion but his analytical mind prevents him from believing. His films are raunchy satires that mock every aspect of Spanish society including its religious devotion. He operates as a secular humanist within the entertainment industry.

Alberto San Juan

Alberto San Juan is a Spanish actor and playwright known for ‘The Other Side of the Bed’ and his theater company Animalario. He is a staunch secularist who has been involved in protests against the influence of the Catholic Church in Spain. San Juan co-founded a theater group known for its rebellious and anti-establishment productions. He has publicly supported fellow activists accused of blasphemy. His work consistently questions authority and promotes critical thinking.

Pepe Rubianes

The late Pepe Rubianes was a Galician-Catalan actor and theater director famous for his rapid-fire monologues. He was a declared atheist who frequently mocked the Catholic Church and religious figures in his shows. Rubianes faced legal complaints from conservative groups for his irreverent comments about Spanish unity and religion. He is remembered as a symbol of free speech and secular irreverence in Barcelona. His legacy is one of fearless comedy that spared no sacred cows.

Albert Pla

Albert Pla is a Catalan singer-songwriter and actor who appeared in the cult film ‘Airbag’. He is known for his provocative lyrics and public statements that often ridicule religious institutions. Pla cultivates a persona of childish subversion that challenges the conservative norms of Spanish society. He has stated that he does not believe in anything and lives life with a sense of anarchic freedom. His artistic output is entirely secular and often deliberately offensive to traditional sensibilities.

Carlos Saura

Carlos Saura was one of the most renowned Spanish directors and writers who also appeared on screen. He described himself as a Darwinist who received a zero in his religion classes at school. His films like ‘Cría Cuervos’ often dealt with the repressed atmosphere of Francoist Spain and the stifling nature of religious education. Saura utilized metaphors to critique the church and state during the dictatorship. He maintained a secular and scientific outlook on life until his death.

Fernando Trueba

Fernando Trueba is an Oscar-winning Spanish director who has also worked as a writer and producer. He gained notoriety for accepting an award by stating that he has never believed in God but always believed in Billy Wilder. Trueba is a vocal atheist who advocates for reason and culture over religious faith. His films often celebrate the pleasures of life and human relationships in a godless world. He remains a prominent intellectual voice for secularism in Spain.

Alejandro Amenábar

Alejandro Amenábar is a Chilean-Spanish director and composer who writes and produces his own films. He is an atheist who explored the conflict between reason and faith in his historical drama ‘Agora’. Amenábar left the Catholic faith of his upbringing and adopted a rationalist worldview. His work frequently features characters grappling with the truth in the face of superstitious or religious opposition. He uses cinema to examine the human capacity for both cruelty and enlightenment.

Alfred Molina

Alfred Molina is a British-American actor of Spanish and Italian descent known for ‘Spider-Man 2’ and ‘Frida’. He has described himself as a humanist who does not subscribe to any organized religion. Molina focuses on the potential of human beings to solve their own problems and create ethical societies. His diverse roles often require him to explore different belief systems with empathy while maintaining his own secular stance. He values scientific literacy and critical inquiry.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

The creator of ‘Hamilton’ and ‘In the Heights’ comes from a Puerto Rican family and was raised Catholic. Lin-Manuel Miranda has since stated that he is questioning and does not attend church. He describes himself as agnostic and notes that religion appears in his work as a reflection of his characters rather than his own beliefs. Miranda focuses on the power of storytelling and legacy to create meaning in life. His work celebrates human agency and the impact of history.

Cheech Marin

Cheech Marin is a Mexican-American actor and comedian best known as half of the comedy duo Cheech & Chong. He has moved away from his religious upbringing and focuses on philosophy and art. Marin is a major collector of Chicano art and promotes cultural expression over religious dogma. His comedy often satirizes the strictures of authority figures including nuns and priests. He finds spiritual fulfillment in creativity and humor.

Dani Rovira

Dani Rovira is a Spanish comedian and actor who starred in the blockbuster ‘Spanish Affair’. He has made jokes about finding happiness in a sandwich rather than in God. Rovira often incorporates secular themes into his stand-up routines and criticizes the influence of religion in education. He is an advocate for animal rights and environmental causes. His public persona is driven by compassion and humor rather than faith.

Nacho Vigalondo

Nacho Vigalondo is a Spanish director and actor known for ‘Timecrimes’ and ‘Colossal’. He is an open atheist who engages with fans on social media about his lack of belief. Vigalondo approaches his science fiction and mystery stories with a strictly materialist logic. He often deconstructs the idea of destiny and shows characters taking control of their own fates. His work reflects a modern and secular generation of Spanish creators.

Carlos Bardem

Carlos Bardem is a Spanish actor and writer who appeared in ‘Cell 211’ and ‘Assassin’s Creed’. Like his brother Javier, he holds secular views and is politically active on the left. Bardem often criticizes traditional institutions and advocates for social change through human effort. He writes novels and screenplays that explore historical and social injustices without religious moralizing. He is a firm believer in the power of culture and history.

What other Hispanic actors do you know who are open about their lack of religious belief? Share your thoughts in the comments.