Actors Who Are Multilingual (3+ languages)

Some actors don’t just cross genres—they cross languages, too. Below are male performers who can work in at least three tongues, which opens doors to international productions, dubbing their own roles, and connecting with global audiences. For each, you’ll find the languages they speak and concrete examples of how those skills show up in their careers.

Viggo Mortensen

Mortensen speaks English, Spanish, and Danish fluently, and he also uses French and Italian comfortably, with conversational ability in Norwegian and Catalan. He grew up between Argentina, Venezuela, and Denmark, which helped him pick up multiple languages early. He has conducted press tours in Spanish and Danish and has acted in Spanish-language projects like ‘Alatriste’. Mortensen frequently switches languages in interviews without an interpreter.

Christoph Waltz

Waltz is fluent in German, English, and French, and he also speaks Italian. He trained in Vienna and New York and worked extensively in European television before his international breakthrough. Waltz has performed in German-, English-, and French-language productions and often records his own foreign-language ADR. He gives press in multiple languages and reads scripts in their original versions.

Daniel Brühl

Brühl speaks German, Spanish, English, French, and Catalan. Born in Spain to a German father and Spanish mother, he was raised bilingually and educated in Germany. He has starred in German- and Spanish-language films and works regularly in English-language projects. Brühl often dubs himself in various markets, maintaining vocal continuity across releases.

Jean Reno

Reno is fluent in French, Spanish, English, and Italian. Born in Morocco to Spanish parents, he moved to France and built a career across European and Hollywood productions. He has performed roles in French and Spanish and regularly handles English- and Italian-language dialogue without dubbing. Reno conducts media appearances in all four languages.

Mads Mikkelsen

Mikkelsen speaks Danish, English, and Swedish, with working knowledge of German and French. He began in Danish cinema and transitioned to international projects that leverage his language range. Mikkelsen has delivered substantial roles in Danish and English and has handled Swedish and German dialogue when required. He often completes European press in multiple Scandinavian and continental languages.

Javier Bardem

Bardem is fluent in Spanish and English and has workable French skills. He built his career in Spanish cinema and successfully crossed into English-language productions while occasionally using French for interviews. Bardem’s multilingual abilities allow him to collaborate with European directors and cast. He frequently participates in bilingual press junkets and festival Q&As.

Antonio Banderas

Banderas speaks Spanish and English and uses Italian at a conversational level. After establishing himself in Spanish cinema, he moved into English-language films while retaining Spanish-language work. Banderas has appeared in European co-productions that require switching languages during production and promotion. He often provides his own Spanish and English voice work for releases.

Lee Byung-hun

Lee speaks Korean and English and has conversational French and Japanese. He has acted in Korean blockbusters and English-language productions, handling dialogue in both. Lee’s international roles often include press tours across North America, Europe, and Asia where he uses multiple languages. He has also worked on co-productions that require multilingual shooting schedules.

Tahar Rahim

Rahim is fluent in French and Arabic and works in English, with additional experience in Spanish. He has taken on roles that feature extensive French and Arabic dialogue and has headlined English-language projects. Rahim’s versatility includes switching between dialects and accents to match character backgrounds. He regularly promotes his work in French-, Arabic-, and English-language media.

Wagner Moura

Moura speaks Portuguese, English, and Spanish. He started in Brazilian cinema and television and expanded into English-language projects while also acting in Spanish. Moura often performs and promotes his work across Latin America, North America, and Europe. He has completed dialogue and interviews in all three languages.

Gael García Bernal

García Bernal is fluent in Spanish and English and speaks Portuguese and French. He has led Spanish-language films, taken English-language roles, and worked in Lusophone contexts. García Bernal frequently collaborates with European and Latin American filmmakers, navigating multilingual sets. He conducts international press tours in multiple languages.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Coster-Waldau speaks Danish and English and has working proficiency in Swedish and German. He began in Danish film and television and transitioned to English-language productions. His Scandinavian background makes Swedish dialogue and media appearances straightforward. He often handles European promotions in more than one language.

What other multilingual actors should we highlight next—drop your picks in the comments!