Discover how famous bilingual celebrities built global careers through language
Famous bilingual celebrities in entertainment, such as Salma Hayek, Shakira and Bradley Cooper, are proving that being multilingual is a secret weapon in the entertainment world. Their ability to connect with audiences in different languages helps them reach new heights and opens doors worldwide.
What makes famous bilingual celebrities in entertainment stand out in a global market?
In today’s interconnected world, they are not just entertainers; they are also cultural ambassadors. More importantly, their bilingualism enables them to connect with a variety of audiences, ensuring their work has a deeper resonance. Because of this, they build stronger global fan bases. This unique ability gives them influence that transcends borders and helps them establish a powerful global presence. That’s why bilingual celebrities in entertainment are often chosen for international roles and brand collaborations.
Famous bilingual celebrities break barriers—and open new doors
Language opens up new opportunities, emotions and meaningful connections, and is about more than just communication. In fact, many famous bilingual celebrities use their language skills to transcend cultural boundaries. Consequently, this has enabled them to star in films, record music and collaborate internationally in ways that might not be possible for monolingual celebrities.
For example, Bradley Cooper’s fluency in French has enabled him to connect deeply with European audiences. At the same time, Shakira’s ability to switch between Spanish, English, and Portuguese has helped her top the international charts.
10 multilingual stars who used their language skills to shine
Let’s take a closer look at some well-known stars who speak more than one language, along with some surprising facts about them:
- Salma Hayek – Spanish & English
🎬 Frida (EN), El Callejón de los Milagros (ES) - Shakira – Spanish, English, Portuguese, some Arabic
🎤 Performs in multiple languages: La Tortura (ES), Waka Waka (EN), Je l’aime à mourir (FR, live cover) - Bradley Cooper – English & French
🎤 Fluent in French; gave full interviews (e.g. on French TV show Le Journal de 20h)
🎬 Limitless, Silver Linings Playbook (EN) - Natalie Portman – Hebrew, English, studies in Spanish, German & Japanese
🎬 A Tale of Love and Darkness (HE) – directed and acted in Hebrew
🎬 V for Vendetta, Black Swan (EN) - Lady Gaga – English & French
🎤 Performed La Vie en Rose (FR) live
🎬 House of Gucci, A Star is Born (EN) - Mila Kunis – Russian & English
🎬 Black Swan, Friends with Benefits (EN).
🎤 Russian is her native language; speaks it fluently in interviews - Penélope Cruz – Spanish, English & Italian
🎬 Volver (ES), Vicky Cristina Barcelona (EN), Non ti muovere (IT) - Jodie Foster – English & French
🎬 Le sang des autres (FR), Anna and the King, The Silence of the Lambs (EN)
🗣️ Dubs herself in the French versions of her films - Anya Taylor-Joy – English & Spanish
🎤 Gives interviews in both languages
🎬 The Queen’s Gambit, The Menu (EN) - Viggo Mortensen – Danish, English, Spanish & French
🎬 Captain Fantastic (EN), Todos tenemos un plan (ES), Jauja (DA/ES), Loin des hommes (FR)
🎤 Bonus: Bilingual Singers
- Álvaro Soler – Spanish & German
🎤 Sofia, El mismo sol (ES); gives interviews in German and Spanish - Céline Dion – English & Canadian French
🎤 My Heart Will Go On (EN), Pour que tu m’aimes encore (FR)
Stromae – French & English
🎤 Alors on danse, Papaoutai; performs and gives interviews in both languages
How you can grow globally, just like bilingual celebrities
Becoming bilingual or multilingual can significantly increase your global potential, whether you’re a translator, content creator or aspiring artist. As these celebrities demonstrate, language is a tool for connection, creativity and growth.
You don’t need to be in Hollywood to use this to your advantage. By developing your language skills, you can work internationally, build a global audience, and connect with clients or fans from a variety of backgrounds. Therefore, investing in language learning pays off.
Why bilingualism matters in entertainment today
While everyone knows Shakira and Bradley Cooper, few realize how much their ability to speak multiple languages has contributed to their international success. As a result, they can adapt to global media with ease. Being able to speak multiple languages enables entertainers to connect with millions of people on a personal level. It also enables them to adapt more easily to global media, interviews and collaborative projects.
Just as famous bilingual celebrities in entertainment connect with international audiences through language, LingoStar also helps businesses achieve the same by providing professional multilingual communication services.
Do you want to make your message go global? LingoStar can help! At LingoStar, we offer a wide range of language services:
- Translation services
- Localization services (websites and subtitling)
- Voice-over translation services
- Interpretation services
We work with English, Spanish and French, as well as many other major languages. From script translation to subtitle timing and voice-over localization, our experts will ensure that your content resonates internationally.
Get in touch today by calling 604-629-8420 or emailing info@lingo-star.com to start your journey. Feel free to ask us for a free translation quote too!
Just as bilingual celebrities reach global audiences, you can grow your business by adapting your content. Check out our eBook, How to Expand your Online Business – A Beginner’s Guide to Multilingual Website Translation, for practical tips on reaching worldwide audiences.
Stay connected with LingoStar!
Do you want to stay updated on the latest news from the translation industry? Follow us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn), explore our other blog posts, and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to join our community!
