6 celebrities you didn’t know could speak German

Trying to learn the German language can seem difficult and disheartening at times, but ultimately it pays off; especially when looking for a job. Here are six well-known celebrities and Hollywood stars who have risen to the challenge of trying to master the German language, to help inspire you!

Celebrities who can speak German

These are some of the most well-known movie stars, musicians and influential people in the world who have taken the time to learn some of the lingo. Did you know these celebrities could speak German?

1. Sandra Bullock 

Sandra Bullock is one of Hollywood’s best-known stars. But Miss Congeniality has a well-kept secret, a skill even greater than playing some half-filled glasses: she speaks fluent German!

Bullock was born in the US but lived in Nuremberg with her American father and German mother until the age of 12 and learned German during her education. She has given several acceptance speeches in German, and frequently talks of her love of Germany and Austria. 

2. Tina Fey

Though Tina Fey claims that she speaks “less than first grade” German, the American movie star has taken up several roles requiring her to speak some German.

Fey has the advantage of actually being half-German herself, but she has still had to work hard to learn the language for both her movies and her fans. Fey’s most famous German-speaking role was in the sitcom 30 Rock, a show of which she was also a writer and creator!

3. Kim Cattrall 

Best known for her role as Samantha Jones in Sex and the City, Kim Cattrall has travelled the globe with her acting career since her rise to fame in the late 1970s. Cattrall is a British-born Canadian-American, and spent almost a decade living in Frankfurt with her second husband during the 1980s.

Though Cattrall speaks almost perfect German, more recently she admits that she has forgotten much of her vocabulary since moving back to Canada.

4. Pope Francis

Many popes have been avid linguists, with Pope John-Paul II famously having spoken at least 12 languages! The current pope, Pope Francis, was born in Argentina to an Italian father and Argentinian-Italian mother, and speaks fluent Spanish and Italian. The Pope also speaks Portuguese, French and German comfortably.

The pope has been seen to use German more often than English in diplomatic events in Germany, claiming that although he doesn't speak the language perfectly, he still finds it easier than English. 

5. Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio may not sound like a very German name, but the actor’s middle name - Wilhelm - certainly is. DiCaprio’s maternal grandparents are both from Germany and he spent many summers in Oer-Erkenschwick, North Rhine-Westphalia, where his maternal grandmother lived. Thanks to his close connection to Germany through family, the actor has kept his knowledge of the German language going.

Though he admittedly spends less time in Germany than he used to, DiCaprio still has much love for the country, and even does a few interviews in German. Here's an old video of him talking about his grandmother's home and his favourite German foods!

6. Chris Pratt

Aside from being a Hollywood heartthrob, Chris Pratt has had a truly eventful life. Born in the US, Pratt cruised through school, eventually dropping out of community college, working as daytime stripper shortly after becoming homeless. Eventually, Pratt was spotted by a director while waiting tables for work, and his career was kick-started into fame.

Though Pratt credits little of his success with school, one thing he does still use is his German skills! Even though he is not fluent, Chris is always happy enough to give it a shot whenever interviewers ask him, and does so with great enthusiasm and a smile!

German speaking celebrities

So let these superstars inspire you to improve your German even further! Whether you're a beginner or you have almost perfect fluency, there's always more to learn with a language, and you never know - you could one day make it onto our list too!

Image: Shutterstock.com / Silvi Photo