French- The Language of the Arts
French speakers have long been known for their contributions to the arts. There have been 13 Nobel prizes in literature awarded to writers in French- more than any other language. Below is information on French media companies, writers, artists, film makers, and musicians
- Vivendi Universal leading entertainment company that includes music, television, film, interactive games, and mobile telecommunications
- Angélique Kidjo singer/songwriter from Benin and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
- Youssou N'Dour singer/songwriter from Senegal and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
- Luc Besson French film maker responsible for the movies La Femme Nikita, The Fifth Element, The Professional, The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, and Arthur and the Invisibles
- Astérix famous French comic book character created by René Goscinny & Albert Uderzo
- Tintin famous comic book character created by Belgian artist Hergé
- Aimé Césaire poet/playwright/politician from Martinique and co-founder of the Négritude movement
- Joseph Zobel novelist and poet from Martinique
- Guy de Maupassant 19th century French short story writer and novelist
French-speaking celebrities
Below is a list of celebrities who speak French as a second language (adapted from Answers.com):
Alex Trebek (Canadian; game show host)
Ally Sheedy (American actress)
Andie MacDowell (American actress)
Angelina Jolie (American actress)
Angie Everhart (American model)
Anthony Bourdain (American chef)
Arnold Schwarzenegger (Austrian actor, governor of California)
Ashley Judd (American actress)
Boutros Boutros-Ghali (Egyptian; former UN Secretary General)
Brendan Fraser (American actor)
Brooke Shields (American actress)
Bryan Adams (Canadian singer)
Candice Bergen (American actress)
Carol Fredericks (American singer)
Charlotte Rampling (British actress)
Chloë Sevigny (American actress)
Chris de Burgh (British musician)
Christie Brinkley (American model)
Christopher Lambert (American actor)
Claudia Schiffer (German model)
Costa-Gavras (Greek filmmaker)
Cristiane Amanpour (British reporter)
Dannii Minogue (Australian singer, actress)
Danny Roberts (American actor)
David Sedaris (American essayist, radio personality)
Demis Roussos (Egyptian singer)
Eddie Izzard (British comedian)
Elle MacPherson (Australian model)
Ellen McArthur (British; World Champion in Offshore Racing)
Elizabeth Montgomery (American actress)
Elton John (British musician)
Emma Thompson (British actress)
Farah Pahlavi (Iranian empress)
Gloria Estefan (American singer)
Gwyneth Paltrow (American actress)
Helena Bonham Carter (British actress)
Holly Robinson Peete (American actress)
Jackie Kennedy Onassis (Former First Lady, editor)
Jacqueline Bisset (British actress)
James Lipton (American actor)
Jane Birkin (British actress)
Jane Fonda (American actress)
Jarvis Cocker (British singer)
Jean Seberg (American actress)
Jeremy Irons (British actor)
Jerry Hall (American actress)
Jim Courier (American tennis player)
Jodie Foster (American actress)
John Howe (Canadian illustrator)
John Hume (Irish; Nobel Peace Prize Laureate)
John Hurt (British actor)
John Kerry (American senator)
John Malkovich (American actor)
John McLaughlin (British musician)
John Travolta (American actor)
Johnny Depp (American actor)
Julia Child (American chef)
Julio Iglesias (Spanish singer)
Kevin Kline (American actor)
Kirk Douglas (American actor)
Kofi Anan (Ghanaian; Secretary-General of the United Nations)
Kristin Scott-Thomas (British actress)
Kylie Minogue (Australian singer)
Lance Armstrong (American cyclist)
Lauren Bacall (American actress)
Leelee Sobieski (American actress)
Leslie Nielsen (Canadian actor)
Linda Evangelista (Canadian model)
Lisa Kudrow (American actress)
Liza Minelli (American actress, singer)
Lorraine Bracco (American actress)
Louis de Bernières (British author)
Madeleine Albright (Czech; former US Secretary of State)
Madonna (American singer, actress)
Marlon Brando (American actor)
Matthew Perry (American actor)
Melanie Blatt (British singer)
Meryl Streep (American actress)
Michael York (British actor)
Mick Jagger (British musician)
Mira Sorvino (American actress)
Molly Ringwald (American actress)
Morgan Freeman (American actor)
Nana Mouskouri (Greek singer, actress)
Nastassja Kinski (German actress)
Natalie Portman (Israeli actress)
Norman Spinrad (American writer)
Oliver Stone (American filmmaker)
Omar Shariff (Egyptian actor)
Orlando Bloom (British actor)
Perez de Cuellar (Peruvian; former UN Secretary General)
Peter Ustinov (British actor)
Petula Clark (British actress, singer)
Phil Collins (British singer)
Pope John-Paul II
Prunella Scales (British actress)
Queen Elizabeth II
Richard Jordan (American actor)
Robert De Niro (American actor)
Robert Stack (American actor)
Robin Williams (American actor)
Roscoe Lee Browne (American actor)
Rudolf Miele (German; Chairman of Miele)
Rupert Everett (British actor)
Ruth Westheimer aka Dr. Ruth (German; therapist & author)
Sam Waterston (American actor)
Shania Twain (Canadian singer)
Shannen Doherty (American actress)
Sigourney Weaver (American actress)
Sting (British musician)
Suzanne Malveaux (American journalist)
Theo Agelopoulos (Greek filmmaker)
Tina Arena (Australian singer)
Tina Turner (American singer)
Tommy Lee Jones (American actor)
Tony Blair (British Prime Minister)
Tonya Kinzinger (American actress)
Uma Thurman (American actress)
Vanessa Redgrave (British actress)
Vicky Leandros (Greek singer)
William Hurt (American actor)
William Shatner (Canadian actor)
Woody Allen (American actor)
Yasmine Bleeth (American actress)