IMDb Polls

Poll: Universally Understood Oscar Performances

Which Oscar winning acting performance, performed in whole or in part in a non-English or a non-verbal language,* do you think best transcends language?

Discuss the topic here.

Make Your Choice

  1. Vote!
     

    Roberto Benigni in Life Is Beautiful (1997)

    Language: Italian | German | English

    Guido Orefice Best Lead Actor: Life Is Beautiful (1997)

  2. Vote!
     

    Marlee Matlin in Children of a Lesser God (1986)

    Languages: American Sign Language | English

    Sarah Norman Best Lead Actress: Children of a Lesser God (1986)

  3. Vote!
     

    Marion Cotillard in La Vie En Rose (2007)

    Languages: French | English

    Edith Piaf Best Lead Actress: La Vie En Rose (2007)

  4. Vote!
     

    Patty Duke in The Miracle Worker (1962)

    Languages: American Sign Language | English | Silent: Non-Verbal

    Helen Keller Best Supporting Actress: The Miracle Worker (1962)

  5. Vote!
     

    Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds (2009)

    Languages: German | French | English | Italian

    Col. Hans Landa Best Supporting Actor: Inglourious Basterds (2009)

  6. Vote!
     

    Robert De Niro in The Godfather Part II (1974)

    Languages: Sicilian | English

    Don Vito Corleone Best Supporting Actor: The Godfather Part II (1974)

  7. Vote!
     

    Jane Wyman in Johnny Belinda (1948)

    Languages: Mute: Non-Verbal | American Sign Language

    Belinda McDonald Best Lead Actress: Johnny Belinda (1948)

  8. Vote!
     

    Penélope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

    Languages: Spanish | English

    Maria Elena Best Supporting Actress: Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

  9. Vote!
     

    Holly Hunter in The Piano (1993)

    Languages: Mute: Non-Verbal |Some English Voice-Over Narration (not as sound of Ada's voice, but as the sound of Ada's thoughts)

    Ada McGrath Best Lead Actress: The Piano (1993)

  10. Vote!
     

    Benicio Del Toro in Traffic (2000)

    Languages: Spanish | English

    Javier Rodriguez Best Supporting Actor: Traffic (2000)

  11. Vote!
     

    Jean Dujardin in The Artist (2011)

    Languages: Silent: Non-Verbal | Intertitles

    George Valentin Best Lead Actor: The Artist (2011)

  12. Vote!
     

    Sophia Loren in Two Women (1960)

    Language: Italian

    Cesira Best Lead Actress: Two Women (1960)

  13. Vote!
     

    John Mills in Ryan's Daughter (1970)

    Languages: Mute: Non-Verbal

    Michael Best Supporting Actor: Ryan's Daughter (1970)

  14. Vote!
     

    Anne Bancroft in The Miracle Worker (1962)

    Languages: English | American Sign Language | Silent: Non-Verbal

    Anne Sullivan Best Actress: The Miracle Worker (1962)

    added 07 March 2019 *significant non-English communication

  15. Vote!
     

    Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant (2015)

    Languages: English | Pawnee | Arikara

    Hugh Glass Best Actor: The Revenant (2015)

    added 07 March 2019 *significant non-English communication

  16. Vote!
     

    Riz Ahmed in Sound of Metal (2019)

    Languages: English | American Sign Language | Silent: Non-Verbal

    Ruben Best Actor Nominee: Sound of Metal (2019)

    Invalid Answer Option (Oscar Nominee only, not an Oscar Winner)

    erroneously added 05 April 2021

  17. Vote!
     

    Troy Kotsur in CODA (2021)

    Languages: English | American Sign Language | Silent: Non-Verbal

    Frank Rossi Best Supporting Actor: CODA (2021)

    added 27 March 2022


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