Austria's Waltz takes Cannes best actor prize as polyglot Nazi

Austrian soap star Christoph Waltz, pictured on May 20, 2009, clinched the best actor award in Cannes Sunday for his role as a multilingual Nazi in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds. (AFP Photo)

Austrian soap star Christoph Waltz clinched the best actor award in Cannes Sunday for his role as a multilingual Nazi in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds."

Waltz plays the smooth-talking villain of the flick, SS colonel Hans Landa, whose memorable one-liners had the Cannes audience chortling throughout the film.

Critics widely agreed that the 52-year-old -- who spent most of his career in television acting -- outshone a star cast that included Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger or rising Irish star Michael Fassbender.

(Agencies)