Antonio Banderas
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Antonio Banderas, one of Spain's most famous faces, was a soccer player until breaking his foot at the age of fourteen; he is now an international movie star known for playing Zorro in the eponymous movie series.
He was born José Antonio Domínguez Banderas on August 10, 1960, in Málaga, Andalusia, Spain. His father, Jose Dominguez, was a policeman in the Spanish civil guards. His mother, Doña Ana Banderas Gallego, was a school teacher. Young Banderas was brought up a Roman Catholic. He wanted to play soccer professionally and made much success playing for his school team until the age of 14, albeit his dream ended when he broke his foot. At that time, he developed a passion for theatre after seeing the stage production of "Hair". Banderas began his acting studies at the School of Dramatic Arts in Málaga, and made his acting debut at a small theatre in Málaga. He was arrested by the Spanish police for performance in a play byBertolt Brecht,because of political censorship under the rule of GeneralFrancisco Franco.Banderas spent a whole night at the police station, he had three or four such arrests while he was working with a small theatre troupe that toured all over Spain and was giving performances in small town theatres and on the street.
In 1979, at age 19, he moved to Madrid in pursuit of an acting career. Being a struggling young actor, he also worked as a waiter and took small modeling jobs. At that time, he joined the troupe at the National Theatre of Spain, becoming the youngest member of the company. Banderas' stage performances caught the attention of movie directorPedro Almodóvar,who cast the young actor in his movie debutLaberinto de pasiones (1982).Banderas and Almodovar joined forces in making innovative and sexually provocative movies during the 1980s. In 1984, Banderas made headlines in Spain with his performance as a gay man, making his first male-to-male on-screen kiss in Almodovar'sLa ley del deseo (1987).Banderas' long and fruitful collaboration withPedro Almodóvareventually prepared him for international recognition that came with his work in the Academy Award-nominated filmMujeres al borde de un ataque de "nervios" (1988).In 1991, he appeared as an object of Madonna's affection inMadonna: Truth or Dare (1991).
In 1992, Banderas made his Hollywood debut withThe Mambo Kings (1992).Because he did not speak English at that time, his dialogue for the movie was taught to him phonetically. Banderas shot to international fame with his sensitive performance as a lover ofTom Hanks' AIDS-infected lawyer inPhiladelphia (1993),then played oppositeTom CruiseandBrad Pittin Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994).Banderas further established himself as one of Hollywood's leading men after co-starring inEvita (1996)oppositeMadonnain the title role. In 1998, he won acclaim for his portrayal of Zorro, oppositeAnthony HopkinsandCatherine Zeta-Jones,inThe Mask of Zorro (1998).For the role as Zorro, Banderas took training with the Olympic national fencing team in Spain, and practiced his moves with real steel swords, then he used the lighter aluminum swords in the movie. He also took a month-long course of horse-riding before the filming. He later returned to the role inThe Legend of Zorro (2005).In 1999, Banderas made his directorial debut inCrazy in Alabama (1999),starring his wife,Melanie Griffith.He received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Mexican artistDavid Alfaro SiqueirosoppositeSalma HayekinFrida (2002).He voiced Puss in Boots in the Shrek franchise.
Banderas established himself as internationally known Latin heartthrob with charismatic looks, and was chosen as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world by People magazine in 1996. He won numerous awards and nominations for his works in film, including three ALMA awards and three Golden Globe nominations, among many other. From 1996 to 2014, Banderas was married to American actressMelanie Griffithand the couple have one daughter, Stella (born 1996). Outside of his acting profession, Banderas has been a passionate soccer fan and a staunch supporter of the Real Madrid Football Club. He shares time between his two residencies, one in the United States, and one in the South of Spain.
He was born José Antonio Domínguez Banderas on August 10, 1960, in Málaga, Andalusia, Spain. His father, Jose Dominguez, was a policeman in the Spanish civil guards. His mother, Doña Ana Banderas Gallego, was a school teacher. Young Banderas was brought up a Roman Catholic. He wanted to play soccer professionally and made much success playing for his school team until the age of 14, albeit his dream ended when he broke his foot. At that time, he developed a passion for theatre after seeing the stage production of "Hair". Banderas began his acting studies at the School of Dramatic Arts in Málaga, and made his acting debut at a small theatre in Málaga. He was arrested by the Spanish police for performance in a play byBertolt Brecht,because of political censorship under the rule of GeneralFrancisco Franco.Banderas spent a whole night at the police station, he had three or four such arrests while he was working with a small theatre troupe that toured all over Spain and was giving performances in small town theatres and on the street.
In 1979, at age 19, he moved to Madrid in pursuit of an acting career. Being a struggling young actor, he also worked as a waiter and took small modeling jobs. At that time, he joined the troupe at the National Theatre of Spain, becoming the youngest member of the company. Banderas' stage performances caught the attention of movie directorPedro Almodóvar,who cast the young actor in his movie debutLaberinto de pasiones (1982).Banderas and Almodovar joined forces in making innovative and sexually provocative movies during the 1980s. In 1984, Banderas made headlines in Spain with his performance as a gay man, making his first male-to-male on-screen kiss in Almodovar'sLa ley del deseo (1987).Banderas' long and fruitful collaboration withPedro Almodóvareventually prepared him for international recognition that came with his work in the Academy Award-nominated filmMujeres al borde de un ataque de "nervios" (1988).In 1991, he appeared as an object of Madonna's affection inMadonna: Truth or Dare (1991).
In 1992, Banderas made his Hollywood debut withThe Mambo Kings (1992).Because he did not speak English at that time, his dialogue for the movie was taught to him phonetically. Banderas shot to international fame with his sensitive performance as a lover ofTom Hanks' AIDS-infected lawyer inPhiladelphia (1993),then played oppositeTom CruiseandBrad Pittin Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994).Banderas further established himself as one of Hollywood's leading men after co-starring inEvita (1996)oppositeMadonnain the title role. In 1998, he won acclaim for his portrayal of Zorro, oppositeAnthony HopkinsandCatherine Zeta-Jones,inThe Mask of Zorro (1998).For the role as Zorro, Banderas took training with the Olympic national fencing team in Spain, and practiced his moves with real steel swords, then he used the lighter aluminum swords in the movie. He also took a month-long course of horse-riding before the filming. He later returned to the role inThe Legend of Zorro (2005).In 1999, Banderas made his directorial debut inCrazy in Alabama (1999),starring his wife,Melanie Griffith.He received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Mexican artistDavid Alfaro SiqueirosoppositeSalma HayekinFrida (2002).He voiced Puss in Boots in the Shrek franchise.
Banderas established himself as internationally known Latin heartthrob with charismatic looks, and was chosen as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world by People magazine in 1996. He won numerous awards and nominations for his works in film, including three ALMA awards and three Golden Globe nominations, among many other. From 1996 to 2014, Banderas was married to American actressMelanie Griffithand the couple have one daughter, Stella (born 1996). Outside of his acting profession, Banderas has been a passionate soccer fan and a staunch supporter of the Real Madrid Football Club. He shares time between his two residencies, one in the United States, and one in the South of Spain.
