Antonio Banderas: Handsome Actor Biography

By Steve Mason

Antonio Banderas is a Spanish film actor, director, producer and singer. An actor, director, singer, and producer, Antonio Banderas is most widely recognized for his series of appearances in Spanish language films directed by Pedro Almodovar, and for Hollywood films such as "Interview with the Vampire", "Philadelphia", and "The Mask of Zorro" and its sequel. Although he was not speaking English at the time, Banderas saw his Hollywood acting debut in the drama The Mambo Kings (1992). Whereas with his turn as Tom Hanks' devoted lover in the Academy Award-winning AIDS drama Philadelphia in 1993, he got the chance to prove that he was more than just a pretty face. Gifted, handsome and charismatic, Antonio Banderas is rightfully considered to be one of the greatest leading men in Hollywood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: XinXii
• Release date: Jun 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781304940599

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Early Life and Roles

Actor José Antonio Domínguez Banderas was born in Málaga, Spain. Banderas studied drama, eventually moving to Madrid where he performed in plays including Historia de los Tarantos and La hija del aire. There, he met Pedro Almoóvar who gave him a small part in the film Laberinto de pasiones (1982), and from then on he worked exclusively with Almodóvar in such films as Matador (1985) and La ley del deseo (1986).

American Film Star

His first American movie role was in The Mambo Kings (1992), and still speaking no English, he was forced to learn his lines phonetically. To his credit, his performance as a struggling musician was critically praised.

Early in the 1990s, largely due to the international popularity of Almodóvar's films, he began a film career in Hollywood. His real breakthrough to the mainstream American audience came with starring in Philadelphia (1993). Banderas played the gay lover of a lawyer with AIDS, played by Tom Hanks, with a sensitivity that earned him much kudos. His star was shining brightly and the following year he won a role in Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) with Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. His work as a star standing on equal ground with other A-listers signified that Banderas had truly made the grade in Hollywood.

Later Roles

Banderas' next big movie, Evita (1996) opposite Madonna, found the Spanish actor in a role singing and dancing. The following year, Banderas starred in The Mask of Zorro (1998), with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Anthony Hopkins. Along with his work in front of the camera, Banderas has found success by using only his deep, distinctive voice. He won new fans as Puss in Boots in the popular animated film Shrek 2 (2004), which was followed by the spin-off film Puss in Boots (2011), featuring popular actors Salma Hayek and Zach Galifianakis.

Antonio Banderas Eyed For Pope Francis Biopic

Antonio Banderas is being tapped by one