Antonio Banderas

Antonio Banderas recently starred in The Legend of Zorro. His work in The Mask of Zorro opposite Catherine Zeta Jones and Anthony Hopkins earned him a Golden Globe nomination. Other recent work includes voicing the character Puss in Boots in the blockbuster animated film, Shrek 2, a role which he will revisit for Shrek 3.

Born in Malaga, Spain, Banderas attended the School of Dramatic Arts in his hometown, and upon graduation he began his acting career working in a small theater company based there. He later moved to Madrid and became an ensemble member of the prestigious National Theater of Spain.

In 1982, Banderas was cast by writer/director Pedro Almodovar in Labyrinth of Passion. It was the first of five films Banderas would do with Almodovar, the others being Matador, Law of Desire, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! The international success of these films introduced him to Hollywood. Notably, for his American film debut in Mambo Kings in 1992, he spoke no English yet learned all of his dialogue phonetically.

He went on to land his first starring role in Desperado and continued with the follow up - Once Upon a Time in Mexico alongside Johnny Depp and Salma Hayek. Since then, he has starred in such films as Spy Kids, Spy Kids 2, Original Sin, Four Rooms, Assassins, Miami Rhapsody, Never Talk to Strangers, Interview with a Vampire, House of the Spirits and Philadelphia.

Banderas received critical praise and a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination for his acting and vocal talents as 'Che' opposite Madonna in the big-screen adaptation of the musical Evita. Other awards to his credit include a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his Broadway debut in the Roundabout Theater Company production of NINE, a musical inspired by Fellini's 8 ½. He also received a Best Actor Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama League Award and Theatre World Award.

Banderas made his directorial debut with Crazy in Alabama. He also recently directed the Spanish film El Camino de Los Ingleses.

Looking for more info? Read our other biography.
Tell us what you think in the Antonio Banderas forum ...

Antonio Banderas Facts

Birth Name	José Antonio Dominguez Banderas
Occupation	Actor, Director, Producer
Birthday	August 10, 1960 (48)
Sign	Leo
Birthplace	Malaga, Spain
Height	5' 9" (1m75)

Selected Filmography

Interview with the Vampire

Add/Update data | Find more details on the Antonio Banderas Movies page