Antonio Banderas

Mon 24th Nov - 7:00PM

Desperado, The Mask Of Zorro and even Madonna's musical hit Evita. Mr Melanie Griffith was already an A-list star in Spain when he smouldered into Hollywood. A versatile talent.

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Antonio Banderas
born: 10-08-1960
birth place: Malaga, Spain

However, his first bona fide 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.

His real breakthrough to the mainstream American audience came with “Philadelphia” (1993). Banderas played the gay lover of a lawyer with AIDS (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). He was now working with the likes of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. Banderas had truly made the grade in Hollywood.

The next year Banderas worked with director Robert Rodriguez on his segment of the rather poor “Four Rooms” (1995). He played a strong role, in which his comic potential was explored, providing one of the few memorable performances of the film. Also made with Rodriguez, was “Desperado” (1995).

Melanie Griffith and Banderas met on the set of “Two Much” (1996). After a whirlwind romance, and much to everyone’s surprise, they married in May 1996. Banderas then made his next big movie, “Evita” (1996) opposite Madonna, in a singing, dancing role. In September 1997, Antonio and Melanie had a daughter, Stella Del Carmen. The following year, Banderas made “The Mask of Zorro” (1998), with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Anthony Hopkins. It seemed he could do no wrong, both personally and career-wise.

Three years later, and Banderas had moved to the other side of the camera. He presented his directorial debut “Crazy in Alabama” in 1999, a black comedy in which both he and his wife, Melanie Griffith, starred. He then made his executive producer debut on “The White River Kid” (1999) with Bob Hoskins and Wes Bentley. In 1999, Banderas was given the European Film Academy award for European Achievement in World Cinema.

In “Play It to the Bone” (2000) he was an aspiring boxer, opposite Woody Harrelson; and a Cuban tycoon, with Angelina Jolie in “Original Sin” (2001). Another Rodriguez–directed film followed, the wonderful family adventure/comedy, “Spy Kids” (2001). Banderas played a kidnapped agent whose children have to find their inner strength to help rescue their parents. He charmed the audience, children and adults alike, and reprised this role in “Spy Kids2: Island of Lost Dreams” (2002).

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