Antonio Banderas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antonio Banderas
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Banderas in 2024
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José Antonio Domínguez Bandera
10 August 1960 Málaga, Spain
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1982–present |
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Works
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Full list |
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| Partner(s) | Nicole Kimpel (2015–present) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
José Antonio Domínguez Bandera (born August 10, 1960), known as Antonio Banderas, is a famous Spanish actor. He is known for his roles in many different types of movies. He has won several awards, like a Cannes Film Festival Award and a Goya Award. He has also been nominated for an Academy Award, Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award.
Banderas started acting in a small theater in Málaga, Spain. There, he met director Pedro Almodóvar. Almodóvar gave him his first movie role in Labyrinth of Passion (1982). They worked together on many films, including Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988) and Pain and Glory (2019). For Pain and Glory, Banderas won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.
In 1992, Banderas started acting in American movies. His first American film was The Mambo Kings. He then appeared in popular films like Philadelphia (1993) and Interview with the Vampire (1994). He became well-known for playing characters like El Mariachi in Desperado (1995) and Zorro in The Mask of Zorro (1998). He also played the dad in the Spy Kids movies (2001–2003). Many people know his voice as Puss in Boots in the Shrek films (2004–present). Banderas also directed movies, starting with Crazy in Alabama (1999).
On stage, Banderas made his Broadway theatre debut in the musical Nine (2003). For this role, he was nominated for a Tony Award. He also received Emmy Award nominations for playing Pancho Villa in And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself (2004) and Pablo Picasso in the TV series Genius (2018).
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Early Life
José Antonio Domínguez Bandera was born on August 10, 1960, in Málaga, Spain. His father, José Domínguez Prieto, was a police officer. His mother, Ana Bandera Gallego, was a schoolteacher. He has a younger brother named Francisco.
When he was young, Banderas dreamed of becoming a professional football player. However, a broken foot at age 15 stopped him from pursuing this dream. He then became very interested in acting. He joined the ARA Theatre-School and the College of Dramatic Art in Málaga. His acting in theaters and on the streets helped him get a spot with the Spanish National Theatre.
Acting Career
Starting in Spain
Antonio Banderas started his acting studies in Málaga. He began working in small theaters during a time of cultural change in Spain called La Movida Madrileña.
He caught the eye of director Pedro Almodóvar. Almodóvar gave him his first movie role in Labyrinth of Passion (1982). Five years later, Banderas appeared in Almodóvar's film Law of Desire (1987).
Almodóvar then cast him in the internationally famous 1988 film, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. This film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Working with Almodóvar helped Banderas become known around the world.
Hollywood Breakthrough
In 1991, the singer Madonna introduced Antonio Banderas to Hollywood. The next year, even though he spoke very little English, he started acting in American films. He had to learn his lines by listening and repeating them. Still, he gave a great performance as a musician in his first American drama, The Mambo Kings (1992).
Banderas became widely known to American audiences in the film Philadelphia (1993). He played the partner of a lawyer, played by Tom Hanks. In 1993, he also acted in The House of the Spirits. In this film, he worked with famous actors like Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons.
The next year, he appeared in Interview with the Vampire (1994). He shared the screen with Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. He then starred in several big Hollywood movies. These included the action film Desperado (1995) with Salma Hayek. This movie was a big success.
In 1996, he starred with Madonna in the musical film Evita. He played the narrator, Che. For this role, he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. He also had great success as the masked hero Zorro in the 1998 film The Mask of Zorro. He starred with Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones. His performance earned him another Golden Globe Award nomination. In 1999, he was in the historical action film The 13th Warrior.
Big Roles and Broadway
In 2001, Antonio Banderas worked again with director Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez cast him in the first three Spy Kids movies (2001-2003). He played Gregorio Cortez, a retired secret agent. He also starred in Original Sin with Angelina Jolie.
In 2002, he played the painter David Alfaro Siqueiros in the film Frida, which starred Salma Hayek. Banderas also directed his first movie, Crazy in Alabama (1999).
Banderas made his Broadway debut in 2003. He played Guido Contini in the musical Nine. Critics praised his performance and singing. He won the Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
Also in 2003, he played the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa in the HBO TV film And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself. For this role, Banderas was nominated for an Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.
The next year, Banderas voiced Puss in Boots in the animated film Shrek 2 (2004). This film was a huge success. He continued to voice Puss in Shrek the Third (2007) and Shrek Forever After (2010). In 2005, he played Zorro again in The Legend of Zorro. In 2006, he starred in Take the Lead, playing a ballroom dancing teacher. That year, he also directed his second film, El camino de los ingleses. In 2005, Banderas received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Return to Spanish Films
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In 2010, Antonio Banderas acted in the film You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. The next year, he starred in the thriller The Skin I Live In (2011). This movie marked his return to working with Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar. They had not worked together since 1990. Critics praised Banderas's performance. That same year, he voiced Puss in Boots again, this time as the main character in the spin-off movie Puss in Boots. This film was very popular.
Banderas had a small role in Almodóvar's comedy I'm So Excited! (2013). In 2018, Banderas starred in the TV series Genius: Picasso as the famous artist Pablo Picasso. For this role, he received nominations for an Primetime Emmy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award.
In 2019, Banderas starred in the Spanish film Pain and Glory, directed by Pedro Almodóvar. Banderas played an aging film director. On May 25, 2019, Banderas won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor for his role. He was later nominated for his first Academy Award for this film.
That same year, Banderas starred in the Netflix film The Laundromat with Meryl Streep. He also performed in Spanish musical adaptations like A Chorus Line (2019) and Company (2021) in Spain. In 2020, he was in the fantasy film Dolittle with Robert Downey Jr.. The next year, he starred in the comedy Official Competition with Penélope Cruz.
In 2022, Banderas played the villain Santiago Moncada in the film Uncharted. He also returned to voice Puss in Boots in the sequel Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. In 2023, he appeared in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and played Herod in the musical film Journey to Bethlehem.
In June 2023, it was announced that Banderas would be in Paddington in Peru. He is set to play Hunter Cabot, a riverboat captain who helps the Brown family.
Life Outside Acting
Personal Life
Antonio Banderas is a big fan of the football team Málaga CF. In May 2010, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Málaga. He also received an honorary degree from Dickinson College in 2000.
In August 2015, Banderas started studying fashion design at Central Saint Martins in London. Since 2016, he has lived in Cobham, Surrey, in the United Kingdom.
Banderas is involved with a Catholic religious group in his hometown of Málaga. He takes part in the processions there.
Banderas married Ana Leza in 1987, and they divorced in 1996. He then met actress Melanie Griffith in 1995. They married on May 14, 1996, and have a daughter named Stella del Carmen Banderas (born 1996). Their daughter appeared in Banderas's first movie as a director, Crazy in Alabama (1999). Banderas and Griffith divorced in 2015. Despite their divorce, they remain good friends. His former stepdaughter, Dakota Johnson, considers him a "bonus dad." Since November 2015, Banderas has been dating Nicole Kimpel.
In 2009, Banderas had surgery for a non-cancerous growth on his back. In March 2017, he shared that he had a heart attack in January 2017. He said it was not serious and did not cause lasting damage. After that, he had heart surgery. He has said that this experience changed his life in a positive way.
Business Ventures
Antonio Banderas has invested some of his movie earnings in products from Andalusia, Spain. He helps promote these products in Spain and the US. He owns half of a winery in Spain called Anta Banderas, which makes red and rosé wines.
He has also done voice-overs for commercials. He voiced an animated bee for Nasonex, an allergy medicine. He also appeared in Christmas ads for the British store Marks & Spencer.
Banderas has worked in the perfume industry for over ten years with the company Puig. He has helped promote many successful fragrances, including Diavolo and Spirit.
New Stage as Theater Producer
Antonio Banderas has often said that theater makes him happiest. On November 15, 2019, his theater project, the Teatro del Soho CaixaBank, opened in Malaga. It is a place for creating, showing, and sharing performances. It also offers training in different performing arts.
Since spring 2024, he also supports a new performing arts school in Malaga called the Sohrlin Andalucía School of Arts. It aims to become a major center for theater and art in Andalusia.
Awards and Honors
Antonio Banderas has received many award nominations. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Pain and Glory. He has also received five Golden Globe Award nominations for his work in films and television. He has two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself (2004) and Genius: Picasso (2018). He also received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his role as Pablo Picasso.
In 2003, he was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway musical Nine. That year, he won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for Nine. In 2019, he won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor, the European Film Award for Best Actor, and the Goya Award for Best Actor for his role in Almodóvar's Pain and Glory.
See Also
In Spanish: Antonio Banderas para niños
- List of actors with Hollywood Walk of Fame motion picture stars
- List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards
