Antonio Bandaras

Name :    Antonio Banderas
Real Name :     Jose Antonio Dominguez Bandera
Date Of Birth :     August 10, 1960
Place of Birth :     Malaga, Spain
Sign :     Sun in Leo, Moon in Aries
Occupation :     Actor
Education :     School of Dramatic Art Malaga, Spain
Brother :     Francisco Dominguez Bandera
Wife :     Wife: Melanie Griffith (actress)
ex-wife: Ana Leza
Daughter :     Stella del Carmen
Fan Mail :     C/O Creative Artists Agency
9830 Wilshire Blvd,
Beverly Hills, CA 90212,
USA

(pictures and contents on this page can be found on the above websites)

Phantom Of The Opera" - Sarah Brightman & Antonio Bandaras

Evita Requiem for Evita

Puss-In-Boots - These Boots Are Made For Walking

Antonio's Biography

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

As a youngster, Banderas dreamed of becoming a professional football player. At age fourteen, he broke his foot, which put an end to this dream. Instead, against his parent’s wishes, he enrolled for classes at the School for Dramatic Art, in Malaga. There he discovered a love of acting, did lots of street theatre, later joined a small theatre troupe and toured Spain with them. His efforts paid off and in 1981 he was offered a place to perform with the National Theatre of Spain, in Madrid.

The following year, Banderas was to make his screen debut in “Laberinto de Pasiones” (“Labyrinth of Passion”) (1982), directed by Pedro Almodovar, who had noticed Banderas performing at the National Theatre. Almodovar was a radical young director who wanted Banderas to help him forge a new film industry. They would continue working with one another for a number of years

Banderas made a whole slew of Spanish films from 1982 to 1985, before working again with Almodovar, this time on two movies back-to-back. The first was “La Ley Del Deseo” (“The Law of Desire”) (1986), in which he played a gay man and made headlines with his first onscreen man-to-man kiss. The second, was “Matador” (1986). Ever the hard worker, Banderas appeared in a range of films between 1986 and 1988, before teaming up once more with Almodovar, in his internationally acclaimed “Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios” (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) (1988).

Banderas was in demand and the Almodovar formula seemed unfailing. Two years later, they made “Atame!” (“Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!”) (1990), a warm, unorthidox romantic comedy about a mental patient who kidnaps a porn star, tying her up until she loves him. Banderas’s recognition rose considerably.

Successful in his home country, and with the experience of many films under his belt, Banderas was keen to break into the American market, realising that was where the money lay. He bravely pursued this dream, even although he could not speak any English. His charisma and smouldering Latino looks helped to get him noticed and it was Madonna who gave America their first big screen viewing of Banderas. He appeared as an unwitting object of her desire in “Madonna: Truth or Dare” (1991).

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).

He then turned to some adult roles, in Brian DePalma’s “Femme Fatale” (2002) and the ill-fated “Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever” (2002). Busy Banderas fitted a third film into that year, this one an historic role in the dramatic biopic, “Frida” (2002).

Back with Rodriguez, for “Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over” (2003), then “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” (2003). He received a Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV movie for his part in “And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself” (2003). He worked with Emma Thompson in “Imagining Argentina” (2003), set in Buenos Aires, during the Peron era. In 2003, Antonio branched out further and made his first Broadway appearance in “Nine”, a Tony award winning musical.

In 2004, Banderas provided voice for “Shrek 2” and worked on “Far Far Away Idol” (2004). Then came the swashbuckling sequel, “The Legend of Zorro” (2005), with Catherine-Zeta Jones and Anthony Hopkins once again. Banderas has made it clear that he is not interested in making another Zorro movie.

Banderas has incredible talent and acting versatility and an impressive number of films behind him. The quintessential Latino heartthrob, as well as being a talented dramatic actor, is one of Hollywood’s leading men. With “Take the Lead” scheduled for release in 2006, “Shrek 3” in 2007, and “Puss in Boots” in 2008, we can relax in the knowledge that Banderas will not be relaxing, but will be gracing our screens for the foreseeable future. In fact, we may even see him back to his roots, as he has spoken of a desire to dabble once more in the world of theatre.

Banderas has two homes. The one in Los Angeles, is where he and Melanie base themselves for work, and the one in Spain, that they see as their family home, where they escape from the rigours of their busy lives. He is also keen for his daughter, Stella, to absorb both her American and her Spanish roots and to be fluent in English and in Spanish. She therefore travels with her parents between their two homes, enjoying the best of both worlds.

Carey Latimore

this autobiography will be shown on the bioraphy channel on Tue 4th Dec - 8:00PM

Filmography

Puss in BOots

2010

Untitled Fourth Shrek Movie

2010

Sin City 2

2009

My Beautiful Mistake

2008

Memoirs of hadrian

2008

Shrek the Halls

2007

My Mom`s New Boyfriend

2008

Shrek the Third

2007

Bordertown

2006

Take the Lead

2006

The Legend of Zorro

2005

Far Far Away Idol

2004

Shrek 2

2004

Imagining Argentina

2003

And Starring Pancho villa as HImself

2003

Once Upon aTime in Mexico

2003

Spy kids 3-D: Game Over

2003

Ballistic Ecks vs. Sever

2002

Frida

2002

Spy Kids 2: Island of lost Dreams

2002

Femme Fatale

2002

Original Sin

2001

Spy Kids

2001

The Body

2001

Play It to the BOne

1999

The White River Kid

1999

The 13th Warrior

1999

The mask of Zorro

1998

Evita

1996

Two Much

1995

Never Talk to Strangers

1995

Assassins

1995

Four Room

1995

Desperados

1995

Miami Rhapsody

1995

Interview wiht Vampire:

1994

Of love and Shadows

1994

Philadelphia

1993

The House of the Spirits

1993

Dispare!

1993

Giovane Mussolini,It

1993

The Mambo Kings

1992

Mujer bajo la lluvia Una

1992

Terra Nova

1991

Contra el viento

1990

Atame!

1990

Otra historia de Rosendo juarez, La

1990

Acto,el

1989

Blanca Paloma, La

1989

Si te dicen que cai

1989

Bajarse al moro

1989

Baton rouge

1988

Placer de matar El

1988

Mujer de tu vida: La mujer feliz La

1988

Asi como habian sido

1987

Ley del deseo, La

1987

Delirios de amor

1986

27 horas

1986

Puzzle

1986

Matador

1986

Caso cerrado

1985

Corte de faraon La

1985

Requiem por un campesino espanol

1985

Zancos

1984

Fragmentos de interior

1984

Senor Galindez El

1984

Y del seguro libranos senor!

1983

Laberinto de pasiones

1982

Pestanas postizas

1982

Producer:

Camino de los ingleses El 2006

The White River Kid 1999

Director:

Camino de los ingleses El 2006

Crazy in Alabama 1999

Thanks:

Femme fatale: Dream Within a Dream 2003

*this is a unofficial page dedicated to one of my favorite actors*

(c) dawn@itsinmyworld.org

Banderas was born to father, Jose and mother, Ana, a school teacher, during the height of tyrannical Spanish leader, Francisco Franco’s oppressive regime. Banderas has a brother Francisco Javier, eighteen months younger than him, nicknamed ‘Chico’.