Biography of Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas is a global star. The actor, who began acting in Spain, subsequently moved to Hollywood and achieved enormous success there, although he did not stop working in his homeland, proud of his origins. Among the most famous films with his participation: “Desperado”, “Matador”, “Mambo Kings”, “Zorro” and many others.
Spanish actor Antonio Banderas
Childhood
Antonio Banderas was born in Malaga, Spain on August 10, 1960. His full name is Jose Antonio Domínguez Banderas. His mother, Anna, was a school teacher, and his father, José, served in the Spanish Guard. There was another child in the family - the youngest son Francisco Javier.
Antonio Banderas in childhood
The future actor did not particularly like to study and devoted all his free time to football. He thought about becoming a professional player, but a broken leg forced him to look at other options for the future.
Antonio Banderas with his parents and brother
Just then (the year was 1974) Antonio watched the production of “Hair”. Neither he nor his friends were interested in the theater, but a rumor spread throughout the city that actors were going on stage completely naked, and tomboys who had reached puberty could not help but buy a ticket. The play told the story of hippie Claude and glamorous Sheila, whose romance unfolded against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, youth obsession with Buddhist philosophy and soft drugs. Antonio was so shocked by what he saw that he got the idea to try himself on stage.
Antonio Banderas and his younger brother Francisco
Antonio was so shocked by what he saw that he got the idea to try himself on stage. A 14-year-old teenager joined a local theater troupe. Nobody took his obsession with acting seriously. Colleagues only laughed at his enthusiasm, his peers, who were fans of the rhythms of rock and roll, did not understand his new hobby, and his parents perceived his son’s hobby as a childish whim.
Antonio Banderas in his youth
When the theater went on tour, Antonio’s mother hoped that the harsh nomadic life would straighten her son’s mind. Antonio rarely went on stage. Basically, he had to build the scenery, sew clothes for the actors, apply makeup and adjust the lighting. But the hard life of a theater handyman only strengthened his desire to become an actor.
Biography and personal life of Antonio Banderas
The biography and personal life of Antonio Banderas is very interesting and rich. The boy was born in the south of Spain in the city of Malaga, which is currently more like a museum named after Antonio. An ordinary working family, where the father, Jose Dominguez Prieto, was a policeman, catching sea smugglers trying to secretly transport maritime goods, and the mother, Ana Banderas Gallego, is a school teacher.
José was a poor student and was repeated twice, but he was a boy with his own principles and ambitions. Antonio Banderas' brother Francisco Dominguez Banderas played football together, but due to a leg injury, the young man forgets about sports. When Antonio was fourteen years old, the young man was unforgettably impressed by the musical “Hair” in his hometown of Malaga, after which he entered the local acting school, where his first audiences were drunkards and the city police.
At twenty years old, Antonio goes to Madrid with a small sum in his pocket, hoping to conquer the capital. At first, the guy had to work as a laborer in order to somehow survive. But even this did not stop him from moving closer to his dream.
First steps to success
At the age of 16, Antonio took the next step - he entered the National School of Dramatic Art of Malaga, from which he graduated four years later, after which he set off to conquer the capital. In those years, Spain, having gotten rid of dictator Franco Francisco (he died in 1975), was experiencing a cultural renaissance (the so-called “La Movida”, which translates as “the movement”). Young creators, including theater directors and actors, were given freedom of expression.
At the age of 20, Antonio Banderas set out to conquer Madrid
Banderas successfully fit into this trend, taking part in bold experimental performances, while simultaneously working as a waiter or a loader to make ends meet, until he was officially accepted into the troupe of the National Theater. For the next six years he played on its stage, agreeing to any role, be it classic or “controversial”, like characters in Bertolt Brecht’s plays.
Childhood of Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas was born on August 10, 1960 in a small Spanish town into an ordinary Catholic family. His father worked as a police commissioner, and his mother was a teacher at a local school.
As a child, Antonio dreamed of a football career, but fate decreed otherwise; at the age of 14, the boy received a serious injury, after which he had to forget about a serious career as a football player. The dreams of young Banderas moved into the world of cinema. He entered the local school of dramatic arts, and at the age of 19 he set off to conquer Madrid.
Meet Pedro Almodóvar
In 1982, a strange, very shabby-looking man approached Banderas backstage and with a crazy look asked Antonio if he wanted to star in his film about, as he put it, “a gang of criminals.” Banderas thought to himself, “He's either crazy or a genius,” and agreed.
Pedro Almodóvar brought Banderas to the movies
Pedro Almodóvar, with his free-spirited views, was the brightest representative of La Movida. His film touched on topics that no one had ever dared to tackle in Spanish cinema: a Muslim homosexual, and also a royal personage, in love with a nymphomaniac with the purest and most selfless love... Banderas in this shocking, but at the same time glorifying bright feelings film got the role of an Islamic radical in love with the above-mentioned prince.
Antonio Banderas in the movie "Labyrinth of Passions"
This collaboration gave rise to a fruitful creative union and friendship between Banderas and Almodóvar. Subsequently, the actor and director met on the set seven more times.
The actor and director released 8 joint films
The next meeting took place in 1986, during the filming of the drama “Matador”, in which Antonio Banderas played his first leading role - young Angel, the son of a religious fanatic, who dreams of taming bulls more than anything else. Viewers are introduced to the actor's role, which they will see again: a simple-minded guy, a little stupid, insecure and a little arrogant, but adored by those around him, and especially by women.
Still from the film "Matador"
In the same year, Almodóvar released the film “The Law of Desire,” his first truly serious melodrama. Young Banderas, at the peak of his sexuality, took on the role of one of the three peaks of the gay love triangle.
Young Antonio Banderas in the movie "Matador"
The 1988 film Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown was honored to open the Cannes Film Festival program. Banderas appeared before the audience in such an unusual role that he became a national hero.
Still from the film “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown”
In 1989, the last joint work of Banderas and Almodovar for the next 20-plus years was released - the melodrama Tie Me Down. An infantile mental hospital patient, played by Antonio, kidnaps an actress he knows, holds her captive, and soon the hostage falls in love with her captor.
Antonio Banderas in the movie Tie Me Down
The tandem reunited the next time only in 2011, with the thriller “The Skin I Live In” nominated for the Cannes Golden Bough.
Career in Hollywood
In 1992, Antonio Banderas had the chance to conquer Hollywood. Arn Glimcher, an American film director, decided to film the novel “The Mambo Kings Sing Love Songs” by Oscar Hijuelos, and invited the Spaniard to play one of two Cuban musician brothers. Banderas spent a long time studying with an English tutor to improve his pronunciation, and then spent six months filming, which took place in America. After six months, the actor realized that he had fallen in love with this country and wanted to continue his career here.
Antonio Banderas in the movie "Mambo Kings"
Before this, Banderas was practically unknown in the States. After “The Mambo Kings,” even though the film did not live up to the expectations placed on it, American directors became interested in the Spanish actor.
Even before the start of distribution, Antonio agreed to star in “House of the Spirits” (1993) with Meryl Streep and Glenn Close, as well as in “Philadelphia” - a bold and progressive film for its time. In the latter, Banderas got the role of the lover of Tom Hanks' character, terminally ill with AIDS. Banderas was true to himself when agreeing to filming: the project raised the hitherto forbidden topic of homosexuality in cinema and unequivocally condemned homophobia
Antonio Banderas and Tom Hanks on the set of Philadelphia
Next, the Spaniard reincarnated as a ghoul in Interview with the Vampire (1994). The film brought together on the set all the male sex symbols of that time: Antonio Banderas, Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise.
Antonio Banderas in the movie Interview with the Vampire
The film “Desperado” (1995) by Robert Rodriguez only allowed him to strengthen his macho image, after which he received filming offers from three directors at once. While working on one of these three films (Two is Too Much), Banderas met his future wife Melanie Griffith. The actress was married to Don Johnson, and Banderas claims that at that moment their relationship was exclusively platonic. Antonio Banderas sings a song in the film Desperado A meeting with Melanie made the actor think about purchasing a mansion in Los Angeles. Before this, he had refused on principle to buy a house, because he considered himself, first and foremost, a citizen of Spain. But when he married Griffith in the fall of 1996, he found not only a new love, but also a new home.
Antonio Banderas in his youth
Antonio's filmography grew rapidly: every year it was replenished with at least several films. He didn’t try to be successful only on the basis of his appearance, so he chose roles that were different from each other, trying on new images. The musical “Evita” (1996), the adventure film “The Mask of Zorro” (1998), the dramatic action movie “The 13th Warrior” (1999) are confirmation of the actor’s desire to change and progress.
Antonio Banderas in the movie "The Mask of Zorro"
In 2000, Robert Rodriguez assembled a team of actors, wanting to get a little wild in Spy Kids. The success of the film allowed it to grow into a trilogy, and Banderas was a constant and full-fledged part of the project. Antonio also agreed to direct Angelina Jolie (2001), a twisted and intriguing drama that depicts the anatomy of relationships in great detail. “Frida” (2002) with Salma Hayek in the role of the famous artist was also emotional, and Banderas could not refuse such a biopic.
Antonio Banderas in the movie "Temptation"
Two years later, the actor joined the already famous dubbing team and voiced Puss in Boots in Shrek 2 (2004). Next, as if by irony, he played in “The Legend of Zorro” (2005), portraying the image of a skilled and charming swordsman.
Gradually, the number of “A” class films with Antonio’s participation decreased, however, more modest films sometimes “shot out.”
Antonio Banderas voiced the cat in the cartoon about Shrek
In 2011, Almodovar decided that he had not invited a friend to work together for a long time. They made The Skin I Live In (2011), a psychological thriller about relationships and place, and again received a standing ovation. Rodriguez also remembered an old acquaintance - this is how the actor got into “Machete Kills” (2013), and a little later he joined the cast of stars of the 80s and 90s in the cult action film “The Expendables 3” (2014).
Still from the film “Machete Kills”
Business
In addition to his acting career, Banderas consistently invests the money he earns in various projects: from winemaking to the fashion industry. He owns vineyards in Spain, and the wine produced there is partially released under the name of the actor.
Antonio Banderas produces wine
Banderas has repeatedly acted as the face of global brands, including Viceroy and Orbit. He also produced his own perfume, with help from him. The Antonio Banderas brand has not lost its popularity since then and constantly presents new products for both men and women.
Antonio Banderas Blue Eau de Toilette
In 2020, together with Selected, he presented a men's clothing line, and the actor was personally responsible for the design.
The actor launched his own clothing line
On the advice of a girl he knew who knew finances and profitable investments, Antonio bought the El Pimpi restaurant in his native Malaga. Antonio Banderas dances tango in the film “Keep the Rhythm.” Banderas sings beautifully, and he performs vocal parts in films himself. Now Antonio not only gives concerts, but also has experience performing at iconic events. So, in 2005, he presented a song from the film “Che Guevara: The Motorcycle Diaries” (2004) at the Oscars. He was accompanied by guitarist Carlos Santana.
Personal life of Antonio Banderas
Possessing a bright appearance and a hot temperament, Banderas never lacked female attention.
But even before his name became synonymous with male sexuality throughout the world, Antonio tied the knot. Back in 1987, the actor married Spanish actress Ana Lesa. He first saw her in a restaurant near the theater where he worked, and fell in love at first sight. Their romance lasted nine months, during which Antonio behaved like a boy in love: he gave flowers, wrote poetry, sang serenades. In 1988, the wedding took place, the actor’s parents accepted their daughter-in-law as their own daughter.
Antonio Banderas and his first wife Ana Lesa
In the late 1980s, Banderas became the love interest of singer Madonna without even knowing it. When the pop queen invited him to the premiere of a film with her participation and Antonio came arm in arm with Ana, Madonna locked herself in the room shouting: “Disaster!” When the documentary “In Bed with Madonna” was released in 1991, in which she confessed her feelings for Banderas, he said that he was flattered by her interest, but he had a wife and was happy with her.
Madonna was in love with Banderas
Five years later, Madonna and Antonio Banderas met on the set of the film Evita. Her feelings did not disappear, but she had already missed the chance for happiness together - in 1995, on the set of the film “Two is Too,” Antonio met a woman who managed to outshine Ana, actress Melanie Griffith.
Still from the film “Two is Too Much”
Both were not free, Melanie was married to actor Don Johnson and raised children. Antonio was married, but recently he felt that the relationship had cooled, because his wife preferred to live in Spain, and he had to rush between work and home.
After filming “Two is Too,” former colleagues called each other, sometimes met, and in one of these meetings Banderas realized that he had fallen in love again. Being an open person, he did not want to intrigue behind his wife’s back and appeared at a social event with Melanie.
Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith in their youth
Ana urgently flew to the States and in the middle of the night came home to her husband, who at that time was sleeping with Melanie. She begged him not to make a mistake, asked him not to cross out all the years of marriage, but in vain. She heard nothing but aggression due to a visit at an inopportune time.
Ana followed the principle and declared that she would not give a divorce. At this time, Antonio decided to go to Spain with Melanie to introduce her to his parents. The press in his home country poured countless buckets of dirt on his new lover, portraying Griffith as a bitchy homewrecker and Ana as a hapless victim. In addition, the potential fathers-in-law spoke to Melanie with such coldness in their voices that their son’s instinct for contradiction turned on. He was determined that he would stay with Melanie.
Antonio Banderas and his second wife
The wedding of Melanie and Antonio took place in 1996, at the same time there was an addition to the family: their daughter Stella del Carmen was born.
Daughter of Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith
The marriage of Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith lasted 18 years. They were called Hollywood's ideal couple. The actor became friends with Dakota Johnson, Melanie's daughter from a previous marriage.
Antonio Banderas is the stepfather of Dakota Johnson, star of “50 Shades of Gray”
In 2014, Melanie filed for divorce due to her husband’s infidelity with actress Natalie Byrne, with whom Antonio starred in the action movie The Expendables 3. Subsequently, Natalie made comments to the press, saying that she had no relationship with Banderas, and Melanie herself destroyed their marriage with groundless jealousy.
Antonio Banderas with his wife and children
Since that moment, rumors about Banderas' supposed new lovers have constantly appeared in the press. As soon as he appears in the company of a woman, the media immediately makes a bold assumption. So, even Sharon Stone once had to give a comment to journalists after the journalists wrote her down as Antonio’s partner. The actress is friends with both Griffith and Banderas, so she hastened to issue a refutation in order to prevent conflict.
Antonio Banderas and Natalie Byrne
Antonio did not stay among the free men for long. In 2015, he met financier Nicole Kempel and achieved reciprocity. The new lover is 21 years younger than the actor, but they claim that they do not pay attention to the age difference at all. The couple is not going to formalize the relationship. According to Banderas, there is no need for this: they already feel married.
Two is too much: the women of Antonio Banderas
In 1988, Almodóvar's film Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, another collaboration with Banderas, was nominated for an Oscar. The ceremony took place, as expected, in Los Angeles. The young Spaniard wandered among Hollywood stars, understanding little in the literal sense either (his English, which Antonio thought was quite up to par, turned out to be almost zero in America). A woman walked by “in a cream dress with a string of pearls,” as he would later say. “Who is this?” Banderas asked Almodóvar. "Melanie Griffith."
Seven years later, they both will meet again, on the set of the melodrama “Two is Too Much.” It was love at first sight, but since both Banderas and Griffith were not free (Melanie remarried Don Johnson in 1989), they tried to avoid an affair.
“We just thought it was nothing more than a hobby. This happens when actors play a couple and something flares up between them while they are working together. We told ourselves: we play love in front of the cameras, and that’s it, then we each go to our own homes,” said Antonio. They couldn’t restrain themselves, especially since both of their marriages were heading towards the end at that moment.
Banderas and Griffith hid their relationship for some time, and then began to appear together in public. I had to endure a difficult explanation with Ana Lesa, who at first begged not to leave, and ended up hitting her husband on the head with a bottle.
In May 1996, a month after the divorce was finalized, Banderas and Melanie Griffith got married in London. The ceremony was modest; by that time the bride was four months pregnant. The couple first settled in Spain, but then moved to Los Angeles, where Antonio filmed non-stop.
Their union, which at first surprised many (she is older than him, with a difficult past, drugs and scandals, he is a rising star with a lot of temptations ahead), lasted eighteen years. Banderas and Griffith did not wash dirty linen in public; nothing was known about the couple’s discord and problems. There were rumors that he did not like her passion for plastic surgery, but nothing more. There was some talk about Melanie's jealousy, but it seems that Antonio really didn't give a reason.
Thunder struck in June when Griffith filed for divorce. The documents indicated, as expected, “irreconcilable contradictions.” The tabloids wrote that it had to do with Banderas’ affair with his Expendables 3 partner Natalie Byrne, and then with the same plastic surgeries that Melanie couldn’t get enough of. In any case, the couple separated, Griffith defiantly covers Antonio's tattoo on his shoulder with long sleeves, and demands custody of his daughter (who, in fact, will turn 18 in September and will no longer need custody). Banderas is nobly silent: he has long succeeded in the ability to hide his personal life from the public.
Antonio Banderas now
Shortly before the start of filming the series “Genius” (2017), Banderas suffered a heart attack. Everything turned out okay, but he reconsidered his approach to daily activities and habits: he quit smoking, completely gave up alcohol, took up yoga and regular jogging.
Antonio Banderas as Pablo Picasso in the series "Genius"
In 2020, the Russian film “Beyond Reality” with the participation of Antonio was released. Since the actor takes on many roles, his schedule is scheduled several years in advance. One of the most anticipated on this list is Pedro Almodovar's Pain and Glory (2019), starring Antonio's girlfriend and the director's favorite actress Penelope Cruz. Antonio Banderas in the film “Beyond Reality” In 2019, Pedro Almodovar’s new film “Pain and Glory” was released, where the main role was once again played by the already middle-aged, but still attractive Antonio Banderas. The film turned out to be largely autobiographical; Banderas' hero is an elderly director who has exhausted all his ideas and is now reflecting on the past. For this work, the jury of the Cannes Film Festival awarded Banderas the award in the category “Best Actor”.
Still from the film “Pain and Glory” (2019)
Films with Antonio Banderas
Banderas first appeared on the big screen in 1982 in Pedro Almodovar's film Labyrinth of Passions. The director highly appreciated Antonio's acting talent and later repeatedly invited him to play the main roles in his films. After Labyrinth, Banderas starred in many Spanish films, including Stilts (1984), Señor Galindes (1984), Requiem for a Spanish Peasant (1985), 27 Hours (1986). In 1986-1987, Antonio again collaborated with Pedro Almodóvar, starring in the films “Matador” and “The Law of Desire,” a role in which brought him his first fame and made him desirable to millions of women around the world. Pedro's next works were the films "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" (1988) and "Tie Me Up!" further cemented Antonio's reputation as a brilliant, multifaceted actor and attracted the attention of Hollywood directors to him.
Banderas' Hollywood career began with the drama Philadelphia (1993), starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. A year later, he played a minor role in the cult film adaptation of Anne Rice's novel Interview with the Vampire, and his colleagues on the set were Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. Another striking project in his filmography was the black comedy “Four Rooms” (1995). Antonio also took part in the filming of low-budget films such as Desperado (1995) and Hitmen (1995), directed by Robert Rodriguez. In 1996, he starred alongside Madonna in the film adaptation of the musical Evita.
Antonio Banderas - "Zorro"
Many viewers know Anthony Banderas thanks to his character Zorro. He first tried on this image in 1998 in the film “The Mask of Zorro”, becoming the first Spanish-speaking actor to play this hero. In 2005, the sequel to the film “The Legend of Zorro” was released, where Catherine Zeta-Jones became Antonio’s partner.
Antonio Banderas - "Spy Kids"
Another famous project with the actor’s participation is the Spy Kids trilogy by Robert Rodriguez, where Antonio plays the father of the main characters, a former secret agent. The first film in the series was released in 2001 and was a huge success; sequels followed in 2002 and 2003 and also grossed big money.
The early 2000s also brought Banderas roles in popular Hollywood films such as The Body (2001), Femme Fatale (2002), Frida (2003), Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) and Dreaming of Argentina "(2003).
In 2011, after a long break, Banderas again collaborated with Pedro Almodóvar in the psychological thriller The Skin I Live In. In 2012, the actor played in the romantic film Ruby Sparks, and in 2013 in the Pedro Almodovar comedy I'm Very Horny and the sequel to the action film Machete directed by Robert Rodriguez called Machete Kills, where you can see such celebrities as Danny Trajo, Michelle Rodriguez, Charlie Sheen, Jessica Alba, Mel Gibson and Lady Gaga. In 2013, Antonio was part of the main cast of the action film The Expendables 3 (2013), which also starred Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jackie Chan, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li, Wesley Snipes and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The actor can also be seen in the films “The Insurer” (2014), “Knight of Cups” (2015) and “Altamira” (2016).
In 2020, Banderas appeared as a reclusive writer in the thriller Black Butterfly, played a combat veteran in the action-packed action film The Security Guard, and also played the role of Gordon in the Russian adventure fantasy film Beyond Reality.
