Antonio Banderas

Spanish actor who was well established as a leading man of Spanish films when he gained international attention with roles in Pedro Almodovar's "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown," 1988, and "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!" 1990. After six years apprenticeship in Spain's National Theater, one night in 1982 after a performance, the wild, unkempt underground director, Almodovar, went to Banderas' dressing room to ask if he wanted to make a movie. Banderas was not sure if the man was a genius or crazy, but he went with the moment, and began a ten-year collaboration that made them both international stars. It was his unabashed willingness to throw himself totally into the situation and the role that attracted the attention of other directors and Banderas began to work steadily in theater and films, living the life he had dreamed of. By 1985 he had appeared in 43 movies. Not only was his career moving steadily ahead but he had a great romantic life with zest and variety, until he met The One, Ana Leza, a fellow actor trying to make her way in Madrid. Their courtship was whirlwind and impassioned; nine months later they were married in Madrid. When "Women on the Edge" earned a 1988 Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film, Almodovar and Banderas attended the Oscar ceremonies in Los Angeles. At that time, Banderas was introduced to an actress he'd seen in "Working Girl," Melanie Griffith. He was further introduced to Americans by Madonna's rockumentary, "Truth or Dare," when she wrote that Antonio Banderas was the one man she'd most like to go to bed with. It was a joke - but also great hype. When he was approached for the U.S. film "The Mambo Kings," he knew no English, so prior to his screen test, worked with a voice coach learning the lines phonically. During the six months shooting, he fell in love with America; the film was released in 1992. In 1993 he played Tom Hank's fiercely protective lover in "Philadelphia," followed by "Interview With the Vampire." He was getting a firm handle on his goal of becoming the first leading man from Spain to star in Hollywood. Banderas drifted further from his life in Spain, including his wife, Ana. Where she had been at his side through his early travels and challenges, she began to make her own life in her own country, which she preferred. By now, Banderas was working in back-to-back films in quick succession, Latin adventures with flamenco and bullfighting, romances, action-hero roles, such as "Desperado," and "Never Talk to Strangers." He also made a romantic comedy with Melanie Griffith, "Two Much." It started out simply, a platonic getting acquainted as they filmed in Miami. Both Don Johnson and Ana Leza joined their respective spouses on the set. Banderas swears that he and Griffith both respected their marriages and that nothing happened between them at that time. However their attraction beckoned and they began calling each other and talking for hours. When they next saw each other they realized that they were in love. After ducking the rumor mill for months, in June 1995 they first appeared together as a public item, all over each other with demonstrative kissing and touching. The tabloids had a field day. Griffith was recently separated from her husband and had uprooted her kids and Banderas was a man without a home, wife or country. Ana traveled to America to confront him and beg for their marriage, his family was mortified by his dishonorable conduct, and the whole situation escalated into a drama that was painful in widening circles. In the Spanish papers, Griffith was called a whore and a home wrecker and Banderas as lust-crazed. All the opposition made them more determined to be together. They spent much of late 1995 in North Carolina where Griffith was filming "Lolita." Banderas and Griffith married on 5/14/1996 in London; their daughter, Stella, was born on 9/23/1996 in Spain. In 1997, he appeared with Madonna in "Evita." Funny and loquacious, he has a brooding sensuality. He can not only be a swashbuckling hero, but a gentle lover, a romance idol. In 1998, "Zorro" was released to a top box-office greeting from his American public. In the fall of 1999, Banderas made his directorial debut with "Crazy in Alabama," a drama that included his wife, Melanie, and their daughter Stella. This was followed by "Play It To The Bone" in which he dukes it out with Woody Harrelson. Some of the action became a little too real, leaving Banderas with a fractured nose. Link to Wikipedia biography