Antonio Banderas, with his good looks and amiable charm, was born to be a movie star. Hailing from in Spain in 1960, it wasn t long before Banderas became a successful actor in Spanish films, notably in the films of celebrated director, Pedro Almodovar. He moved to the United States with limited English speaking skills and forged a career as a Hollywood star.
The breakthrough movie for Antonio Banderas was The Mambo Kings in 1992. He and Armand Assante play brothers who are Cuban musicians in the 1950s. Arne Glimcher directed and Cathy Moriarty and Desi Arnaz Jr. co-starred. His next film boasted an impressive cast for The House of the Spirits. The romantic drama co-starred Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jeremy Irons, Winona Ryder, and Vanessa Redgrave; Bille August directed. In the same year, Banderas was seen in Philadelphia in 1993, playing the partner of Tom Hanks. The film dealt with the response to the AIDS virus and was very well received. Jonathan Demme directed and Denzel Washington, Jason Robards, and Joanne Woodward co-starred.
A cult horror film followed in 1994, with Interview with the Vampire, directed by Neil Jordan. Antonio Banderas co-starred with Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, Stephen Rea, and Christian Slater. Gaining another role in 1995, Miami Rhapsody was a contrasting comedy with David Frankel casting Banderas alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, Gil Bellows, Mia Farrow, Naomi Campbell, and Jeremy Piven.
In 1995, Richard Donner cast Antonio Banderas in a cat and mouse thriller with Sylvester Stallone, called Assassins. Julianne Moore was in support. When Alan Parker cast the part of Che Guevara to Banderas in his film version of Evita in 1998, it seemed the perfect choice. The adaptation from the stage musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice starred Madonna as Eva Peron. Jimmy Nail and Jonathan Pryce also featured.
Antonio Banderas was then chosen to play the rebel swordsman, Zorro in The Mask of Zorro( 1998). This fun homage to the swashbuckling movies of yesteryear co-starred Catherine Zeta Jones and Anthony Hopkins, with Martin Campbell directeing. Banderas made another lighthearted film with Spy Kids in 2001, directed by Robert Rodriguez. It co-starred Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, Teri Hatcher, and Cheech Marin. The film spawned two sequels.
In contrast, Antonio Banderas was cast in the dramatic, true life tale of the life of the Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo in 2002. Julie Taymor directed Frida and the title role was played by Salma Hayek. Alfred Molina played her artist husband, Diego Rivera. Soon after, in 2003, Banderas was re-united with Salma Hayek and director Robert Rodriguez in the action thriller, Once Upon A Time In Mexico. It featured Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke, Eva Mendes, and Willem Dafoe.
The animated sequel film, Shrek 2 (2004), introduced Antonio Banderas to the regular cast, as the sword wielding cat named Puss In boots. The other characters were voiced by Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Julie Andrews, John Cleese, and Rupert Everett. A third installment to the Shrek movies is planned for release in 2007. Shrek The Third will feature Puss In boots once more, alongside the regulars. New characters are being voiced by Larry King, Ian McShane, Justin Timberlake, and ex-Monty Python Eric Idle.
Antonio Banderas divorced his first wife, actress Ana Leza, to marry actress Melanie Griffith. They went on to have a daughter together. Melanie Griffith had previously been married to Miami Vice star, Don Johnson. Banderas had been stepfather to the actor Alexander Bauer and is stepfather to actress Dakota Johnson.
