Antonio Banderas' birthday
Antonio Banderas has graced cinema screens for decades. With iconic roles such as El Mariachi, Armand the Vampire, and, of course, Puss in Boots, Banderas has cemented himself as a born entertainer and true star of Hollywood.
A Rising Hispanic Star
Given his many roles in Mexican cinema, it’s easy to assume that Antonio is from there, but that would be a mistake. Antonio was born in the stunning seaside town of Malaga in Spain on August 10th, 1960. Banderas shot to fame working with Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar on a few of his films. These roles caught the eye of none other than the queen of pop, Madonna, who cast him in her Truth or Dare show. From there, Banderas went on to star in notable movies such as, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico.
Antonio’s Notable Awards
Antonio has been nominated for many prestigious awards in the entertainment industry. However, he is yet to win from the likes of the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and Emmys. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been recognized for his outstanding acting work, though. In 2003 Antonio received a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for ‘Nine’. Then in 2019, he also won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor in Pain and Glory.
These are indeed awards to be proud of, even if they are late in his career after not winning for some of his best performances. But Antonio is still relatively young and healthy, so time will tell.
Not the Ladies’ Man You Would Expect
Outside of his movie career, Banderas is known as an iconic sex symbol and desirable man. But unlike most Hollywood hunks, he has had very little in the way of relationships. He married actress Menaline Griffith in 1996, and the couple stayed together until their divorce in 2015. Throughout their time, the couple were a force in philanthropic and charity work and remain close to this day. Today, Banderas is in a relationship with Dutch banker Nicole Kemper.
Life Outside Cinema
Like many Hollywood actors, Antonio doesn’t hang his hat after leaving the set. Further to his philanthropic work, he actively works in support of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party and isn’t scared to raise his voice when necessary. In 2013, he urged democratic countries to nationalize energy resources. And 2015 saw him raise $31 million for Israeli soldiers. Away from the action, the actor also owns a 50% stake in a very successful winery.
Health and Work
Antonio Banderas is a hard working actor and has had some challenging and physically demanding roles. Yet despite a mild heart attack and surgery in 2017, he hasn’t been put off working. In fact, he has worked more. The past few years have seen Antonio take on even more iconic roles, although he generally doesn’t appear as a leading man.
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