Transcript
Antonio Banderas has become one of the greatest leading men in Hollywood, thanks to his breathtaking performances in movies like Philadelphia and The Mask of Zorro.
Born on 10 August 1969 in Málaga, Spain, his birth name was José Antonio Domínguez Bandera. His father, José Domínguez was a police officer and his mother, Ana Bandera Gallego was a school teacher.
During his childhood, he wanted to pursue a career in football, but a foot injury at the age of 14 shattered his dream.
After the injury, he started showing interest in performing arts and joined ARA Theatre-School and College of Dramatic Art in his hometown of Málaga.
While he was performing in theatre, he was noticed by Spanish director, Pedro Almodóvar, who cast him in the 1982 movie, Labyrinth of Passion.
Almodóvar again cast Banderas in his another movie, Law of Desire, where he portrayed a gay man and made headlines.
Their successful collaboration was seen once again in the 1986 movie, Matador.
The duo further delivered internationally acclaimed movies like Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and Time Me Up! Tie Me Down!
His Hollywood debut came with the 1992 movie, The Mambo Kings, where his performance was critically acclaimed.
His role as Miguel Alvarez in the 1993 movie, Philadelphia opposite Hollywood heavy weights, Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, turned out to be a breakthrough for his career.
Banderas then went to appear in critical and financial successes like Desperado, Assassins, and The Mask of Zorro.
Robert Rodriguez who directed Banderas in Desperado cast him again in the movie trilogy, Spy Kids.
His other notable works include Original Sin, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, The Legend of Zorro, Shrek, Machete Kills and many more.
Banderas was married to Anna Leza from 1987 to 1996.
He met actress Melanie Griffith on the set of ‘Too Much’ in 1995, and they got married on 14 May 1996, in London.
The couple has a daughter, Stella del Carmen Bandera, born on 24 September 1996. Stella appeared in Banderas’ directorial debut, Crazy in Alabama.
Banderas and Melanie separated in June 2014 and divorced citing the irreconcilable differences in December 2015.
Banderas is the father of another daughter, Ariely Garcia Banderas, who was born with Sonnia Gomez.
In more than 35 years of his career, Banderas has collected a huge net worth of more than $45 million.
In June 2015, Banderas and Melanie sold their Los Angeles estate at just shy of 16 million dollars.