A man of many talents, Antonio Banderas conquered not only his native Spain, but also Hollywood. He proved to be an extremely gifted person in many areas – music, singing, cinema and more. That is what turned him into the idol of millions of people who are trying in every way to be like him, copying his inimitable style. However, Banderas’ signature charm is his natural gift, and this is what makes him such an interesting person.
The real surname is Antonio – Prieto. Bandera is his mother’s maiden name, and he used it as a pseudonym, adding the letter “c” at the end. And his name is not Antonio at all, but Jose. The first time he used the pseudonym “Antonio Abascal”. In childhood, the future star dreamed of becoming a football player, like many other Spanish boys. Football in Spain is generally very popular. The desire to become an actor captured Antonio Banderas after he saw the musical “Hair” at the age of 16.
He first appeared on the screen back in 1982, playing a role in the Spanish film “Labyrinth of Passion”. At one time he traveled around Spain with his own theater, which he himself founded. The conquest of Hollywood, Antonio Banderas began not with a movie, but with advertising. He advertised jeans. Having moved to the USA, he did not know a word of English. The role for his first foreign film, he learned by heart, because he did not understand what he says. Loud fame came to Banderas after the movie “Interview with the Vampire.” Antonio Banderas is a real shark of the film industry. He and removed, and voiced cartoons, and also acts as a producer and director.
The actor is pretty unsociable. At the elite ski resort of Aspen, in the United States, Colorado, he immediately bought two nearby houses to ensure that he had no neighbors. The children of Antonio Banderas, at school, did not tell anyone who their dad was. Therefore, his daughter’s classmates were initially amazed to see a Hollywood celebrity at the prom. The actor is passionate about winemaking. To this end, he even acquired respectable vineyards in his native country. Antonio Banderas is actively involved in charity work and is the UN Goodwill Ambassador.
Using his popularity, he produces his own line of perfumes. Very successful commercially, by the way. In 2000, Banderas received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. At the dawn of his career, Banderas was sometimes considered gay. The actor himself laughs at these rumors. Banderas’ parents, like most Spaniards, are Catholics. Banderas calls himself an agnostic. The actor fell in love with his future wife, Mellani Griffith, six years before their first meeting, when he saw her on the screen in the movie “Wild Thing.” Antonio Banderas is 175 centimeters tall, but he wants to look taller, so he prefers to wear boots with heels.
