Antonio Banderas, Actor and Musican
Posted on 18. May, 2009 by Mike Olaski in Actor, Men
José Antonio Domínguez Banderas, or Antonio Banderas as he is more commonly called, is one of Spain’s most famous actors. Antonio Banderas has starred in countless films, TV shows, and has even produced his own music. One interesting fact about Antonio Banderas is that he appears any many things that you wouldn’t even notice in him – mainly because Antonio Banderas does voiceover work. Antonio Banderas is now a popular actor in the US, but originally he started his career in Spain. Antonio Banderas was for quite some time one of Spain’s top celebrities, until he finally came over to America.
Antonio Banderas’ Career in Spain
Antonio Banderas was born in August of 1960 in Spain. However, Banderas did not start his acting career until the age of 19. He started working with a somewhat well-known director, Pedro Almodóvar. He worked with Almódovar on several films, all of which were filmed in Spanish. Antonio Banderas never saw much success until he moved to the States and began his
Hollywood career.
Antonio Banderas in the States
Soon after his arrival in the United States, Banderas was contracted to do several films, the most famous of which are Philadelphia, Desperado, and the Mask of Zorro (see the Antonio Banderas Filmography for more). Antonio Banderas changed a lot in his transition to American cinema, but he still maintained much of his Spanish culture, which came out in most of his movies. Banderas is known for his thick accent and fiercely good looks, and is quite popular among females. However, unlike many actors and actresses, Antonio Banderas did not rely on his looks alone to land him roles. In fact, he relied more on his acting skills and, strangely enough, his voice – which leads me to my next point…
Antonio Banderas in Animated Films
Unlike most Hollywood actors, Antonio Banderas landed several roles because of his voice alone. His thick rich accent makes him perfect for voice-over work. His most famous voice over work would most likely be from the Shrek series. Banderas starred as the adorable yet dangerous “Puss in Boots”. His voice fit the role perfectly, and his character added much to the films.
Antonio Banderas is also well-known for his work on several television commercials. Nasonex, a nasal decongestant company, hired Banderas to do the voice work for their commercials. He played the part of an animated bee, and again – the voice fit perfectly. While commercials are not generally thought of as “career boosters”, the Nasonex commercials actually helped popularize Banderas. Antonio Banderas has one of those voices that is simply unmistakable. The minute you hear his voice, you KNOW it is him – which is more than can be said for the majority of actors out there.
Does Antonio Banderas have the skills to match his fame?
Antonio Banderas is a great actor, and has the record to prove it. He played a supporting role in the Oscar award-winning film Philadelphia, and he himself has won several awards. What do you think of Antonio Banderas? Do you think he is worthy of his current level of fame?
