Pedro Almodóvar has been left speechless after some statements Antonio Banderas made some time ago have resurfaced. In them, the Málaga-born actor speaks openly about the bond he keeps with this well-known film director.
There is no doubt that, today, Banderas has become one of the most internationally recognized Spanish actors. With more than one hundred films under his belt, his career ranges from independent cinema to major Hollywood productions.
However, the beginnings of the Málaga-born actor were much more modest. In fact, he started on the theater stage, where he already stood out, even though he had not yet made the leap to the big screen.
But his luck changed in 1984, when he crossed paths for the first time with Pedro Almodóvar in Calzada de Calatrava, Ciudad Real, as he was leaving a theater performance.
In that first encounter, the young director from La Mancha made an observation to Antonio Banderas that would be key to his destiny: "You have a very romantic face. You should do film someday."
Soon after, Pedro Almodóvar contacted him to offer him his first leading role in his second film, Laberinto de pasiones. That project marked the beginning of an intense and fruitful professional relationship between the two.
Since then, together they formed one of the most influential duos in Spanish cinema. In fact, during the eighties, they worked side by side on iconic titles such as Matador, La ley del deseo, Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios, and Átame.
That period marked the rise of both as central figures in the film industry of our country, but everything changed when Antonio Banderas began his career in Hollywood. However, the Málaga-born actor has always had fond memories of Pedro Almodóvar.
Antonio Banderas revealed in an interview what it was like to work alongside Pedro Almodóvar
Years later, during the promotion of The Legend of Zorro, his co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones asked Antonio Banderas about his career. At that moment, the actor did not hesitate to express gratitude for his journey, but he highlighted the essential role Pedro Almodóvar played in his beginnings.
"I had a great time working with Pedro on the five films we made in the 80s." However, the Málaga-born actor also valued the opportunities Hollywood offered him, where he expanded his artistic repertoire.
"America gave me the chance to do horror films, musicals, social films, children's films, independent films, political films," Antonio Banderas recalled. That variety was key in his consolidation as a global actor.
Despite their success apart, Antonio Banderas and Pedro Almodóvar did not work together again until 22 years later. That reunion happened with La piel que habito, a film that marked a new stage in their relationship.
Later, Dolor y gloria arrived, where Banderas played a character directly inspired by Almodóvar himself. That role earned him an Oscar nomination, further consolidating his international prestige.
However, his relationship with the director from La Mancha was not always simple. Especially, the moment when Antonio Banderas decided to make the leap to Hollywood just as they were about to start filming Tacones lejanos.
Although he went personally to Pedro Almodóvar's house to tell him his decision, the director interpreted it as a betrayal, since he felt he had been his discoverer and main supporter.
The professional reunion took time, and when it happened, both acknowledged that it was not easy to adapt to each other again. But, despite those differences, time and mutual respect have allowed two pillars of Spanish culture to keep their relationship.