Antonio Banderas is a Spanish film director, actor, producer, and singer with a net worth of US$50 million. He is maybe most known for his appearances in Spanish language films directed by Pedro Almodovar, and for several hit Hollywood films like “Philadelphia”, “Interview with the Vampire”, and “The Mask of Zorro”.
Born on August 10, 1960, as José Antonio Domínguez Banderas, in Málaga, Andalucia, Spain, he longed to be a professional football player before he became a famous Hollywood star. Nonetheless, his childhood dreams got shattered by a broken foot. He took some drama classes and eventually he joined a theater troupe and toured across the whole of Spain.
Antonio Banderas Career
After several early projects, Banderas caught the Attention of renowned Spanish director Pedro Almodovar. Almodóvar is credited for jumpstarting Antonio Banderas’ career, after he cast him in his 1982 film debut “Labyrinth of Passion” and, in 1987, “Law of Desire”, which made lots of headlines with his performance as a gay man, making him engage in his first male-male onscreen kiss. In 1986, Banderas appeared in Almodovar’s “Matador.”
Eventually, Antonio Banderas gained international attention as a love-struck kidnapper in Almodóvar’s controversial yet intriguing comedy “Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!” released in 1990. This controversial role helped spur him majorly into Hollywood.
He made more exposition to American audiences as the object of Madonna’s lust in her renowned documentary “Truth or Dare” in 1991. Although at the time he was not speaking much English, Banderas got his Hollywood acting debut in the hit drama “The Mambo Kings” (1992).
With his appeal to mainstream American audiences as Tom Hanks’ devoted lover in the Academy Award-winning AIDS drama show “Philadelphia” in 1993, he got the opportunity to prove that he was more than just a pretty face. After that wide recognition, he got a role in the high-profile adaptation of “Interview with The Vampire” working alongside Brad Pitt.
Already gaining popularity and in high demand, Antonio Banderas featured as an action hero in hits like “Assassins” in 1995 and Robert Rodriguez’s action film, “Desperado” that same year. He starred alongside Madonna in 1996’s “Evita” in one of his iconic roles.
Banderas gained more recognition as the titular swordsman in the popular “The Mask of Zorro” (1998) opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones. A year later, he starred in “The 13th Warrior.” While he was at the peak of his acting career, he went into directing with “Crazy in Alabama” (1999), a comedy-drama that featured his ex-wife Melanie Griffith.
In 2001, he starred in ‘Original Sin’ with Angelina Jolie and in 2002 he played lead roles in “Femme Fatale” and “Frida.” In 2003, he went into musicals to great acclaim in the Broadway revival of ‘nine.’
Banderas also starred in many family features, like the hit animation Shrek 2 (2004), as well as its sequels, and Rodriguez’s popular Spy Kids (2001) franchise. Notably, he reprised his role of Zorro in 2005 in “The Legend of Zorro.” In 2006, he took the lead role in “Take the Lead” and directed a second film “El Camino de Los Ingleses.”
After a 20-year hiatus, he reunited with Almodóvar for the psychological thriller film The Skin I Live In (2011), delivering a master class in what some call his strongest work to date.
In 2018 he featured with Penelope Cruz in the Spanish film “Pain and Glory,” a project that reunited him with Pedro Almodovar. As expected, he won Best Actor at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival for his incredible work and was later nominated for an Oscar for the film.
In March 2020, it was said that he was cast in the film “Uncharted.” Gifted, charismatic, and handsome, Antonio Banderas is considered one of the best leading actors in Hollywood. He got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.
Other Ventures
Away from his acting career, Banderas is actively involved in the business world. Notably, he owns half of a winery in Burgos, Spain called Anta Banderas. Furthermore, he is a veteran of the perfume sector, working with the fragrance and beauty company Puig for more than ten years. Banderas and Puig have successfully promoted multiple fragrances and in 2007 Antonio Banderas introduced his lines Blue Seduction for Women and Blue Seduction for Men.
Real Estate
After Antonio Banderas divorced Melanie, he sold the family’s long-time LA home for $16 million. The couple listed their Aspen retreat for $10 million but found no buyer and decided to rent it for $65,000 monthly. Eventually, they accepted $4 million for the Aspen house.
In 2014, Antonio Bandera paid Melanie $4 million to buy out her share of their New York City home. He then listed the apartment for sale in 2018 for $8 million. Banderas owns a home in his Spanish hometown, and some property in Surrey, England.
He earned $4 million for 1996’s Evita, and $12 million for 2001’s The Body.