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1[[quoteright:325:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/antonio-banderas.jpg]]
2[[caption-width-right:325:''[-[[Series/SaturdayNightLive Hello. I am Antonio........y Banderas. I am actor]].-]'']]
3->''"I think movies serve many different purposes, from those movies that are frivolous and just an entertainment, to movies that just go to exploring the complexities of the human soul. Everything is valid if it's done with honesty and dignity, and I actually do both of those types of movies in my career."''
4
5Want a real life example of a DashingHispanic? Antonio Banderas (born José Antonio Domínguez Bandera on August 10, 1960 in Malaga, UsefulNotes/{{Spain}}) is your man.
6
7He began his acting career at age 19 with a series of films by acclaimed director Creator/PedroAlmodovar, and later became internationally well-known for playing Literature/{{Zorro}} in ''Film/TheMaskOfZorro'' and its sequel ''Film/TheLegendOfZorro'', the first Spaniard to play the Spanish Californian hero. Kids are more likely to remember him as [[Characters/ShrekPussInBoots Puss in Boots]] in ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'' (effectively Zorro [[AdamWesting as a cat]]) and Gregorio Cortez in ''Film/SpyKids''.
8
9He is notably less typecast in Spain, where he is considered a very versatile leading man thanks to that stint under Almodóvar. He's really beloved in his country for being the most internationally recognized Spaniard actor during the 90s, and helped to open the way to Hollywood for other of his countrymen like Creator/PenelopeCruz and Creator/JavierBardem (both of which are good friends with him).
10
11And he sings. Beautifully. And plays guitar. [[JackOfAllTrades And dances a mean tango]].
12----
13!!The... how do you say? Ah, yes -- roles:
14* ''Film/{{Matador}}'' (1986) as Ángel, a fragile young man who takes the blame for crimes that he did not commit.
15* ''Film/WomenOnTheVergeOfANervousBreakdown'' (1988) as Carlos. His most interesting role under Almodóvar. In a role directly contrary to his Hollywood typecasting as a DashingHispanic or badass, he plays a milquetoast [[HenpeckedHusband henpecked fiance]] who happens to be the son of the main character's ex-lover. It's weird.
16* ''Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!'' (Spanish: ''¡Átame!'') (1990) as Ricky. A Spanish dark romantic comedy film written and directed by Creator/PedroAlmodovar. The plot follows a recently released psychiatric patient who kidnaps an actress in order to make her fall in love with him. He believes his destiny is to marry her and father her children. This is the role that brought Banderas to the attention of Hollywood.
17* ''Film/{{Philadelphia}}'' (1993) as Miguel Álvarez
18* ''Film/InterviewWithTheVampire'' (1994) as Armand. Portrayed in the film as an adult rather than a youth, so as not to give the impression that Louis [[{{Ephebophile}} likes 'em]] [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld young]].
19* ''Film/{{Desperado}}'' (1995) and ''Film/OnceUponATimeInMexico'' (2003) as El Mariachi
20* ''Film/{{Assassins}}'' (1995) as Miguel Bain
21* ''Film/{{Evita}}'' (1996) as Che: [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeVilified Revolutionary]], [[FramingDevice narrator]], not-really-{{Expy}} of ''[[UsefulNotes/CheGuevara that]]'' Che.
22* ''Film/TheMaskOfZorro'' (1998) as Alejandro Murietta, the {{legacy|character}} Literature/{{Zorro}}.
23** ''Film/TheLegendOfZorro'' (2005)
24* ''Film/TheThirteenthWarrior'' (1999) as Ahmad ibn Fadlan, NonActionGuy turned BadassBookworm off to defeat [[Literature/{{Beowulf}} Grendel]]... Er, cannibal Neanderthals with Vikings.
25* ''Film/SpyKids'' films (2001 -- 2003; 2011) as Gregorio Cortez, father to the main kids and part of the BadassFamily.
26* ''Film/{{Original Sin|2001}}'' (2001) as Luis Vargas
27* ''Film/{{Femme Fatale|2002}}'' (2002) as Nicolas Bardo
28* ''Film/BallisticEcksVsSever'' (2002) as Jeremiah Ecks
29* ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'' (2004 --) as [[Characters/ShrekPussInBoots Puss in Boots]], [[PuppyDogEyes adorable]] kitty and [[HitmanWithAHeart hired assassin]] who winds up [[IOweYouMyLife traveling with Shrek and Donkey]]. An AffectionateParody of Zorro.
30** ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'' (2004)
31** ''WesternAnimation/ShrekTheThird'' (2007)
32** ''WesternAnimation/ShrekForeverAfter'' (2010)
33** ''WesternAnimation/{{Puss in Boots|2011}}'' (2011)
34** ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish'' (2022)
35* Nasonex commercials (2004 -- 2013) as the Bee
36* ''Film/TakeTheLead'' (2006) as Pierre Dulaine
37* ''Film/LaPielQueHabito'' (2011), or "''The Skin I Live In''", also by Creator/PedroAlmodovar, as a MadScientist (well, mad plastic surgeon) Dr. Robert Ledgard. You'd be amazed at how effectively he does it.
38* ''Film/RubySparks'' (2012) as Mort
39* ''Film/MacheteKills'' (2013) as El Camaleón #4
40* ''Film/TheExpendables3'' (2014) as Galgo, a RetiredBadass BloodKnight mercenary, and a ''veeery'' obnoxious MotorMouth.
41* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongebobMovieSpongeOutOfWater'' (2015) as Burger-Beard the Pirate.
42* ''Film/TheThirtyThree'' (2015) as Mario Sepúlveda, leader of a group of miners trapped in a collapsed Chilean mine.
43* ''Film/{{Automata}}'' (2015) as Jaqc Vaucan, an insurance investigator dealing with robots that apparently GrewBeyondTheirProgramming.
44* ''Film/{{Security|2017}}'' (2017) as Eduardo 'Eddie' Deacon, former marine turned security guard protecting a young girl.
45* ''Film/{{Acts of Vengeance|2017}}'' (2017) as Frank Valera, a star lawyer turned Stoic vigilante.
46* ''Series/{{Genius}}'' as Creator/PabloPicasso (2018). One of his life-long most desired roles, since he was born in the same city, Málaga.
47* ''Film/PainAndGlory'' (2019) as Salvador Mallo. Another collaboration with Almodóvar, for which Banderas was nominated for the MediaNotes/AcademyAwardForBestActorInALeadingRole (his first Oscar nomination).
48* ''Film/{{Uncharted|2022}}'' (2022) as Santiago Moncada
49* ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheDialOfDestiny'' (2023) as Renaldo
50----
51!!Tropes and Trivia in his career:
52* DashingHispanic: His most famous roles are as suave Spanish/Latino men.
53* FauxFluency: His first few English-speaking roles were learned mostly phonetically. It took him a few years before he was comfortable speaking English. He even mentioned in an interview that when he first auditioned for an English role he basically pretended to understand the questions he was being asked.
54---> '''Banderas''': I just sat there saying "yes". Like, he could have told me to jump out of a window and I still would've said that.
55* FakeNationality:
56** He is a Spaniard who was born in Spain, but at the same time, he very often plays Latinos, which are some of his most recognizable roles. It helps that, being from Southern Spain, he is relatively tanned and can pass as mixed-race (that, and that a lot of people in Hollywood [[{{Spexico}} cannot tell the difference anyway]]).
57** He also played once an Arab, although it is still fitting, considering Banderas hails from Andalusia, formerly known as the Iberian Islamic territory of [[UsefulNotes/MoorishSpain Al-Ándalus]].
58* IronyAsSheIsCast: Banderas has played characters of a variety of faiths, including a [[UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} Catholic]] priest, a [[UsefulNotes/{{Islam}} Muslim]] chronicler and a modern [[UsefulNotes/{{Stoicism}} Stoic]], but in real life, he is a self-declared [[UsefulNotes/{{Agnosticism}} agnostic]] (although he is part of a Spanish Holy Week brotherhood because he likes the tradition).
59* LargeHam: Always. No matter the role, you can always expect him to bring enliven proceedings and bring his usual energy.
60* MrFanservice: He was one of ''the'' top sex symbols of the 90's.
61* MultipleLanguagesSameVoiceActor: He used to dub himself in Spain during the TheNineties. However, afterwards he passed the job to voice actor Salvador Aldeguer, and the latter became his official voice in Spain since. Banderas himself has stated he prefers it that way. He also dubbed Puss in Boots in the Italian adaptation of ''Shrek'' (except in ''Shrek 2'').
62* ProductionPosse: He's one of the go to actors for Creator/PedroAlmodovar and Creator/RobertRodriguez.
63* RomanceOnTheSet: He and Creator/MelanieGriffith, his costar on ''Two Much'', got together and were married until 2015.
64* SilverFox: Getting older has not detracted from his good looks in the slightest.
65----
66->''[[WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish Who is your favorite fearless actor?\
67Who is your favorite fearless a-actooor?]]''

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