Antonio Banderas

Want a real life example of a Badass Spaniard? Antonio is your man. He began his acting career at age 19 with a series of films by director Pedro Almodovar. He is well-known for playing Zorro in The Mask of Zorro and its sequel Legend of Zorro.

Kids are more likely to remember him as Puss-In-Boots in Shrek (effectively Zorro as a cat) and Gregorio Cortez in Spy Kids.

He is notably less typecast in Spain, where he is considered a very versatile leading man (thanks to that stint under Almodovar).

And he sings. Beautifully.

Antonio Banderas has performed in the following roles:

• Assassins - Miguel Bain
• Evita - Che: Revolutionary, narrator, not-really-Expy of that' Che.
• Interview with the Vampire - Armand. Portrayed in the film as an adult rather than a youth, so as not to give the impression that Louis likes 'em young.
• Philadelphia - Miguel Alvarez
• Desperado and Once Upon a Time In Mexico - El Mariachi
• The Mask of Zorro and The Legend of Zorro - Alejandro Murietta, the new Zorro.
• Spy Kids - Gregorio Cortez, Hot Dad to the main kids and part of the Badass Family.
• Shrek - Puss In Boots, adorable kitty and hired assassin who winds up traveling with Shrek and Donkey.
  • Puss in Boots - Guess who?
• The 13th Warrior - Ahmad ibn Fadlan, Non-Action Guy turned Badass Bookworm off to defeat Grendel... Er, cannibal Neanderthals with Vikings.
• Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown - His most interesting role under Almodovar. In a role directly contrary to his Hollywood typecasting as a Badass Spaniard, he plays a milquetoast henpecked fiance who happens to be the son of the main character's ex-lover. It's weird.