José Antonio Domínguez Banderas (born August 10, 1960), better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor, film director, film producer and singer. Banderas was born in Málaga, Andalucía, Spain, in 1960 to Ana Banderas, a school teacher, and José Domínguez Prieto, a police officer in the Guardia Civil. as a mental patient who kidnaps a porn star (Victoria Abril) and keeps her tied up until she returns his love. Banderas was first introduced to the American audience in the documentary film Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991). The following year, still speaking minimal English, he began acting in U.S. films.

Banderas was born in Málaga, Andalucía, Spain, in 1960 to Ana Banderas, a school teacher, and José Domínguez Prieto, a police officer in the Guardia Civil. He initially wanted to become a professional soccer player until a broken foot sidelined his dreams at the age of fourteen. While performing with the theatre, Banderas caught the attention of Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, who cast the young actor in his 1982 film debut, Labyrinth of Passion. The film’s success earned Banderas wide recognition, and the following year was given a role in Neil Jordan’s high-profile adaptation of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, which allowed him to share the screen with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. He appeared in several major Hollywood releases in 1995, including a starring role in the Robert Rodriguez-directed film, Desperado and the antagonist on the action film Assassins co starred with Sylvester Stallone.

Editors Just Can’t Believe Jose Vargas Would Lie to Them [Media Roundup] in your humid Thursday media column: ridiculous WaPo Twitter uproar of the day, everybody’s needlessly peeved at Jose Antonio Vargas, Gothamist is sponsoring long-form journalism, an editor flees New York mag, and the Village Voice could have itself a strike. More » [link]