Antonio Banderas

Antonio Banderas

Antonio Banderas is back on the big screen this week as he returns to the role of Puss In Boots in a first spin off movie from the Shrek franchise.

So to celebrate the release of the movie we take a look at some of the best Banderas performances that he has delivered over the years.

- The Mask of Zorro

The Mask of Zorro may have been released back in 1998 but it remains one of the Banderas’ most memorable performances.

Directed by Martin Campbell the movie cemented Banderas as a bona fide leading man in Hollywood movies.

The action packed movie, which also starred Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta Jones, was a hit with the critics as well as at the box office - it went on to take in excess of $250 million.

He reprised the role in 2005 when he starred in The Legend of Zorro.

- Shrek Franchise

But one of Banderas’ greatest roles is as Puss In Boots, a character who first came to the big screen back in 2004.

The sword wielding Puss joined Shrek, Fiona and Donkey in  Shrek 2 - and he immediately became a hit with film fans.

Shrek The Third and Shrek Forever After followed in a franchise that has grossed in excess of $2.9 billion at the global box office.

- Desperado

Desperado was another early English speaking movie as Banderas teamed up with filmmaker Robert Rodriguez in what was a follow up movie to El Mariachi.

Desperado followed a former Mariachi, played by Banderas, as he takes on a drug lord who killed his lover.

This movie, which is one of my faves, showed Banderas off to be a bit of an action hero as well as cementing his sex symbol status. 

In 2003 he reprised the role in Once Upon A Time In Mexico, which also starred Johnny Depp and Eva Mendes. 

- Philadelphia

In 1993 Banderas took on the role of Miguel Alvarez in the critically acclaimed Philadelphia - which also starred Tom Hanks.

Banderas played the partner of man who is suffering with Aids and it was a role that brought him some serious attention.

The movie helped launch him in Hollywood and roles in Of Love and Shadows and Interview with the Vampire followed.

- Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!

Banderas kicked off his acting career in Spanish speaking movies, teaming up with renowned director Pedro Almodovar for a series of projects.

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! saw him play a mental patient who kidnaps a porn star - keeping her tied up until she loves him back.

It was to the breakthrough role for the actor and it proved to be the role that grabbed the attention of everyone in Hollywood.

Other Banderas movies that are well worth checking out include Spy Kids, Evita, Assassins and Interview With The Vampire.

And he has plenty of projects in the pipeline including Haywire, which sees him team up with director Stephen Soderbergh.

He has also completed work on He Loves Me and Justin and the Knights of Valour with Automata still to go into production.

Puss In Boots is out 9th December

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw


by for www.femalefirst.co.uk
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