Antonio Banderas was inspired to become an actor by 'Peter Pan'.

Antonio Banderas

Antonio Banderas

The 'Puss in Boots' actor credits the boy who never grew up for his acting career because he can remember being amazed by the 1953 Disney film as a youngster.

He revealed: "The first time I saw the Disney version, I was, I don't know, 6 years old. I remember it produced an incredible impression in me.

"I dreamt about that character. I remember getting in bed and seeing myself flying over London."

As well as trying to literally imitate the boy as a child, the 54-year-old star admitted he took the philosophy of always striving for more than a "normal life" from the film, which has stayed with him ever since.

He continued: "Maybe I'm an actor because of him. Just trying to fulfill that, to get what normal life cannot give you."

Despite being a fan of the movie, which features Peter's nemesis, evil Captain Hook, the actor confessed he was thrilled to have been given the role of Burger-Beard in 'The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water' because "anything is possible" when it comes to pirates.

He told PEOPLE: "There is something in the mind of any actor to play a pirate at some point - they are really romantic characters, they are very free. They go where the wind takes them. And also with pirates, anything is possible."