As a child of the late 90s and early 2000s, Antonio Banderas was an enigma to me. I vaguely knew him from his roles in adult-oriented films, but it wasn’t until I saw the Spy Kids movies that I truly fell in love with his charm and charisma. Fast forward to my adulthood, and I still find myself reminiscing about those childhood memories whenever I come across Banderas.
Antonio Banderas excels not only in intense action films such as the Zorro series or mature movies like Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, but also shines in family-friendly productions. With performances in beloved children’s movies like Shrek 2 and Spy Kids, the Academy Award nominee expresses a heartfelt motive for why acting in kid’s films continues to be incredibly satisfying.
For the first time, I became aware of Antonio Banderas when the Spy Kids films were released. Unbeknownst to me at the time, he had already starred in highly-regarded movies such as Philadelphia, Desperado, and The Mask of Zorro. However, since I was too young, I was unaware of his talent. It wasn’t until he appeared in Roberto Rodriguez’s spy films that I began to recognize him as a Golden Globe nominee. During an interview on the set of Paddington 3, Banderas spoke with BAFTA about why making children’s movies remains rewarding for him even after many years, and his words have moved me so much that I feel like I might cry.
Over time, having worked on children’s movies such as Shrek, Spy Kids, and SpongeBob, I find that my efforts have been well worth it. Nowadays, people approach me – some of them are even film critics – who reminisce about their childhood memories of watching my films, like the first time they saw Spy Kids when they were 10 or 8 years old. They often express admiration for me because I played a significant role in those movies, whether as a father figure, a character, or Puss in Boots, and so on. This recognition is incredibly fulfilling.
It’s not hard to see why it’s heartwarming for Antonio Banderas when people approach him to discuss the children’s movies he starred in. As the actor from Evita brings back memories of childhood for these adults, it likely feels “fulfilling” for him to be able to contribute to their nostalgia. It could very well be that these particular adults are parents themselves, wanting to share their childhood hero with their kids through age-suitable films featuring Banderas.
Following “Spy Kids,” Antonio Banderas charmed children once more by joining the Shrek film series as Puss in Boots. This endearing feline made an excellent chatty animal sidekick for the beloved ogre (alongside Donkey, of course). Drawing on Banderas’ famous character Zorro, the anthropomorphic cat is a skilled swordsman and uses those big, captivating eyes to divert attention from threats.
Puss’ boots were made for walking with Antonio Banderas voicing the iconic cat in two spinoffs: Puss in Boots which followed the crime-fighting cat’s origin story and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish where the infamous cat is in a race to save eight of his nine lives. For his first time voicing an animated character, Banderas did an amazing job bringing humor and charm into the role, making him memorable for people of all ages. In between the two Puss in Boots movies, Banderas also played the antagonist Burger Beard in Spongebob Squarepants: Sponge Out of Water where he continued to bring humor and flair to the scheming pirate who stole the Krabby Patty secret formula.
Antonio Banderas’ fun-filled, child-friendly escapades aren’t done just yet! He’s part of the cast for Paddington 3, taking on the role of riverboat captain Hunter Cabot. This character is an integral part of Paddington and the Brown family’s adventure in Peru as they continue their journey. The third installment, a comedy-adventure, is keeping up with the successful trend of the Paddington series, boasting a remarkable Rotten Tomatoes score of 93%. Banderas appears to be bringing his good luck charm touch to another family-friendly franchise. You can catch the full TikTok interview of the actor from Nine below:
@bafta
♬ original sound – BAFTA
It’s not surprising that Antonio Banderas continues to find children’s films fulfilling, as he often encounters fans who fondly remember him from their childhood thanks to movies like “Spy Kids” and “Shrek”. Without these family-friendly productions, a new generation might not have discovered the exceptional talent of the Emmy Award nominee. This underscores the importance for actors to showcase their skills across films designed for both adults and children, in order to reach a wider audience. Catch Banderas in “Paddington in Peru” when it hits theaters on January 25th, as per the 2025 movie schedule.
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2024-11-20 02:07