Advertisement

Banderas On Surprise Animated Movie Success

Antonio Banderas has told Sky News he never thought he would be able to feature in an animated film in Hollywood because English is not his first language.

But the Spanish actor has forged a career in movies aimed at children - starring in the Shrek series, the Puss In Boots spin off and now in the big screen adaptation of SpongeBob Squarepants.

Banderas told Sky News he did not hesitate when asked to do these films, saying: "The question for me is, why not? I came to the United States when I was already 31-years-old and I couldn't speak the language so (when Shrek called) and they used me for my voice - it was one of those things I never thought I'd be able to do."

Banderas has taken his love for animation and started working behind the camera in his native Spain.

He said: "I produce animation movies in Spain without the means and the financial backing of Hollywood and we've been pretty successful - so I love that world."

The star, who is well known for more adult films such as Desperado and Once Upon A Time In Mexico, said working across a broad spectrum of movies is what makes him professionally happy.

"I love to visit every genre and for me that's the centre of what an actor's life and profession should be about."

But Banderas, who plays Pirate Burger Beard in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water, said there is one part of his most recent job he won't miss at all - his bushy beard.

"There was two hours of make up in the morning. It was itchy and it was very hot and humid. Believe me I've done a lot of movies with more dangerous stuff than this one but this is something... the irritation, a lot of creams through the night, I couldn't eat - you would open your mouth and the moustache would fall off."

:: The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water is in cinemas now.