Picasso is a character that has pursued me for a long time and I always rejected. He deserves a lot of respect because I am from Malaga, and I was born four blocks from where he was born.

In 1996 Banderas appeared among other figures of Spanish culture in a video supporting the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party lists in the general election. 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. Banderas' debut as a director was the poorly-received Crazy in Alabama (1999) starring his wife Melanie Griffith.

Banderas is also a voice artist portraying the voice of Puss in Boots in the Shrek sequels and Puss in Boots as well as the bee in the US Nasonex commercials. José Antonio Domínguez Banderas (born 10 August 1960) better known as Antonio Banderas is a Spanish film actor film director film producer and singer.