9 Milestones in the Evolution of Antonio Banderas

Philadelphia (1993)

Jonathan Demme's Philadelphia was a landmark for Hollywood: The first major studio film devoted to the subject of AIDS and, to a lesser degree, a mainstream breakthrough for Antonio Banderas. The actor plays Tom Hanks's onscreen partner (Fun fact: This is the third gay character he had played following Labyrinth of Passion and Law of Desire) who helps nurse him through his sickness and remains supportive as he battles one of the first AIDS discrimination cases. This was also a milestone in that Banderas had now mastered the English language enough to learn his lines by reading the script -- rather than being taught them phonetically, as he had reportedly done for Truth or Dare and The Mambo Kings.

Desperado (1995)

After switching gears to slightly lighter Hollywood fare in Interview with the Vampire and his first U.S. comedy, the long-forgotten Miami Rhapsody with Sarah Jessica Parker and Mia Farrow, Banderas was ready for his first leading role. As a former mariachi who seeks revenge on the drug runner who murdered his lover, Banderas conveyed a cocky action star quality that he would eventually be able mine into a successful movie-star career. Desperado also marks his first collaboration with director Robert Rodriguez.

The Mask of Zorro (1998)

Three years, one Madonna reunion (Evita) and one failed comedy that introduced him to his future wife Melanie Griffith (Two Much) later, Banderas returned to the box office as a handsome action hero in the Steven Spielberg-produced film The Mask of Zorro. Banderas -- who is the first Spanish actor to play the sword-fighting Johnston McCulley character -- practiced with the Olympic fencing team for four months in preparation for the role. The grueling 10-hour training sessions paid off though and The Mask of Zorro grossed over $250 million worldwide, establishing Banderas as a full-blown movie star. Although the actor did not get to work with Robert Rodriguez on Zorro (a salary dispute caused the filmmaker to abandon the project), Banderas would reteam with Rodriguez three years later for the hugely popular Spy Kids franchise.

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