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CNN Live Today

Interview With Antonio Banderas

Aired September 04, 2003 - 10:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: You're looking for passion? We have passion for you this morning. This Sunday, HBO premieres a very unique film. It tells the true story of an American movie crew making a film about Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. In short, it's a movie about a movie. But it's also much more.
Actor Antonio Banderas is the leading man of this epic, and he joins us this morning from New York. He is back from this unusual project and looking forward to its airing this weekend. Good morning. It's a pleasure to have you with us.

ANTONIO BANDERAS, ACTOR: Good morning. Thank you very much.

KAGAN: You know, in looking at the story of Pancho Villa, where you have a crew following a real presidential candidate, even though it goes back to 1914, this is kind of like the birth of reality television.

BANDERAS: In a way, yes. There is a reflection about that. Not only about the reality television, but it's a reflection about manipulation of information. All of that in the context of a figure like Pancho Villa, a very controversial man even now, you know. There are divided opinions in Mexico not only in the population but among historians about who this guy really was.

But everything that is told in this story is factual, is based in reality.

KAGAN: I know in Hollywood it's almost a cliche to say you're the busiest man in Hollywood, in show business. But really, you really have been a busy man. You have Pancho Villa coming on this weekend. You're about to end a very exciting chapter in your life, of I think it's October 5 you end your run on Broadway in "Nine." What has that been like,to be on the Broadway stage for you, singing no less?

BANDERAS: It has been unbelievable to me because it was in a way just to go back to my roots.

Very little people here in America knows that that's where I became an actor, you know, in the theater in Spain many years ago. I didn't do theater in America for obvious reasons. You know, I didn't want to do theater in a language that was not my mother language.

But finally, David Leveaux, the director of the piece, convinced me. And I have had probably one of the most beautiful professional times in my life. KAGAN: And no shortage of beautiful women co-starring with you in "Nine."

BANDERAS: Amazing.

KAGAN: And then across the street, to keep it all in the family, your wife Melanie is starring in "Chicago"...

BANDERAS: Correct.

KAGAN: ... as I understand it. Busy family in show business.

BANDERAS: Yes. Well, yes. That's the story of our lives, actually. And it's very convenient. I need to have her -- I can see her theater from my dressing room, actually.

KAGAN: That's good. You guys can keep an eye on each other.

And then as I was looking over everything you're doing, I think maybe it's even your daughter who might be your booking agent for your other part of your life because you have the "Spy Kids" movies that you've been starring in.

BANDERAS: Right.

KAGAN: And then I also understand you're working on a sequel for "Shrek."

BANDERAS: I am working on a sequel for "Shrek." Yes. That's been another totally new experience for me that blew my mind away. It's unbelievable how these guys are doing the project. It's been tremendously fun.

And also very surprising to me because it's interesting that after 14 years they called me just for the use of my voice, which my whole entire accent and everything that comes with it, without my image. And that is kind of not only surprising but flattering.

KAGAN: And I bet a big hit at home with your daughter.

BANDERAS: Yes. I suppose that that's going to happen, yes. Especially with my daughter.

KAGAN: Absolutely. Well, good luck with all those projects, and "Pancho Villa" is on this Sunday on HBO, 9:30 p.m. after "Sex in the City." A great time slot. So you enjoy and good luck, Antonio. Thank you.

BANDERAS: Bye-bye. Thank you very much.

KAGAN: Thanks for being with us, appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 4, 2003 - 10:48   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: You're looking for passion? We have passion for you this morning. This Sunday, HBO premieres a very unique film. It tells the true story of an American movie crew making a film about Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. In short, it's a movie about a movie. But it's also much more.
Actor Antonio Banderas is the leading man of this epic, and he joins us this morning from New York. He is back from this unusual project and looking forward to its airing this weekend. Good morning. It's a pleasure to have you with us.

ANTONIO BANDERAS, ACTOR: Good morning. Thank you very much.

KAGAN: You know, in looking at the story of Pancho Villa, where you have a crew following a real presidential candidate, even though it goes back to 1914, this is kind of like the birth of reality television.

BANDERAS: In a way, yes. There is a reflection about that. Not only about the reality television, but it's a reflection about manipulation of information. All of that in the context of a figure like Pancho Villa, a very controversial man even now, you know. There are divided opinions in Mexico not only in the population but among historians about who this guy really was.

But everything that is told in this story is factual, is based in reality.

KAGAN: I know in Hollywood it's almost a cliche to say you're the busiest man in Hollywood, in show business. But really, you really have been a busy man. You have Pancho Villa coming on this weekend. You're about to end a very exciting chapter in your life, of I think it's October 5 you end your run on Broadway in "Nine." What has that been like,to be on the Broadway stage for you, singing no less?

BANDERAS: It has been unbelievable to me because it was in a way just to go back to my roots.

Very little people here in America knows that that's where I became an actor, you know, in the theater in Spain many years ago. I didn't do theater in America for obvious reasons. You know, I didn't want to do theater in a language that was not my mother language.

But finally, David Leveaux, the director of the piece, convinced me. And I have had probably one of the most beautiful professional times in my life. KAGAN: And no shortage of beautiful women co-starring with you in "Nine."

BANDERAS: Amazing.

KAGAN: And then across the street, to keep it all in the family, your wife Melanie is starring in "Chicago"...

BANDERAS: Correct.

KAGAN: ... as I understand it. Busy family in show business.

BANDERAS: Yes. Well, yes. That's the story of our lives, actually. And it's very convenient. I need to have her -- I can see her theater from my dressing room, actually.

KAGAN: That's good. You guys can keep an eye on each other.

And then as I was looking over everything you're doing, I think maybe it's even your daughter who might be your booking agent for your other part of your life because you have the "Spy Kids" movies that you've been starring in.

BANDERAS: Right.

KAGAN: And then I also understand you're working on a sequel for "Shrek."

BANDERAS: I am working on a sequel for "Shrek." Yes. That's been another totally new experience for me that blew my mind away. It's unbelievable how these guys are doing the project. It's been tremendously fun.

And also very surprising to me because it's interesting that after 14 years they called me just for the use of my voice, which my whole entire accent and everything that comes with it, without my image. And that is kind of not only surprising but flattering.

KAGAN: And I bet a big hit at home with your daughter.

BANDERAS: Yes. I suppose that that's going to happen, yes. Especially with my daughter.

KAGAN: Absolutely. Well, good luck with all those projects, and "Pancho Villa" is on this Sunday on HBO, 9:30 p.m. after "Sex in the City." A great time slot. So you enjoy and good luck, Antonio. Thank you.

BANDERAS: Bye-bye. Thank you very much.

KAGAN: Thanks for being with us, appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com