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Javier Bardem Romances in ‘Barcelona'

Oscar-winning Spanish actor beds Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz in Vicky Christina Barcelona.
By George "El Guapo" Roush

Coming out of his Oscar win, Javier Bardem continues to impress the movie-going public. As the suave Juan Antonio in Woody Allen's newest comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Bardem shows once again the versatile actor he can be. In this interview, he talks about working with Allen, his Oscar win, and the perfect way to ask for a threesome. Take notes!

Latino Review: Was it easy for you to identify with your character in Vicky Christina Barcelona?
Javier Bardem
: When you're working with a person who really knows how to write dialogue, you realize that you don't have the do very much because he's in there. Woody Allen [is] really telling you where to go. When you are doing a classic, you realize that you don't have to put a lot of yourself in there rather than try to put your ego away and add it to those words. You don't have to imagine the next step because it's already written.

LR: How was your creative process for this film?
Bardem
: I'm always thinking, "What do I have to do?" I always see problems. I always think, "Well, that's a problem. That's a character that you have to work very hard to make believable. How do you say those lines to those two women in the restaurant?" Because you're saying, "Let's get out of here and let's make love. . . the three of us."

LR: How did the Oscar win change the way Hollywood perceives you as an actor?
Bardem
: I've said that it was nine months of tension. I feel truly thankful and honored for the recognition. But I guess when you come to Oscar night, you come with a lot of things on your back. When it happens, you feel like, [sighs], a lot of things come to an end. That's why the value of the statue itself is so big, because it represents a lot of things. Six months later you have that golden bald man there and you look at it and what I feel is thankful, grateful and lucky that I won the lottery.

LR: Coming from a family of actors did you ever feel pressure to follow their lead?
Bardem
: Like any kid at 12, 13 years old I didn't know what to do. Then you go to the theater to see your mother performing and you go, "This is crazy." I mean, my mother was shaking and nervous because it was opening night and she's dressed like the queen of Spain. But there's something there that you smell and you go, "Wow, there's something there that's important." It's like here I am a human being. Here, I am a character. And it happens in two and that is kind of crazy but it's very rich for one personality to go through that process.

LR: When did you decide to not partake in Nine, the project by Francis Ford Coppola and Rob Marshall?
Bardem
: I think it's a spectacular script by Anthony Minghella. I think Rob Marshall is really multi-talented and one of the nicest people I've ever met. But it came to me in a moment when I was really involved and I was really broken. They perfectly understood that and respected [it]. With Coppola, he chose to change the sex of the character. And I understand why. You will see why. It was much more important for that person to be a woman rather than a man. He said that to me and I said, "OK, I understand; next time."

For the rest of the interview go to Latino Review.

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