Antonio Banderas was once told he could only play 'bad guys' because of his ethnicity

Veteran Spanish actor Antonio Banderas says early in his Hollywood career he faced racial typecasting — being told executives believed he could only play villains because of his ethnicity.

In a recent interview with The Times, Banderas, 65, reflected on his early struggles in the American film industry, recalling that some Hollywood executives told him, “You are here, like the Blacks and the Hispanics, to play the bad guys.” The remark, he said, reflected a prejudiced view of non‑white and foreign actors at the time.

Despite the discouraging message, Banderas went on to build a diverse career that challenged that stereotype. He became known for heroic and complex roles, including El Zorro in The Mask of Zorro and the beloved voice of Puss in Boots in the Shrek franchise, characters that stand in contrast to the villain label he was once given.

Banderas also noted that his path into Hollywood wasn’t straightforward. He began acting in Spanish theatre and film before crossing over into American cinema in the early 1990s, despite not speaking fluent English at first. Early Hollywood opportunities were limited, and he said the industry’s narrow expectations for ethnic actors posed a real challenge.

Over decades, Banderas expanded his range with roles in films including Desperado, Philadelphia, Evita, and The Mambo Kings, earning acclaim across genres. His success helped break down some of the preconceived notions about what roles he could take on in mainstream cinema.

Now 65, Banderas has largely stepped back from the Hollywood limelight to focus on personal projects in his hometown of Málaga, Spain, where he runs Teatro del Soho, a nonprofit theatre that has become a cultural hub. He said the shift allowed him to reconnect with his roots while continuing to act in films.

Banderas’ reflections shed light on broader industry patterns of racial and ethnic stereotyping in casting, even as his own career stands as an example of overcoming those limitations.