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Javier Bardem

Javier Bardem was born in 1969 in the Canary Islands.

Bardem is part of one of Spain’s largest cinematic dynasties: his grandparents, their siblings, his mother, his brother and sister are all actors; his uncle was the world-renowned director Juan Antonio Bardem (Death of a Cyclist, Welcome Mister Marshall); and he also has various cousins involved in the film industry, including his cousin Miguel (director of Swindled and The Ugliest Woman in the World).

Javier Bardem first came to public attention in 1992 in the film Jamon Jamon (dir. Bigas Luna), which also marked the debuts of Penelope Cruz and Jordi Molla. He worked with Bigas Luna again the following year in Golden Balls; the combination of these two films initially led to him being typecast as the Spanish macho. He overcame this typecasting via a range of roles (in films such as Perdita Durango (dir. Alex de la Iglesia) and Live Flesh (dir. Pedro Almodóvar)), which showcased the extent of his talent, leading him to be nicknamed ‘the Spanish Brando’.

He moved into English language films with the combination of Before Night Falls (dir. Julian Schnabel), which saw him become the first Spanish actor to be nominated for an Oscar, and Dancer Upstairs (dir. John Malkovich). More recently he has worked with the likes of Milos Forman (Goya’s Ghosts) and the Coen Brothers (No Country for Old Men) but has also continued to work in Spain in films such as Mondays In The Sun (dir. Fernando Leon de Aranoa) and The Sea Inside (dir. Alejandro Amenábar) –both of which saw him win the Goya for Best Actor.

In 2008 he became the first Spanish actor to win an Oscar (for Best Supporting Actor for his role in No Country for Old Men) and he dedicated the award to his mother, his grandparents, and all those Spanish actors who have brought dignity and pride to their profession.



News | What members say | Filmography

Javier Bardem - news / articles


  • Bardem goes for cholera - 17 February 2006
    Spanish actor Javier Bardem has signed up to star in the movie Love In The Time Of Cholera. - -Bardem, who featured in Before Night Falls, The Sea Inside and Between Your Legs, will be directed by Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco, Four Weddings And A Funeral) in the adaptati

Javier Bardem - what members say


  • Live Flesh
  • Live Flesh review by Bruce M from Oxford, England
    Rated - 5 stars Excellent, and typical Almodovar. 16 June 2004
    ...drugs) Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Cast: Liberto Rabal, Francesca Neri, Javier Bardem, Angela Molina, Jose Sancho, Penelope Cruz Director: Pedro Almodovar Producer...  
  • Perdita Durango
  • Perdita Durango review by adam from Sheffield
    Rated - 5 stars Tarantino meets the Wicker Man. 11 August 2004
    ...s an inteligence to the movie, as a reflection of class and culture in America. Javier Bardem's character is wonderfully flawed; I can't think of a more powerful and sexual ...  
  • Golden Balls
  • Golden Balls review by A customer from BOGNOR REGIS
    Rated - 5 stars 4 November 2004
    ...Loved it! Sizzling expose of the tired old Spanish machismo. Javier Bardem excellent as always and, although it's a bit dated now, it's still a must see if you're at all i...  

Javier Bardem - filmography


  • Collateral
  • Collateral on DVD (2004)
    Starring: Tom Cruise,  Jamie Foxx,  Jada Pinkett
    Director: Michael Mann
    Certificate: 15
    Jamie Foxx plays Max, a Los Angeles cab driver who has a pretty wild night in this thriller from Michael Mann (HEAT, THE INSIDER). First, Max picks up, flirts with, and gets the number of Annie (Jada Pinkett Smith), an attractive District attorney. Next, Vincent (Tom Cruise) climbs into his cab. He ..read more »
    Rate this: 3.5 69% from 14,750 members
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  • Perdita Durango
  • Perdita Durango on DVD (1997)
    Starring: Rosie Perez,  Javier Bardem,  Harley Cross
    Director: Alex De La Iglesia
    Certificate: 18
    Perez plays Perdita Durango, a woman on the run who, along with her evil lover Romeo Delorosa, goes across the Mexican/U.S. border in a flash of human sacrifice, black magic, hitmen, and lots of other things normal people go out of their way to avoid. Based on a novel by Barry Gifford, creator of ..read more »
    Rate this: 2.5 57% from 109 members
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  • Golden Balls
  • Golden Balls on DVD (1993)
    Starring: Javier Bardem,  Maria De Medeiros,  Benicio Del Toro
    Director: Bigas Luna
    Certificate: 18
    Bigas Luna's kitschy romp stars Javier Bardem as Benito, a conceited stud who wants to erect a skyscaper in his own honour. In order to achieve his ridiculously macho goal, he marries Marta (Maria de Medeiros), the daughter of a wealthy banker, but also keeps a mistress (Maribel Verdu) as well. ..read more »
    Rate this: 2.5 55% from 272 members
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  • Jamon Jamon
  • Jamon Jamon on DVD (1992)
    Starring: Penelope Cruz,  Javier Bardem,  Anna Galiena
    Director: Bigas Luna
    Certificate: 18
    Silvia, a village girl pregnant with Jose Luis' baby, plans to marry but Jose's mother has other ideas. She hires the talents of the local hunk Raul to win Silvia away. Spanish dialogue with subtitles.
    Rate this: 3.0 65% from 1,468 members
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Javier Bardem facts

5 most recent films


Vicky Cristina Barcelona - 3.5 stars
Love in the Time of Cholera - 3.0 stars
No Country For Old Men - HD DVD Version - 4.0 stars
No Country For Old Men - BLU-RAY Version - 3.5 stars
No Country for Old Men - 3.5 stars

5 highest-rated films


No Country For Old Men - HD DVD Version - 4.0 stars
No Country For Old Men - BLU-RAY Version - 3.5 stars
No Country for Old Men - 3.5 stars
The Sea Inside - 3.5 stars
Mondays In The Sun - 3.5 stars

5 lowest-rated films


Legend Of 1900/Sea Inside - 3 stars
Dance With The Devil - 3.0 stars
Vicky Cristina Barcelona - 3.5 stars
Between Your Legs - 2.5 stars
Golden Balls - 2.5 stars

Most frequent co-stars


Kelly MacDonald - 3 times - show films
Josh Brolin - 3 times - show films
Woody Harrelson - 3 times - show films
Tommy Lee Jones - 3 times - show films
Stephen Root - 2 times - show films

Most frequent directors


Ethan Coen - 3 times - show films
Joel Coen - 3 times - show films
Bigas Luna - 2 times - show films
Alex De La Iglesia - 2 times - show films
Alejandro Amenabar - 2 times - show films