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interviewin Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, theyoungest of three siblings, all actors. He hasoften appeared alongside his mother, PilarBardem, and siblings, Monica and CarlosBardem. ‘My parents divorced when I wasyoung, but I don’t remember it beingparticularly bad,’ Javier recalls. He wasraised by his mother and after his father’sdeath he depended on the women in his life.‘I’m not intimidated by women,’ he says,and his history on the screen seems to gohand in hand with this statement. Hisportrayals of macho characters have beenpowerful and won him multiple awards,but it is his passionate and destructive loveaffairs on the screen that have dominatedcritical evaluation of Javier as an actor.In 2007, he became the first Spanishactor to be awarded an Academy Award forBest Supporting Actor, a Golden Globe anda Bafta for his performance as a sociopathickiller in No Country for Old Men. This wasfollowed by a Best Actor award at theCannes Film Festival in 2010 for his role inAlejandro González Iñárritu’s film Biutiful,an exposé of a father who is strugglingto reconcile fatherhood, spirituality, guiltand love, when faced with his own mortalityin Barcelona. Javier’s brilliant performancewas also recognised by several Oscarnominations, and his acting has often beendescribed as honest, realistic and strong,centred on issues of identity, death andhis relationship with women. But how doeshe feel about playing the nextbad guy in one of the mosthotly anticipated films ofthe decade?Javier had to revisit allthe old Bond villains to findinspiration for his new role:‘We have seen, heardand listened to almostClockwise, from top left:In Woody Allen’s VickyCristina Barcelona; withwife Penélope Cruz; andas Julia Roberts’ co-starin Eat Pray Love. Right:Javier collects a Baftafor his performance inNo Country for Old Meneverything that we can in this world. Onlytalented people can bring a differentperspective on things. It’s not like I’mtrying to do that – I’m not one of thosepeople – but I’m trying to avoid bringingsomething that has already been done. Butagain, James Bond movies have their ownrules that you have to follow. That’s alsothe fun part because it gives you a framebig enough for you to have freedom toexpress yourself.’When asked about pre-shoot preparation,Javier responds that he put extra work intomaking himself understood in English forthis role. In previous interviews, Javierclaims that he learnt English by listeningto heavy metal, in particular AC/DC. Butalthough he’s starred in English-speakingfilms, he still finds it a challenge to act in adifferent language. ‘When they say “action”,you’re not that relaxed. Although themanuscript offers an indication on whereto take the character and Sam gave me hisnotes, we’re still figuring it out. But I liketo prepare, so I enjoy playing characters thatneed more work, otherwise I just feel thatI’m going out there and sayingsome lines. That’s not the wayI respond to material. I seesomething in thischaracter that has tobuild. I don’t know whatit will look like, but I knowmy intention is to createsomething that will beinteresting to watch.’Skyfall is set in London,a place close to Javier’s heart.‘London is an amazing city.And when the good weather comes, it’sperfect.’ He also emphasises the importanceof who you are working with: ‘It’s anactor’s or protagonist’s energy that createsatmosphere. Both [Daniel and Sam] aregreat colleagues.’He is unwilling to go into more detailsabout what his Bond role entails, and isequally circumspect concerning his futureprojects, but he will shortly be starring inthe new Terrence Malick film To the Wonder.Perhaps his reserved manner reflectshis approach to maintaining a strongdistinction between his private life and hisscreen life. But one thing is for sure, theSpanish actor has taken a decisive step intothe Hollywood scene, and he is there to stay.FilmographyTo the Wonder (TBA)Skyfall (2012)Biutiful (2010)Eat Pray Love (2010)Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)Love in the Time of Cholera (2007)No Country for Old Men (2006)Goya’s Ghosts (2006)The Sea Inside (2004)Collateral (2004)Mondays in the Sun (2002)The Dancer Upstairs (2002)Bendito Infierno (2001)alamy, Corbis, getty images57