Javier Bardem was born on March 1, 1969 in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain. Bardem built a considerable reputation among Spanish movie audiences as the sexy star of such steamy films as Las Edades de Lulu (1990), Jamón, jamón (1992), and Huevos de oro (1993)

In 1995, Bardem showed considerable comedic talent when he spoofed his heartthrob image in Mouth to Mouth, playing a struggling young actor who gets a job as a phone sex operator. He reteamed with celebrated Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar in 1997’ s Carne trémula, also featuring Spanish acting star Penélope Cruz.

Bardem made his English-language debut in Perdita Durango (1997), playing Romeo, the lover of the film’s title character, played by Rosie Perez. His performance as the Cuban writer and revolutionary Reinaldo Arenas, who committed suicide in 1990, in Julian Schnabel’s edgy Before Night Falls (2000) earned Bardem the best reviews of his life - and a place on the international radar screen.

He also starred in Collateral (2004), Oscar’s drama Mar adentro (2004) and Goya's Ghosts (2006).

Filmography

• Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
• Love in the Time of Cholera (2007)
• No Country for Old Men (2007)
• Goya's Ghosts (2006)
• Mar adentro (2004)
• Collateral (2004)
• Lunes al sol, Los (2002)
• The Dancer Upstairs (2002)
• Sin noticias de Dios (2001)
• Before Night Falls (2000)
• Segunda piel (1999)
• Lobos de Washington, Los (1999)
• Entre las piernas (1999)
• Torrente, el brazo tonto de la ley (1998)
• Perdita Durango (1997)
• Carne trémula (1997)
• Airbag (1997)
• Amor perjudica seriamente la salud, El (1996)
• Más que amor, frenesí (1996)
• Éxtasis (1996)
• "Nova ficció" (1 episode, 1996)
• Mambrú (1996)
• Boca a boca (1995)
• Madre, La (1995)
• Días contados (1994)
• Detective y la muerte, El (1994)
• Teta i la lluna, La (1994)
• Pronòstic reservat (1994)
• Huevos de oro (1993)
• Huidos (1993)
• Amante bilingüe, El (1993)
• Jamón, jamón (1992)
• Amo tu cama rica (1992)
• Tacones lejanos (1991)
• "Tango" (1991)
• Adades de Lulú, Las (1990)
• "Día por delante, El" (1989)
• Poderoso influjo de la luna, El (1980)
• "Pícaro, El" (1974)

Awards

• Independent Spirit Award Best Male Lead "Before Night Falls" 2001
• National Board of Review Best Actor "Before Night Falls" 2000
• National Society of Film Critics Award Best Actor "Before Night Falls" 2000
• Southeastern Film Critics Association Award Best Actor "Before Night Falls" 2000
• Venice Film Festival Coppa Volpi Award for Best Actor "Before Night Falls" 2000
• European Film Academy People's Award (Actor) 1997
• Goya Best Actor "Boca a Boca/Mouth to Mouth" 1996
• Goya Best Supporting Actor "Dias contados" 1995