Antonio Banderas on Faith, Franco, and Playing Chef in 'Tony'
In a wide-ranging interview with The New Yorker, Antonio Banderas discusses his role as Chef in the new biopic 'Tony,' about Anthony Bourdain, which premieres August 7th. The film, directed by Matt Johnson, focuses on a summer in the 1970s when a young Bourdain works in a Provincetown kitchen. Banderas, who now runs Teatro del Soho in Málaga, Spain, talks about his youth under Franco, his work with Pedro Almodóvar, and his recent staging of 'Godspell' for Pope Francis. He reflects on the Spanish World Cup victory, the nature of artistic responsibility, and the importance of faith. Banderas also shares anecdotes about Stephen Sondheim, who gave him advice about directing his shows, and about his approach to acting and directing, emphasizing the value of seeing actors from the outside. The interview touches on his admiration for Bourdain's ability to use cooking as a means to explore humanity.
Key facts
- Antonio Banderas stars as Chef in the film 'Tony,' a biopic about Anthony Bourdain, directed by Matt Johnson.
- The film is based on early chapters of 'Kitchen Confidential' and follows a college-age Bourdain during a summer in Provincetown.
- Banderas runs Teatro del Soho in Málaga, Spain, where he stages revivals of Broadway shows, including Sondheim musicals.
- Banderas grew up during the Franco regime and was once arrested for performing in a protest play.
- He recently staged 'Godspell' for Pope Francis in Madrid, which he described as a unique experience.
- Banderas discussed his admiration for Bourdain, noting that Bourdain used cooking as a pretext to talk about people and life.
- He shared a story about Stephen Sondheim advising him to 'look under the stones' when directing his shows.
- Banderas commented on the Spanish national football team's World Cup victory, drawing parallels to the teamwork in his kitchen scenes in 'Tony.'
Entities
Artists
- Antonio Banderas
- Anthony Bourdain
- Matt Johnson
- Dominic Sessa
- Pedro Almodóvar
- Stephen Sondheim
- Tilda Swinton
- Julianne Moore
- Marcel Marceau
- Calderón de la Barca
Institutions
- Teatro del Soho
- The New Yorker
- Culinary Institute of America
- La Guardia Civil
- Spanish Parliament
- Teatro María Cristina
Locations
- Málaga
- Spain
- Provincetown
- Madrid
- Barcelona
- Boston
- New York
- Argentina
- Indonesia
- Japan
- South Africa
- England
- America