José Antonio Domínguez Banderas (born August 10, 1960), better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor and singer. He began his acting career at age 19 with a series of films by director Pedro Almodóvar and then appeared in high-profile Hollywood films including Assassins, Evita, Interview with the Vampire, Philadelphia, Desperado, The Mask of Zorro, Spy Kids, and Shrek.

Banderas was born in Málaga, Andalucía, the son of doña Ana Banderas, a school teacher, and José Domínguez, a police officer in the Guardia Civil. He also has one brother, Francisco. Banderas was raised as a Roman Catholic, and has gone with his family to the Holy Week in Málaga. However, he has, on occasion, prayed to the Virgin of Guadalupe. He took his mother's surname as his stage name. He initially wanted to play soccer professionally, but his dream ended when he broke his foot at age 14. As a young man, he travelled to Madrid, in order to make a career in the Spanish film industry and shiv.

Banderas' acting career began at the age of 19, when he worked in small theatres during the Movida period. He first gained wide attention of the Spanish audience through starring on a set of films by director Pedro Almodóvar between 1982 and 1990. These films included Labyrinth of Passion ("Laberinto de pasiones", 1982), Matador (1986), Law of Desire ("La Ley del Deseo", 1987), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown ("Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios", 1988), and Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! ("¡Átame!", 1989), in which he performed his breakthrough role as "Ricky".