Javier Bardem on the cover story for GQ. Image Source: GQ 

Javier Bardem, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as psychopathic assassin Anton Chigurh in "No Country for Old Men" in 2007, has been critically acclaimed for his craft in movies such as Jamón Jamón, Mar adentro, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Skyfall, Loving Pablo, etc. He recently starred in Denis Villeneuve’s "Dune" and was highly appreciated for his performance.

Javier Bardem recently spoke to GQ as a part of their cover story where he talks about playing the villain and his challenges while adapting to Hollywood culture.

The actor starts by explaining how much he loves to spend time with his kids, who he shares with his wife and actress Penélope Cruz; Leo, who is 10-years-old, and Luna, who is 8-years-old, and says, "I kind of enjoy so much the time that we spend drawing. Both of them draw beautifully for their ages." Javier added that he does not use his physicality until it is required by the maker or if the role is in need of it because he believes that his physicality is very specific and might not be of great help at times. 

Javier Bardem has two kids with his wife and actress Penélope Cruz and mentions that he loves to spend time with them. Image Source: ET  

Javier Bardem complimented his forth-coming director, Rob Marshall, and said, "I adore him. I love him. I respect him. " For his most recent director, Denis Villeneuve, Javier said, "It’s like, ‘Wow, it's amazing that you're offering me that role. I love your movies so much. I don't care if it's only five lines.’ " In an email sent by Denis to GQ about Javier, he said, "Javier is a sweetheart! He is the most patient and adorable person on set. I must say that I was moved by his warmth, but also by his vulnerability." The actor’s co-star in No Country for Old Men, Josh Brolin, and Javier said, "Oh, man. I think he's the funniest man alive. But so smart and so loving and caring. "

Javier shared that even though he won an Oscar for playing Anton Chigurh, it was a hard time for him because it was the first time he was working with people who did not speak any Spanish and used to confide in his mother while sitting in his hotel room. He said, "I was miserable. I was having such a hard time. I felt so much like a fish out of water. I was going through a very tough personal moment for different reasons. The actor recalls and shares a few of the thoughts that came into his mind back then: "I want to be home with my mom. I want to be home with my friends. I need to be near those who love me and be able to be touched by their grace. And I'm here doing this horrible guy. "

Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh in 'No Country for Old Men'. Image Source: Cinema Blend

During his interview with Vanity Fair, Javier shared that he was insecure while playing Anton Chigurh and talking about a particular scene in the movie he said, “The scary part of that scene is not so much my character but the actor [playing opposite Bardem] really recreates fear in an amazing way. It was a couple of takes – boom, done. I was like, What? Really? After months of preparing this is it? I was so insecure and uh, but, they are the Cohens and they know what they’re doing.”

Bardem, who is all set to feature in Rob Marshall’s live-action version of "The Little Mermaid," said that he texted the director asking if he could play the character of King Triton with an accent and added that when he replied enthusiastically, he told his kids that he was going to be in "The Little Mermaid." To which his daughter said to him, ‘But you can't play Ariel!’ I said, No, no, no. I'm not playing Ariel. I'm playing King Triton. ’ And they were so excited," he shares gleefully."

Speaking about his character King Triton, Javier shares, "It's a father taken by the deep love and ownership of his younger daughter, and fighting with the fact that she's going to leave the nest, and being unable to cope with that as a man and as a protector, and not being able to give her the room that she deserves, the place that she holds as a woman, as a girl, as a grown-up. So it's very Shakespearean. "

After wrapping the shoot of "Being the Ricardos", Javier was offered an adaptation of the children’s book "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" and was unsure if he should take the role or not, so he ran the idea of him starring in it through his kids and shared it with GQ. I said, "They're offering me this movie with this crocodile where I sing and dance.’ And their faces, they both went, "With a crocodile, Dad?" You have to do that. " And the actor added, "It's been very liberating to do that."

Javier Bardem recently starred in 'Dune'. Image Source: Screen Rant

Recalling his childhood where his mother was single-handedly raising him and his siblings after the divorce of their parents, Javier shared, "We wouldn't have money to eat. And they will knock on the door and ask for some cash to help the women in the South Sahara, and my mother will give half of what she has. I remember my brother saying, "What the fuck? We don't have milk! ’ And my mother was like, "Yeah, but you have to give a little of what you have."

Javier’s longtime friend and collaborator, Aranoa, shared with the interviewer, "Know that when Javier says yes to a project, he loves it." It's not like: you are offering it, he's your friend, and he will do it. No, he won't." This comes as a comment after focusing on the fact that since October 2020, Javier has been working back-to-back, which is an unusual speed for him since he considers cinema as an art form and has been picky about his projects since he started working. The actor believes that whatever project he is a part of, he needs to fundamentally connect to it to deliver the performance on-screen.

The actor shared that he felt a keen sense of duty to keep working through the pandemic and quoted, "After seeing so many people lose their employment, their jobs, their businesses, and some of them lose their lives or their relatives, when working offers were coming to me, I couldn't say no. It’s not only me doing the job. I worship the fact that I have a job, and I worship the fact that my job includes many other people's jobs. " Aaron Sorkin, director of Being the Ricardos, describes Javier as "He was so charismatic, so charming, so gregarious, and impossible not to love."

There was a little controversy involved when Javier Bardem was signed up as Desi Arnaz for ‘Being the Ricardos’ because detractors believed that the role should have gone to an actor of the same heritage. On this, Javier said, "The inclusion of the Latin community should be bigger and better. And I support that. If there's a role like Desi Arnaz, the producer's first choice is to try to get an actor with that kind of background. And they tried, but they, for whatever reason, couldn't find it. It came back to me, and I said, Well, I'll do it with all my commitment and honor what he represented, and with all my passion, love, and respect."

After Javier received an Academy Award nomination for his performance in "Before Night Falls," he told The New York Times, "this great imperialistic world called the United States has made us believe that an Oscar is the most important thing in the world for an actor." Explaining the quote, Javier said, "And it's kind of true! It’s kind of true! Let us not forget that the Oscars were invented by producers who wanted to award each other to promote their movies. That's what the industry does. Every industry in every country rewards their own associates for promoting their products. That's the way it is. And it's good. Let's not forget that the film industry is an industry where lots of families make a living out of it. To think that any award, including the Oscar, means something, objectively? It’s not true. " He further adds, "I have one Oscar? Al Pacino have one Oscar? That doesn't make any fucking sense! Or people with many Oscars and you go, "‘Really?’" Adding a little fun to the interview, Javier added, "That being said, please nominate me." I'm fine, I'm good. I'll take it. "

The actor dedicated his 2008 Oscar to his mother and Spanish performers, who he mentioned have brought dignity and pride to the profession. The actor took his 10-year-old son to watch his recent movie, Dune and shared that he loved it and that is what is important to him. "I felt very proud of being able to show my kid what I do. And being approved by him," he added.

Information Source: GQ