Bardem remembers how his first approaches to Penelope Cruz were 30 years ago: “He called me a pig”

They are very reserved with their private lives, so you can count on the fingers of one hand the times they open up. Javier Bardem (54) spoke this Thursday about Penelope Cruz (49), how they met and also their children, Leo y Lunawho are already 12 and 10 years old respectively.

The two met on the set of the mythical Ham Ham of Bigas Lunas. She was not yet 18 years old and he was around 23. “I said, this girl, I’m going to keep track of her. She was 17 years old then. The smacks she gave me were real when I touched her bottom. And told me: ‘You’re a pig'”, he recalled this Thursday in Day by dayfrom Cadena Ser.

In this conversation with Àngels Barceló, the Oscar-winning actor had some nice words for Bigas Luna, who marked their lives both professionally and personally. The director passed away in April 2013 at the age of 67, due to cancer, and only three months before the arrival of little Luna in the world.

Since the girl’s birth, it has been rumored that they chose the name in homage to the Catalan director and, a decade later, Bardem himself confirms it: “Our daughter is called Luna. For many reasons, but of course also as a tribute to Bigas. No I know what would have happened if that film hadn’t been made on a professional and personal level. I can’t imagine a present as grateful and blessed as mine today without that wonderful accident from 32 years ago.”

The greatest gift that life has given her are her two children: “They can already throw 55 Oscars on my head because there is nothing that can be compared to being able to give happiness to your children. Seeing that your work can move them, making laugh”. Since they were both born, they have defended their privacy tooth and nail.

On the other hand, Bardem has assured that Leo and Luna have already seen the new version of The little Mermaidin which Javier puts himself in the shoes of Ariel’s father: “Seeing how they enjoyed themselves with their friends is something I’m not used to. I’m having a great time because for me it’s the end of everything. Being able to celebrate with them and that realize that when I go on a trip to work it’s for that”.

Read also – The ‘king’ Javier Bardem messes it up in the presentation of The Little Mermaid: “Long live the Republic”

In September they will also be filled with pride when they see their father collect the Donostia Award at the San Sebastian Festival.

Pilar Barden

In this interview, the actor there is no country for old men He also had some emotional words for his mother, who passed away in July 2021 at the age of 82, leaving Spanish cinema devastated. “My mother was a walking example of many things. Not as ideas or concepts, but as put into practice, which is what counts in life: what you do, not what you say. She was an empathetic person in the face of injustice, lack of solidarity, in the face of pain and in the face of what he considered unfair, that there are so many causes and situations…”.

For all this, the actress became the best example for her children: “Not losing that empathy is important and I think my children are aware of that and have seen it in her. Their parents try to make them aware of that.”