Javier Bardem is now part of Hollywood history. On Tuesday, the 57-year-old actor took part in one of those ceremonies so beloved by the U.S. celebrity world that cemented his status as the star that he is: he left his hand and footprints at the TCL Chinese Theatre on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is the first Spaniard to do so. The Oscar winner — with four nominations during his career, as well as seven Golden Globe nominations — signed his name (accompanied by a drawing of a sun), and pressed his hands, feet and even nose into the wet cement outside the famous L.A. theater, where more than 200 celebrities, from Marilyn Monroe to Kobe Bryant, have also left their marks over the past century.
Bardem posed playfully for the press and about a hundred guests at the small ceremony. On the fresh cement, his nose left the most noticeable impression. “I left the most important part of my body, but it’s not what you think,” he joked, playfully interacting with photographers as he posed on all fours and barked like a little dog.
Happy and moved, the actor thanked his family and everyone he has worked with over the years for “this great honor.” He singled out his mother, the late Pilar Bardem. “She was the one who educated me most,” he said. “She made me remember that you never marry success or failure, because both are lies. To be an actor you need discipline and tenacity.”
In an industry where politics is something people either don’t talk about, or do so as little as possible, the actor stuck to his principles. He thanked the city of Los Angeles for being welcoming and giving him opportunities. “I understand why so many people from every corner of the world keep coming to this city,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how many Trumps or how many ICE agents are deployed. People keep coming to this city for the opportunities offered by the film industry and our love of storytelling.” Bardem said: “Even in difficult times, when hate and division can make more noise than hope, people want to keep coming to be part of this film community.”
The event drew major film names such as directors Denis Villeneuve and Michael Mann and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. During the presentation, the actor’s skill and versatility were praised over his 30-year career. The event’s host, journalist Juan Carlos Arcinagas, called him “among the best in history,” and lauded his performances in The Sea Inside, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Cape Fear and the upcoming The Beloved, directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen.
Canadian director Denis Villeneuve, who worked with him on the two Dune films, called him one of the greatest actors of all time and a beautiful human being, recounting with a laugh how, when they first met, he was somewhat intimidated, especially by his role as Anton in No Country for Old Men, which won him the Oscar. Director Michael Mann also had kind words for him, saying it is a pleasure to direct him because he is a very intuitive performer. His wife, the actress Penélope Cruz, was not present, but their children attended the ceremony and stood discreetly away from the spotlight.
After the ceremony, Bardem celebrated at Hollywood’s oldest restaurant, Musso & Frank, where he said he was happy to have taken part in the ceremony. As he told EL PAÍS in a relaxed conversation, he hadn’t even been aware he was the first Spaniard to receive the accolade. “It is a completely undeserved recognition,” he laughed. “I take it for what it is, a wonderful gift and a tribute to the Bardem name,” he said, recalling his grandparents, uncles and great-grandparents, who have all been part of the Spanish entertainment industry for decades.
He also said he saw it as a kind gesture of acceptance toward him as an actor who denounces and speaks out loudly about causes that concern him. “In the industry it is being received very differently than it was 10 years ago,” he told EL PAÍS. “Now there is an awareness of them, it’s accepted, approved and supported. And that is very important.”
These types of ceremonies usually have an associated film or television project. In this case it was sponsored by Apple TV, where the actor premiered the series Cape Fear a couple of weeks ago. The series runs through 10 episodes that he stars in alongside actors such as Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson.
Bardem is one of the few Spanish speakers to receive this recognition. While there are 2,849 stars on the Walk of Fame, barely 200 Hispanic artists have left their imprint in front of this theatre. The Mexican comedian Mario Moreno, known as Cantinflas, a major star in the mid-20th century, placed his footprints at the theatre built by Sid Grauman in December 1960. Anthony Quinn, who was also Mexican, did so in December 1968. Puerto Rican Rita Moreno left hers in November 2011, and Mexican boxer Canelo Álvarez did so in March 2021, in the first ceremony after the Covid pandemic.
