The Bardem backstory

Photo: Getty Images

I got lost on my way back from the archive room, but these quotes from Oscar winner Javier Bardem said to Out -- back in February 2001, when he was promoting the biopic Before Night Falls, about gay Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas -- were too good not to share.

> ON THE REVELATORY FILMING EXPERIENCE: "I can now grasp how a man could look at another man and immediately want to lift his legs to Jesus."

> ON JOHNNY DEPP AS TRANSVESTITE PRISON GUARD BON BON: "When I first saw Bon Bon on the set, I didn't realize it was Johnny. I just looked at this girl with the heavy makeup and the big behind and thought, man, I could get into that. I still felt such a way after I realized it was Johnny. He's such a beautiful guy -- who wouldn't want to make love with him? And I know a lot of real girls who would kill to have Bon Bon's ass."

> ON FAKING IT: "I'm not a homosexual, but if I have to kiss a man, I have to feel the desire. Otherwise I will be lying, in a way that is perhaps worse than the lying that gay actors convey when, offscreen, they say they are straight. It's worse because I am being fake to an audience. I had to find in myself the man who would like to make love with another man."

After the jump have some of the many photos of Bardem getting frisky with a series of directors and co-stars. (Sadly I don't have the rights to this great pic Towleroad posted of him getting tackled by Josh Brolin at an after-party.)

PLUS: Doesn't Jeffrey Dean Morgan look like he could be Javier's (whiter) twin brother?

All photos by Getty Images. Click to enlarge!

With Before Night Falls director Julian Schnabel in 2001.

With Benjamin Bratt

With Josh Brolin

With Julian Schnabel at this year's BAFTAs

Previously > ¡Javier!

Comments

[stellar]

every single time there's a picture of him, I go - "hey it's Jeffrey Dean Mor- wait. no it isn't."

[Vicente]

Oh My Gawd !!!!

I think I'm in love with this sexy and hot Spaniard.

Spain, Here cums me and my passport !!!!!