10 Questions for Javier Bardem
Was it exciting or frightening to work with Woody Allen? Pranav Prasad, HONG KONG
Both. There's excitement because I think he's a genius, but there's also the fear of making his work look bad. The excitement also comes from knowing that you have brilliant dialogue coming out of your mouth like jewels.
Are there any actors you're dying to work with? Kathryn Coulter ALEXANDRIA, VA.
I always say, "I don't believe in God, I believe in Al Pacino"--and that's true. If I ever get a phone call saying "Would you like to work with Pacino?" I would go crazy.
Are you ever worried about being typecast? Dan Ostrowski NEW YORK CITY
I'm not worried. I always try different things. My dream would be, when I'm old, to put all of my characters in a room and realize that they can't talk to each other because they don't have anything to share.
Growing up in a family of actors and artists, did you feel compelled to become a performer? Jenny Posen, LOS ANGELES
No. Growing up, I studied painting. I started working as an extra to get some money so that I could keep painting. But I guess it was in my blood. I went to my mother, who is an actress, and said, "I think I'm an actor whether I like it or not."
Is it more fun to play a villain or a romantic lead? Randy Arnold CHATTANOOGA, TENN.
I try to taste both of them with the same intensity. If you're playing a bad guy whose mind is broken, you have to get in there and find out what triggers those feelings. And once you're on the other side, you have to take that and throw it away. Somebody said, "The difference between an artist and a person that's crazy is that the artist has a two-way ticket and the crazy person only has a one-way."
As film-marketing and -financing become more international, do you believe that opportunities for non-American actors have kept pace? Walter F. Kawalec III TURNERSVILLE, N.J.
I think so. Last year's Oscars [in which all four acting awards went to Europeans] spoke so well of the American film industry. At the end of the day, it's about opening up your arms and receiving the world rather than putting up walls. That's what makes this job so great and so unique. You are obliged to share these experiences with people from all over the world.
Is rehearsing for an English-speaking role any different from rehearsing for a Spanish-speaking role? Leslie Allan Lugo, MONTREAL
Totally. It needs more work. I'm much more comfortable with English now than I was four or five years ago. But I still need to work hard in order to own the language, own the words. It's a matter of sitting down with a great dialect coach and learning little by little. And it takes time, but I love the work. I'm not lazy. I can be everything, but I'm not lazy.
Do you still play rugby? James Cho BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.
I'm a huge rugby fan, but I'm old. I started playing it when I was 9 years old, and I played until I was 23. Rugby nowadays is so different. When I was playing, it was like a little thin man holding the ball and going down the field. Now they run like gazelles. They are machines. It's spectacular.
You have a unique voice. Do you sing? Wasan Suttikasem, BANGKOK
Thank you, though I don't know what you mean by unique. It could be a unique horrible voice or a unique beautiful voice. My voice comes from my big neck. No, I don't sing. I was close to singing in this movie, but I'm a nice boy, and I didn't want people to suffer.
Have you learned to drive yet? Lucy Dagostino POINT PLEASANT, N.J.
If you see this movie, you'll see me driving one of the nicest cars I've ever seen. It took me hours just to learn to drive one little trip from here to there, but I finally did it. I don't have a driver's license. I don't like cars. I've never had an accident, but I think cars are speeding bullets. I learned to drive for the movies.
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