In the current second season of the National Geographic Channel’s Emmy-nominated series “Genius,” actor Antonio Banderas plays Pablo Picasso in the second half of his life—from his 40s until his death at the age of 91 (another actor plays young Picasso). Picasso—perhaps the most famous, controversial and influential artist of the 20th century—hailed from the same city Banderas comes from—Malaga, Spain. In 2015, Pablo Picasso’s 1955 painting, Les femmes’ d’Alger, sold for $179.4 million—the highest price ever paid for an artwork at auction. At the time of his death in 1973, Picasso left behind more than 45,000 works of art and four children.
In a phone interview with TMT, Banderas said playing his hometown hero carried a tremendous amount of self-imposed pressure and responsibility.
“I was born in the same place, and I want to have the opportunity to continue to live there the rest of my life,” he laughed. In other words, he was afraid of never living it down if he “didn’t do it well.”
Banderas said the role of Picasso was difficult to research.
“He’s a very complex personality, and he was very private, in a way. He was interesting because he was so mysterious,” the actor described, adding, “All of the problems he had with women and relationships? He never, ever, never talked about them.”
It was difficult to find people who had actually known Picasso. Banderas had the opportunity to meet a couple of Picasso’s descendants, including Maya Widmaier-Picasso, a daughter who is now 82 and living in Paris. She told Banderas “she loved and worshipped her father, and that he was a great guy.” Banderas also recalled she told the actor his Spanish accent reminded her so much of her father’s. Banderas also had dinner in New York with a gallery owner who represents Picasso in America. However, Banderas, in general, said he was “shy to try to interact with the Picasso family. “
A meeting Banderas had with a biographer of Picasso also resulted in some interesting information about the artist. He said Picasso was actually “very religious; and that religion was in his DNA.” In addition, he revealed that Picasso really had no friends. “He was his own friend—he was all about the art and the limits of his frontiers.”
Although Banderas had been offered the role of Picasso several times over the years, the now 57-year-old actor had always turned them down. “I was reticent to play Picasso my whole life,” he said. He finally accepted when National Geographic offered him the role, because he felt they would do it right. “I felt they would base the story on facts, and they had credibility and prestige. I decided it was time for me to step out,” Banderas said.
Of Banderas’s 109 acting credits, some of his best-known films include “Desperado,” “The Mask of Zorro,” “Evita,” “The Mambo Kings,” “Interview with the Vampire” and “Philadelphia.” Over the past few years, he’s also been busy with animated film work, especially doing the voice of the “Puss in Boots” character.
But Banderas has only done a couple of mini-series like the 10-part “Genius: Picasso.” Although a miniseries is a much longer endeavor, Banderas said, “In order to get deeper into the character, you need more time.
“This format allows you to go deeper, and you have the time to establish the contrasts and contradictions of the personality,” he described.
He said the most difficult part of playing the role was perhaps thinking about it too much.
“I had a hard time trying to contain myself. I was thinking about it all the time,” he said.
In addition, there were the physical demands of the role. “I would get picked up from the hotel at 2 a.m. and then sit in make-up for about five-and-a-half hours,” Banderas said. In order to transform into looking like Picasso in his later years, he had to shave his hair and eyebrows; and not only had to wear makeup, but also a wig and prosthetics that included false teeth, a neck wattle and wrinkles.
All-in-all, “I’m happy about the work and the energy, and proud of the team we had,” Banderas said.
The screening of one episode of “Genius: Picasso” with Q&A guest Antonio Banderas will take place on Thursday, June 7 at 8:15 p.m. at the Malibu Screening Room @ MJCS, 24855 Pacific Coast Hwy. For reservations, go to the Malibu Film Society website.