DATE OF BIRTH: August 10, 1960 PLACE OF BIRTH: Málaga, Spain STATUS: Married to actress Melanie Griffith UPCOMING PROJECT TAKE THE LEAD  March 31, 2006
Inspired by a true story, Banderas plays Pierre Dulaine, an inspirational Manhattan ballroom dancer and competitor who volunteers his time and talent to teach dancing to a group of New York City school kids. Considered a form of detention, the teens initially reject his efforts but finally come around and embrace the program and infuse it with their own unique hip-hop style. "Almost from the very beginning the reaction was totally against him," Banderas told darkhorizons.com of his character. "This was in the projects and people weren't interested in dance or anything like that, but he proves them wrong." Despite some training as a dancer, Banderas did learn a few new moves for the film. "I'm supposed to be retired. But I dance a tango just to show off in front of the kids so that they really know what I'm talking about." In fact, the film has inspired Banderas to take lessons with his wife of 10 years, Melanie Griffith. "We are going to look fantastic when we go to all those parties, when some beautiful swing or foxtrot music plays, and show off." Banderas recently returned to Spain to direct his second movie, El camino de los ingleses (The Way of the English). Filmed in his hometown of Málaga, it's about the "last summer of youth" for a group of teenagers in the late '70s. "It's harder, darker, more sexual than movies I have done here," said Banderas. Not that he's turning his back on Hollywood any time soon. In fact, the Spanish heartthrob recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. "It was an honor and privilege to arrive to this country 16 years ago with almost no money in my pocket," he recalled with Griffith, their daughter Stella and step-daughter Dakota Johnson by his side. "A lot has happened since then." His status as one of Hollywood's sexiest leading men is proof of that. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Spy Kids (2001), The Mask of Zorro (1998), Desperado (1995), Philadelphia (1993), The Mambo Kings (1992)