Bardem Would Rather Be Acting in Spanish

Although he won his Oscar in an English-speaking role and certainly is seen by more movie fans when acting in Hollywood films, Spanish actor Javier Bardem says he'd still rather be acting in his native language, Spanish. Although he has some small Spanish-language scenes in the upcoming Woody Allen film Vicky Cristinia Barcelona, he said recently while promoting the Allen film that there haven't been any Spanish-language films that have excited him as an actor in some time, and he hasn't had major Spanish-speaking role since 2003's Mar adentro.

According to an account by the Spanish news service AFP, he said he can only take the roles that come his way, and those recently have been English-language roles. "Hay algo muy dentro de mí que necesito, quiero trabajar en mi propia lengua. Pero eso no depende de mí porque yo no tengo talento para escribir o dirigir," he was quoted as saying. Translation: "There is something very much inside of me that I need to, I want to work in my own language. But that doesn't depend on me, because I don't have the talent to write or direct."