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Javier Bardem and Diego Luna recently reunited to reflect on their careers, their shared history, and the unique challenges of acting in a second language. Having first met 26 years ago on the set of Before Night Falls, the two have since become leading figures in Spanish-language cinema — and now global stars on television.
Luna, now a fan-favorite for his role in Andor, a Star Wars series centered on ordinary people resisting the Galactic Empire, says the experience brought back the childlike wonder of moviemaking. “We did Andor like in the old days — interacting with droids and machines voiced by actors through speakers,” he said. “No green screens. It’s moviemaking.” The show eschews Jedi mythology to focus on kitchen-table rebellion: “This is about the regular life of people in an extraordinary moment,” Luna noted, emphasizing the strict visual rules of the Star Wars universe — no buttons or shoelaces, only closed jackets and capes.
Bardem, who plays José Menendez in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, opened up about portraying such a morally complex character. “There is a secret rule for actors to not play pedophiles,” Bardem explained, acknowledging the emotional challenge. “I can go with a cattle gun killing people in No Country for Old Men, but this thing? No.” He praised showrunner Ryan Murphy for navigating the delicate material respectfully, choosing not to depict abuse directly.
The conversation took a deeper turn when the actors discussed language and identity. Bardem admitted to feeling less exposed in English. “In Spanish, I feel like I can’t hide myself. In English, I can.” Luna, on the other hand, feels more self-aware in English, wary of his limitations.
Bardem’s portrayal of Menendez led him to confront inherited ideas of masculinity. “It’s a type of machismo we know because of where we come from,” he said. “I saw traces of my own education — being raised in certain stereotypes.” Raised primarily by his activist mother, Bardem credits her influence for shaping his values. “She was always her voice and her face in front of everybody for women’s rights and for labor’s rights.”
Their candid exchange offers a rare look into how actors navigate culture, language, and personal history — and how storytelling, even in galaxies far away, remains deeply human.
