Javier's original interest was in painting, and he studied at Madrid's Escuela de Artes y Officios. Eventually, deciding he'd never be a talented painter, he drifted into a number of odd jobs, working as a bouncer, a writer, a construction worker, and even a stripper.

Grandson of Rafael Bardem

Dedicated the Oscar he won for No Country for Old Men (2007) to his mother, Pilar, whom he brought with him to the ceremony. At the end of his acceptance speech, Javier said to her (originally in Spanish), "Mom, this is for you, for your grandparents, for your parents, Rafael and Matilde, for the comedians of Spain who, like you, have brought dignity and pride to our profession. This is for Spain and this is for all of you.".

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#73). [2007].

Son of Pilar Bardem

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005

Played rugby as a teen and was on the Spanish National Team.

Very good friends with Penélope Cruz.

Nephew of director Juan Antonio Bardem

Good friends with Josh Brolin.

The Bardem family owns a restaurant in Spain called La Bardemcilla. The restaurant is managed by Javier`s sister, Monica.

Dedicated the Oscar he won for No Country for Old Men (2007) to his mother, Pilar, whom he brought with him to the ceremony. At the end of his acceptance speech, Javier said to her (originally in Spanish), "Mom, this is for you, this is for your grandparents, for your parents, Rafael and Matilde, this is for the comics of Spain, who have brought, like you, the dignity and the pride to our job. This is for Spain and this is for all of you."

Beat out Johnny Depp for the role of Florentino Ariza in Love in the Time of Cholera (2007).

Actors Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna list him as their favorite actor.

Spanish citizen.

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005.

To become Ramón Sampedro, a 55-year-old Spanish man who made headlines with a crusade to end his own life, Javier, who was in his thirties at the time, was on the set of Mar adentro (2004/I) at the crack of dawn for a five-hour makeup session that produced the necessary aging.

Has four Goya Awards (the Spanish equivalent of the Oscar).

Javier, his mother, Pilar Bardem, and his siblings, Mónica Bardem and Carlos Bardem, often appear in each other`s films.

To portray Reinaldo Arenas, Javier not only learned Cuban-Spanish, but Cuban-accented English, and lost 30 pounds to better resemble the smaller-framed Arenas.

Javier`s original interest was in painting, and he studied at Madrid`s Escuela de Artes y Oficios. Eventually, deciding he`d never be a talented painter, he drifted into a number of odd jobs, working as a bouncer, a writer, a construction worker, and even a stripper.

Ten years ago, a stranger in a disco asked him his name. When Javier replied, the man punched him in the face for no apparent reason, breaking his nose.

Played rugby union as a teen and was on the Spanish National Team.

Says in interviews that he doesn`t know how to drive.

His Best Actor nomination for Before Night Falls (2000) made him the first Spanish actor to receive an Academy Award nomination and his Best Supporting Actor victory for No Country for Old Men (2007) made him the first Spanish actor to win an Academy Award.

Grandson of Rafael Bardem.

Nephew of director Juan Antonio Bardem.

Son of Pilar Bardem.

Brother of Carlos Bardem and Mónica Bardem.