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Carlos Bardem

Spanish actor (born 1963)

Spanish actor (born 1963)

FieldValue
imageFestival de Málaga 2024 - Carlos Bardem.jpg
captionBardem in 2024
birth_nameCarlos Encinas Bardem
birth_date
birth_placeMadrid, Spain
alma_materAutonomous University of Madrid (Lic.)
occupation
years_active1996–present
partnerCecilia Gessa (since 2010)
motherPilar Bardem
relatives

Carlos Encinas Bardem (born 7 March 1963) is a Spanish actor and writer. He is often cast in "tough guy" roles, if not outright villains. In addition to his native Spain, he has worked in film and television in Latin America and the United States. He has received three Goya Award nominations, both in acting and screenwriting categories, as well as six Actors and Actresses Union Award nominations (and two wins).

Since making his film debut in Not Love, Just Frenzy in 1996, he has featured in pictures such as La zona (2007), Cell 211 (2009), Scorpion in Love (2013), and González: falsos profetas (2013). His television work includes credits in series such as La embajada, Club de cuervos, El señor de los cielos, El Cid, Queer You Are, 30 Coins, and The Chosen One.

He has also penned several novels, displaying a penchant for historical fiction.

Life and career

Carlos Encinas Bardem was born in Madrid on 7 March 1963. He is the son of actress Pilar Bardem and the elder brother of actors Mónica and Javier Bardem. He earned a licentiate degree in history from the Autonomous University of Madrid and a diploma in foreign relations. He made his feature film debut in Not Love, Just Frenzy (1996), co-helmed by his cousin Miguel Bardem. A year later, he played a part in Álex de la Iglesia's film Perdita Durango, which starred his brother Javier.

In 1999, Bardem published his first novel, Muertes ejemplares, which was followed by Buziana o el peso del alma (2002).

He won an Actors and Actresses Union Award for Best New Actor for his performance in the Spanish-Mexican co-production La zona (2007).

His portrayal of Apache in Cell 211 (2009) earned him a nomination for the Goya Award for Best Supporting Actor.

In 2010, he began a relationship with Cecilia Gessa.

Bardem adapted alongside Santiago Zannou his own novel about the genesis of violence Alacrán enamorado to screen. He also featured in the film, titled Scorpion in Love (2013), as a boxing coach, and won nominations to the Goya both for Best Adapted Screenplay and for Best Supporting Performance. He described his character as "a deeply human and therefore imperfect character, who lives in permanent defeat, but who finds reasons to get up". He portrayed evangelical pastor and charlatan Elías in Mexican thriller González: falsos profetas (2013), receiving a nomination for the Ariel Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 2015, he appeared in Manolo Caro's comedy Elvira I Will Give You My Life But I'm Using It playing Gustavo, the husband of Cecilia Suárez's lead character Elvira. Continuing his work in Mexico, he played a football agent in comedy-drama series Club de Cuervos, which debuted on Netflix in 2015.

Bardem played the part of Benedicto, a mentor of the Order of Assassins, in the action film Assassin's Creed (2016).

In 2018, he starred in Colombian crime film Pickpockets in the role of Chucho, a mentor of young pickpockets.

In 2019, Bardem published his sixth novel, Mongo blanco (Plaza & Janés), which deals with 19th-century slave trader Pedro Blanco. Bardem reported that the novel's main theme "is evil, evil as a consequence of the evil exercise of power and extreme inequality".

Bardem played the villainous Count Flaín of León, an antagonist to Ruy Díaz de Vivar, in the Prime Video series El Cid, set in 11th-century Iberia.

He featured as the authoritarian father of in the former's autofictional series Queer You Are (2021), in a role in which Bardem's face is not displayed onscreen. Resuming collaboration with Álex de la Iglesia, he played a "narco-satanic" cardinal in the HBO series 30 Coins.

His 2023 novel Badaq (Plaza & Janés) is a moral fable and criticism of the Spanish empire dealing with the plight of an Indonesian female rhinoceros captured in the island of Pawu and taken to Madrid in the 16th century.

Views

Bardem attending a 2012 demonstration in Madrid in solidarity with the Sahrawi people with his mother Pilar

Bardem is committed to left-wing positions. He has sided in favour of the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people and has criticised the inaction of the Spanish political class in the matter since 1975. In the buildup to the 2011 Spanish general election, he lent public support to the electoral list of United Left.

In July 2025, Bardem signed a letter to the Government of Spain along with over 1,200 professionals demanding an immediate and comprehensive embargo of arms and defense material on Israel by means of a Royal Decree-Law, personally adding that "culture that does not denounce is collaborationist, culture must always be rebellious and critical”.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
Más que amor, frenesí (Not Love, Just Frenzy)Miguel
Perdita Durango (Dance with the Devil)Reggie San Pedro
Torrente, el brazo tonto de la ley (Torrente, the Dumb Arm of the Law)Cayetano
Resultado finalObrero
Código natural
La gran vidaMatón discoteca 1
Juego de Luna (Luna's Game)Reyes
BestiarioDemetrio
2004Cien maneras de acabar con el amorCarlos
El último negocioJavierShort film
Princesas (Princesses)Portero discoteca
El desenlaceRosendo
Por dinero negroRolfShort film
La bicicleta (The Bicycle)Antonio
AlatristeAlguacil
Goya's GhostsFrench Colonel
La zonaGerardo
La señalSiracusa
Che: Part Two
Solo quiero caminarRamón
El Niño PezComisario Pulido
Celda 211 (Cell 211)Apache
MalamuerteDorado
EntrelobosCeferino
Días de graciaVictima X
AmericanoLuis
10 pelisCarlos
TransgressionCarlos
Alacrán enamorado (Scorpion in Love)CarlomonteAlso screenwriter
Diamantes negrosRamón
González: falsos profetasPastor Elías
VioletSolomon
Anime nereMiguel
Escobar: Paradise LostDrago
Elvira, te daría mi vida pero la estoy usando (Elvira I Will Give You My Life But I'm Using It)Gustavo
Oliver's DealRubén Caravedo
RenkoAdán Rutz
Assassin's CreedBenedicto
Pickpockets: Maestros del robo (Pickpockets)Chucho
Loca OliviaHombre Misterioso
Alegría, tristeza (Happy Sad)Pedro López
A pesar de todo (Despite Everything)Pablo
Adiós (Bye)Santacana
CentauroBoro
Tabula rasa
Papeles (Papers)Raúl Fassano

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
HermanasKarlosRecurring role (season 2); 3 episodes
El comisarioJuanma CañizaresEpisode: "Muerto por error"
Hay alguien ahíJustoRecurring role (seasons 1–2); 17 episodes
CuéntameEl ChinoEpisode: "El último minuto de nuestra vida"
Club de CuervosEliseo Canales
La embajadaPaco CadenasRecurring role (season 1); 11 episodes
The SonPedro GarcíaRecurring role (season 1); 10 episodes
La zonaKrustyRecurring role (season 1); 4 episodes
TraiciónJulián CasasRecurring role (season 1); 9 episodes
El Señor de los CielosChivo AhumadaMain role. Season 6)
El CidEl conde FlaínMain supporting role; 5 chapters
Maricón perdido (Queer You Are)Padre
Madres. Amor y vidaHectorMain cast. Introduced in season 3
The Chosen OneFather Cruz
30 monedas (30 Coins)Cardenal de la Cruz

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
200817th Actors and Actresses Union AwardsBest New ActorLa zona
24th Goya AwardsBest Supporting ActorCell 211
19th Actors and Actresses Union AwardsBest Film Actor in a Secondary Role
1st Feroz AwardsBest Supporting Actor in a FilmScorpion in Love
28th Goya AwardsBest Adapted Screenplay
Best Supporting Actor
23rd Actors and Actresses Union AwardsBest Film Actor in Secondary Role
201557th Ariel AwardsBest Supporting ActorGonzález: falsos profetas
26th Actors and Actresses Union AwardsBest Television Actor in a Minor RoleLa embajada
28th Actors and Actresses Union AwardsBest Film Actor in a Minor RoleAlegría tristeza
32nd Actors and Actresses Union AwardsBest Actor in an International ProductionThe Chosen One

References

References

  1. Rojas, Antonio. (26 October 2023). "Una difícil y desigual relación entre el hombre y la naturaleza".
  2. Scarpellini, Pablo. (26 April 2017). "El desembarco americano del mayor de los Bardem con 'The Son'".
  3. Gómez, Sofía. (13 April 2018). "'Javier es el gran actor de la familia': Carlos Bardem".
  4. (6 February 2014). "Carlos Bardem, el actor que escribe sus propios guiones".
  5. Hernández, Nuria. (18 July 2021). "La vida entre fogones, libros y guiones de los tres hijos de Pilar Bardem".
  6. (2 October 2014). "Carlos Bardem recibirá el Premio Irmandade do Libro". [[Prensa Ibérica]].
  7. (1 April 2008). "La saga Bardem triunfa en los premios de la Unión de Actores".
  8. Tanarro, Angélica. (11 October 2007). "'Lust, Caution', León de Oro en Venecia, cerrará el Festival". [[Grupo Vocento]].
  9. Arrastia, Diana. (2 January 2021). "Carlos Bardem, gesto de hierro con alma de seda".
  10. Hernández, Nuria. (20 July 2019). "Directora teatral y fan del boxeo: Así es Cecilia Gessa, cuñada de Javier Bardem".
  11. (9 September 2013). "'Caníbal', 'Alacrán enamorado', 'La gran familia española'y '15 años y un día', en la carrera al Oscar". [[Grupo Joly]].
  12. Hernández, José. (1 February 2014). ""Hay que recuperar el cine en los colegios"". [[Prensa Ibérica]].
  13. Llano Neira, Pablo de. (16 October 2015). "“Señora, no se le olvide que tiene que entregarle algo al Señor”".
  14. (22 April 2015). "Carlos Bardem, nominado a los Premios Ariel por ‘González: falsos profetas’".
  15. Diezmartínez Guzmán, Ernesto. (16 November 2015). ""Vértigo"".
  16. Martínez, Betty M.. (28 October 2015). "Netflix trae 'Club de Cuervos' a España: los 11 personajes que tienes que conocer".
  17. García, Fernando. (8 December 2016). "Fassbender y los asesinos buenos".
  18. (11 April 2018). "Carlos Bardem, maestro de carteristas en Pickpockets, "una bonita fábula de mentores y pupilos"".
  19. Gutiérrez, Marcos. (9 July 2020). "Carlos Bardem: «Hay que aprender de las atrocidades del pasado para no ser cómplice de las del presente»".
  20. (18 November 2019). "Carlos Bardem: "La mayor desigualdad es la que hay entre un esclavo y su amo"".
  21. (18 December 2020). "Carlos Bardem, feliz de ser villano en 'El Cid'; “yo pongo los obstáculos”".
  22. (25 June 2021). "Quién es quién en el reparto de 'Maricón perdido', la serie de Bob Pop para TNT".
  23. Guerra, Andrés. (18 October 2023). "Carlos Bardem: “La lucha contra la emergencia climática es una lucha política”".
  24. Díaz Alonso, Diego. (23 December 2023). "“Badaq es una meada en las glorias del imperio español”".
  25. (15 February 2023). "Carlos Bardem habla de su viaje ideológico: "Soy más de izquierdas que nunca. El diablo rojo"".
  26. (28 March 2022). "El Polisario: las relaciones "seguirán afectadas" hasta que España no cambie su posición sobre el Sáhara".
  27. (3 May 2011). "FiSahara: cine bajo las estrellas".
  28. Yanel, Agustín. (11 November 2011). "Ellos 'se mojan' y 'eligen IU'".
  29. (14 July 2025). "Más de 1.200 profesionales de la cultura, como Tosar o María Botto, piden a Sánchez decretar el embargo de armas Israel".
  30. (2007). "The cinema of Álex de la Iglesia". [[Manchester University Press]].
  31. Schwartz, Ronald. (2008). "Great Spanish Films Since 1950". [[The Scarecrow Press.
  32. Holland, Jonathan. (11 April 2006). "The Bicycle".
  33. (25 July 2017). "Cormenzana dirige a Roberto Álamo y Carlos Bardem en 'Alegría, tristeza, miedo, rabia', filme de "amor con mayúsculas"".
  34. Osco, Nelly. (14 June 2022). "Quién es quién en "Centauro", la película española de Netflix".
  35. Degaudenzi, Adrian. (7 February 2025). "Se estrena Tabula Rasa, thriller psicológico filmado en Juan Dolio".
  36. Ragoy, Micaela. (6 August 2024). "Henry Cavill: repasamos los futuros proyectos del actor de ‘The Witcher’ y ‘El hombre de acero’".
  37. Wiseman, Andreas. (2024-10-04). "James Paxton, Carlos Bardem, Lilly Krug & Alice Pagani Wrap On Peter Webber Action-Horror ‘Dragn’; Myriad Boards Ahead Of AFM".
  38. "Elenco de 'El señor de los Cielos 6' al completo".
  39. (28 April 2021). "Todo lo que se sabe de "Maricón perdido", la serie de Bob Pop".
  40. (18 January 2021). "Hiba Abouk, Carlos Bardem, Michelle Calvó y Adrià Collado se unen a ‘Madres. Amor y vida’ en su tercera temporada".
  41. Picado, Claudia. (6 September 2023). "'The Chosen One' Is a Fresh Take on a Tired Story".
  42. (6 November 2023). "'30 monedas' (2x03): partos imposibles y ejecuciones festivas en un descuidado pero vibrante episodio".
  43. EFE. (1 April 2008). "La saga Bardem triunfa en los premios de la Unión de Actores". Titania Compañía Editorial, S.L..
  44. Sande, Laura. (15 February 2010). "Ganadores de los Premios Goya".
  45. (30 March 2010). "La Unión de Actores premia a los intérpretes de 'Gordos', Celda 211' y 'La Señora'".
  46. Agudo, Jesús. (28 January 2014). "Lista de ganadores de los Premios Feroz 2014".
  47. "Alacrán enamorado". [[Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España]].
  48. (10 February 2014). "'El tiempo entre costuras' e 'Isabel' dominan en las nominaciones de la Unión de Actores". [[eldiario.es]].
  49. Redondo, David. (11 March 2014). "'El tiempo entre costuras' triunfa en los Premios Unión de Actores".
  50. (9 May 2015). "La nominación al Ariel ya es un premio: Carlos Bardem".
  51. (28 May 2015). "La película "Güeros" triunfa en los premios Ariel con cinco galardones".
  52. (13 February 2017). "Javier Pereira, entre los nominados a los Premios Unión de Actores".
  53. (14 March 2017). "'Tarde para la ira' arrasa en unos Premios Unión de Actores con fuerte reivindicación femenina".
  54. (12 February 2019). "Los Premios Unión de Actores y Actrices anuncian sus nominados". [[Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain.
  55. Silvestre, Juan. (12 March 2019). "'Arde Madrid' arrasa en los Premios de la Unión de Actores".
  56. (4 February 2024). "Todos los nominados de la 32 edición de los Premios Unión de Actores y Actrices de España".
  57. (12 March 2024). "Malena Alterio, Maribel Verdú, Lola Dueñas y Quim Gutiérrez, entre los protagonistas de los 32 Premios UA".
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