Gael Garcia Bernal – Actor Profile
Filmography & Biography of the Spanish Star of Motorcycle Diaries
Apr 8, 2008
Gael Garcia Bernal is an enigmatic actor who has pulled off the stupefying feat of courting favour in Hollywood whilst remaining true to his roots. Fluent in Spanish and English, Bernal has the ability to convince as an actor in either language, but more than that his performances are imbued with the power of subtlety. He can quietly dominate a scene with absolute stillness or the smallest flicker of an eye.
From Soap Star to World Cinema Icon
Gael Garcia Bernal was born in Guadalajara, the capital of Mexican state Jalisco, on the 30th November 1978. The son of actress Patricia Bernal and actor/director Jose Angel Garcia, it seems the urge to perform ran thickly in his veins. By the age of 14, Gael was appearing in Mexican soap opera El Abuelo y Yo, as well as various short films. Despite his rising popularity on Mexican TV, Bernal decided to study acting overseas. At the age of 19 he was accepted into the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama in London, where he honed his skill for 3 years. Then, on his return, Bernal was cast in the film which propelled him to global acclaim Amores Perros.
Filmography
- El Pasado (2007) Director: Hector Babenco
- Deficit (2007) Director: Gael Garcia Bernal
- Babel (2006) Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
- The Science of Sleep (2006) Director: Michel Gondry
- The King (2005) Director: James Marsh
- Bad Education (2004) Director: Pedro Almodovar
- The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) Director: Walter Salles
- Dreaming of Julia (2003) Director: Juan Gerard
- Dot the I (2003) Director: Matthew Parkhill
- I'm With Lucy (2002) Director: Jon Sherman
- El Crimen del Padre Amaro (2002) Director: Carlos Carrera
- Sin Noticias de Dios (2001) Director: Agustin Diaz Yanes
- Vidas Privadas (2001) Director: Fito Paez
- Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001) Director: Alfonso Cuaron
- Amores Perros (2000) Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Bernal's Portrayal of Che Guevara
Gael Garcia Bernal has also appeared in a number of TV productions, most notably playing Che Guevara in Fidel (2002), a part he reprised, of course, for Walter Salles in the Oscar winning Motorcycle Diaries. Guevara was a pivotal role for Bernal, and one which sealed his international reputation as a fully fledged movie star.
Bernal can also add directing to his list of talents, having completed the films Deficit and 8. The latter is an interesting idea consisting of a collection of 8 short films by different directors addressing the current state of the planet. Bernal joins such luminary directors as Wim Wenders, Gus Van Sant and Jane Campion on the project, which is currently in post production.
What's Gael Garcia Bernal Currently Up To?
Bernal is also starring in several soon to be released films. He's re-united with Y Tu Mama Tambien director Alfonso Cuaron for Rudo y Cursi, a film about soccer and sibling rivalry. City of God director Fernando Meirelles has cast Bernal in his latest film Blindness, and Swedish director Lukas Moodysson has him starring alongside Michelle Williams in Mammoth. Bernal is also working on Jim Jarmusch's new film The Limits of Control and has signed up to Vanilla Sky writer Mateo Gil's new project Pedro Paramo.
Sources: IMDb, Wikipedia, Gael Fan (all accessed 08/04/08)
Further Reading: An article about Gael Garcia Bernal's breakthrough movie Amores Perros.
