"To the woman I love and shared my life with, I want to thank and express my deep gratitude for the human being that you are."
That's what Javier Bardem said on September 20 when he accepted the Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award at the San Sebastian 2024 Spanish festival. The actor's words were addressed to his wife Penelope Cruz, the Hollywood Reporter reported.
Bardem, who has starring roles in Dune: Part Two, No Room for Old Men, which earned him an Oscar, and Skyfall, among countless acclaimed Spanish projects such as Huevos de Oro and Detective and Death ", accepted the award from his sister and brother Monica and Carlos Bardem.
The actor recalled the Silver Scallop he won for Best Actor 30 years ago.
"It was the beginning of a great friendship with this wonderful film festival that has given me so much personally and professionally," said Bardem.
"San Sebastian is a place where 30 years ago I won an award that I still can't believe was given to me and now I'm here receiving it from my brother and sister who I love and admire," added the star.
He used the opportunity to pay tribute to his family: “They educated me at a time when my mother had to work 24 hours a day. .If I am alive physically, not only spiritually and emotionally, it is because of my brother and sister, who took care of me, gave me their attention and love."
“I want to dedicate this award to four people: My mother, who is present, she is here in the theater, and she is happy, I can feel it. And to the woman I love and with whom I have shared a life, I want to thank and express my deep gratitude for the human being that you are and how you can be responsible for life, for the life of your children, for the life of your family, your mother, your friends, for the lives of others, for the many people you don't know, for whom you suffer and care, and undoubtedly for the life of this gentleman who is here, who loves you and thanks you very much for that," Bardem said, also thanking his two children, Leo and Luna.
Bardem ended his speech by thanking the film festival and walked off the stage to a standing ovation. He was supposed to accept the award last year, but was forced to postpone because of the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike. | BGNES
