How is it working really quintessential American directors?
JB: There are a serious numbers of masters in the filmmaking industry. But on the top of that [list], for me, are the Coens. So when this thing happened, I was pinching myself. This is one of a few dreams coming true in my professional life, to be able to be in one of the Coen brothers’ movies. Truly. When I saw Blood Simple or Fargo, being a Spanish actor, [I knew] how deeply American their movies are, all of them. [I thought] it was impossible [for me to be in their films]. But can you believe it, it happened. VH1: Every since Cannes, there have been talks of an Oscar for you. JB: I went through the experience of being nominated [for Before Night Falls, his first movie in English]. I only prepared [for that film] for a month and then the whole thing vanished. And the whole thing was the outside world telling [me that I’ll] be nominated. You find yourself becoming aware of that, and it doesn’t happen. There was a time, when I felt logically disappointed . . . . We all want to be appla
