Javier Bardemchanneled Desi Arnaz for his Oscar-nominated performance.
As part of PEOPLE’s 2022Oscars portfolio in this week’s issue, Bardem, 53, explains how he got into Arnaz’s shoes — and recalls feeling his spirit with him on set.
“When you play a character like him, you are invoking his spirit and essence, and you have to be respectful with that. … Every time I would come back from the shoot, I would talk to him. I would look at the stars and let him know how the day went,” says Bardem. “And I would ask for his blessing and permission to go for the next day.”
He adds of Arnaz, “He fought [for inclusion] with a smile on his face. He never gave up.”
Ben Watts
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This is Bardem’s fourth Oscar nomination (he won Best Supporting Actor back in 2008 for his chilling turn inNo Country for Old Men), and his wife Penélope Cruz also earned a nod this year. She represents in the Best Actress category, and it’s also her fourth nomination (she won in 2009 forVicky Cristina Barcelona).
“We were sharing a sofa and we heard the announcement together,” says Bardem of finding out about their joint nominations with Cruz, 47. “That’s something we usually don’t do. She wants to have the news afterwards rather than being there suffering for the name to come up or not.”
“It was very strange and unique and special and moving, and at the same time surreal,” he adds. “It was everything at the same time.”
Being the Ricardosis now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
For more on this year’s Oscar nominees, pick up this week’s issue ofPEOPLE, on newsstands now.
source: people.com
