An interview with Antonio Banderas about the new SpongeBob movie: A Sponge Out Of Water

Yes, that’s right, Antonio Banderas. And me. Face to face. In New York City.

Boom.

I was in New York to talk to Antonio Banderas about his role as Burger-Beard the Pirate in The SpongeBob Movie: A Sponge Out Of Water and the location for my interview was The Ritz Carlton, overlooking Central Park. I’d dressed up nice and brushed my hair and had a notebook and pen. I’d put together my questions at breakfast that morning and was imagining myself as pretty cool.

Although I was feeling reasonably well prepared for this interview, having already interviewed the director and figured out how things worked,* I was completely thrown the minute Antonio Banderas opened his mouth as he IS Puss in Boots.

If you’re not sure what I mean, listen to this short clip before you listen to my interview. It’s rather disconcerting to feel like you are actually interviewing a cat.

Antonio Banderas was, of course, charming, even when I asked him a very silly question about seagulls ruling the world. He did look slightly confused by the question to be fair, but I have edited out all of the bits where he said ‘er, what??’ to make it look like he was totally on board for the whole interview. What I hadn’t realised until I watched it back was how much ridiculous giggling and flicking of hair I did, which is weird as I didn’t even fancy him. I mean he was lovely and everything, but he is basically a cat.

The SpongeBob Movie: A Sponge Out Of Water is out in the UK on March 27th.

*As in I had recovered from the realisation that there would be proper massive cameras and professional lights shining in my face, and that I would have to gracefully manoeuvre myself into a very high director’s chair without looking like a buffoon. 

I was flown out to New York by Paramount to help with the promotions for the SpongeBob Movie: A Sponge Out Of Water.