DIEGO, JUAN

(1942- )

An actor's actor, respected and admired by the profession (Javier Bardemconsiders him his hero), Juan Diego had a long career on stage andtelevisionbefore he was widely recognized as an established screen presence. Since the late 1950s, he had been a regular in various TV roles, particularly in filmed plays. From the late 1960s, he was featured in a number of low-budget films, including some byEloy de la Iglesia(Algo amargo en la boca[Something Bitter in the Mouth, 1969 ],La criatura[The Creature, 1977 ]), but remained primarily a stage actor.During the Transition, he was very committed to left-wing causes and owed his reputation to activism rather than acting. This began to change in the mid-1980s. Paradoxically, it was his part as a heartless Francoist landowner inLos santos inocentes(The Holy Innocents,Mario Camus, 1984) that first brought him to film audiences' attention. He was also the first Spanish actor to play General Francisco Franco on screen, inDragon Rapide(Jaime Camino, 1986).

These two roles were a first measure of an outstanding versatility, displayed in a variety of protagonist and supporting roles. A selective list of his most remarkable parts would include his Saint John of the Cross inCarlosSaura'sNoche oscura(Dark Night, 1989); a very funny and cannily drawn nervous monk inEl rey pasmado(TheBaffled King,Imanol Uribe, 1991); the castrated father in the testosterone-fuelledJamón,Jamón(Bigas Luna, 1992); a nudist libertarian inParis Timbuctú(Luis G.Berlanga, 1994); a highly strung and uncommunicative boss inSmoking Room(Roger Gual y Julio D. Wallowits, 2002); a low-life boss inLa virgen de la lujuria(Virgin of Lust, Arturo Ripstein, 2002); the menacing head of a publishing company in trouble (Torremolinos 73, Pablo Berger, 2003); and a failed actor bonding with his son inVete de mí(Go Away From Me, Victor García León, 2006) for which he won aGoyaaward.