Sergi López(I)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Sergi López is a Spanish actor, whose specialty is villains of all
types but whose range also includes dramatizing romantic and comedic
roles with equal mastery. He was born outside of Barcelona in the
seaside town of Villanova i la Geltrú on December 22nd, 1965. As a
youth he was inclined towards the performance arts and headed to France
for further studies in the field. In 1991 he auditioned for French
director Manuel Poirier who was so
impressed with Sergi that he gave him the lead role in "Western."
Poirier and López continued to collaborate on "La Petite-Amie
d'Antonio," "La Campagne," "Attention Fragile," and "Marion" in
subsequent years. Sergi often played the charming Spanish immigrant
lost in France in Poirier's films.
Sergi's career was actually cemented in France that catapulted him to
public recognition, while Spain was still relatively oblivious to her
talented son until 1997. In 1997 Sergi appeared in Catalan auteur
Ventura Pons' "Caricies" that also showcased Spain's finest actors. He
spoke Catalan in the role. After "Caricies" Sergi appeared in Spanish
cinema more frequently such as in "Entre las piernas" with Spanish
mega-stars Javier Bardem and Victoria Abril and in "Lisboa" with
Spanish legend Carmen Maura. Sergi was then offered plum roles both in
France and Spain and split time traveling back and forth between his
adopted nation and native motherland.
In 2001 he won the César for his role in Dominick Moll's "Harry, Un Ami
Qui Vous Veut du Bien." This role came to define his mastery on
villainous roles which continued in "Solo Mia" with Paz Vega as his
battered wife, Stephen Frears' "Dirty Pretty Things" with Chiwetel
Ejiofor and Audrey Tautou as his scared pawns, and Guillermo del Toro's
"El Laberinto del Fauno" with post-Civil Spain as playground for his
Vidal's sadism.
However, not all is dark villainy in Sergi's most recognized and
praised thespian filmography. Sergi also displayed his comedic talents
in "Hombre Felices" and "Janis et John."
With such range, talent, and skill, it is no wonder horror master and
aficionado Guillermo del Toro said he is "in love" with Sergi's work
and insisted on casting him as the stone-cold killer Captain Vidal
despite Spanish producers' misgivings. Let us hope that, despite wider
international exposure, Sergi continues to retain his unique
avant-gardeness and participate only in projects that do his talent
justice.
types but whose range also includes dramatizing romantic and comedic
roles with equal mastery. He was born outside of Barcelona in the
seaside town of Villanova i la Geltrú on December 22nd, 1965. As a
youth he was inclined towards the performance arts and headed to France
for further studies in the field. In 1991 he auditioned for French
director Manuel Poirier who was so
impressed with Sergi that he gave him the lead role in "Western."
Poirier and López continued to collaborate on "La Petite-Amie
d'Antonio," "La Campagne," "Attention Fragile," and "Marion" in
subsequent years. Sergi often played the charming Spanish immigrant
lost in France in Poirier's films.
Sergi's career was actually cemented in France that catapulted him to
public recognition, while Spain was still relatively oblivious to her
talented son until 1997. In 1997 Sergi appeared in Catalan auteur
Ventura Pons' "Caricies" that also showcased Spain's finest actors. He
spoke Catalan in the role. After "Caricies" Sergi appeared in Spanish
cinema more frequently such as in "Entre las piernas" with Spanish
mega-stars Javier Bardem and Victoria Abril and in "Lisboa" with
Spanish legend Carmen Maura. Sergi was then offered plum roles both in
France and Spain and split time traveling back and forth between his
adopted nation and native motherland.
In 2001 he won the César for his role in Dominick Moll's "Harry, Un Ami
Qui Vous Veut du Bien." This role came to define his mastery on
villainous roles which continued in "Solo Mia" with Paz Vega as his
battered wife, Stephen Frears' "Dirty Pretty Things" with Chiwetel
Ejiofor and Audrey Tautou as his scared pawns, and Guillermo del Toro's
"El Laberinto del Fauno" with post-Civil Spain as playground for his
Vidal's sadism.
However, not all is dark villainy in Sergi's most recognized and
praised thespian filmography. Sergi also displayed his comedic talents
in "Hombre Felices" and "Janis et John."
With such range, talent, and skill, it is no wonder horror master and
aficionado Guillermo del Toro said he is "in love" with Sergi's work
and insisted on casting him as the stone-cold killer Captain Vidal
despite Spanish producers' misgivings. Let us hope that, despite wider
international exposure, Sergi continues to retain his unique
avant-gardeness and participate only in projects that do his talent
justice.