Javier Bardem on Declining ‘Skyfall’ Role, Pitching to Sam Mendes: “What If He Wants to Have Sex With Mr. Bond?”

The Spaniard spoke at a BFI London Film Festival session about his glittering career, including why 'No Country for Old Men' supporting actor Gene Jones shares half of Bardem's Oscar. Javier Bardem spoke at London Film Festival about declining his 'Skyfall' role but pitching to Sam Mendes: 'What if he wants to have sex with Bond?'. Spanish star Javier Bardem thanked a BFI London Film Festival crowd for getting out early on Sunday morning to attend a Screen Talk session with him. Bardem, whose other half, Penelope Cruz, is also enjoying some time in the spotlight this year (thanks to a trifecta of buzzy films: La Bola Negra, The Invite and Bunker), is in the British capital promoting his and Cruz’s Bunker as well as The Beloved, in which he co-stars with Victoria Luengo.

During the talk, Bardem reflected on a glittering career, from his early life growing up in one of Spain’s most prestigious acting families to winning an Oscar and, this year, finally conquering his fear of the stage. In one of the session’s lighter moments, Bardem, known for roles in Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) and the Dune franchise, spoke about initially declining one of his most iconic roles, as the villainous but sexually magnetic former agent of