Began career working with independent theater company in home town of Malaga at age 14, having abandoned dreams of playing professional soccer after breaking foot

Formed theater troupe and traveled around southern Spain in an old truck putting on street productions

Moved to Madrid; worked as a waiter and department store clerk while trying to get acting jobs (date approximate)

Worked for five years as an ensemble member of Spain's National Theater

Made professional stage debut in "Los Tarantos"

Feature film debut, "Labyrinth of Passion" (released in the USA in 1990); first collaboration with Pedro Almodovar

Acted in Carlos Saura's "Los Zancos/The Stilts"

Reteamed with Almodovar for "Matador"; first film with Carmen Maura

Third film with Almodovar, "Law of Desire", cast him as a heterosexual discovering homosexual love

Co-starred in Almodovar's "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown", starring Maura; then-wife Ana Leza also in cast

Played gigolo opposite Maura's wealthy, sexually dysfunctional woman in Rafael Moleon's (former assistant to Almodovar) feature directing debut, "Baton Rouge"; fourth film with Maura; Victoria Abril also starred

Starred opposite Abril in Almodovar's "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!"; last collaboration to date with the director (left cast of 1991's "High Heels" to do "Mambo Kings"); fourth film with Abril

Appeared as himself in Madonna's tour documentary "Truth or Dare"; the 'Material Girl' gave his career a big boost by publicly (and unrequitedly) lusting after him

Acted in first Hollywood film, Arne Glimcher's "The Mambo Kings"; had to learn the entire script phonetically, and the fact that he did not understand what he was saying showed

Reteamed with Saura for "Outrage"

Played hunks in two high profile films: opposite Glenn Close and Winona Ryder in "The House of the Spirits" (based on the Isabel Allende novel) and as Tom Hanks' lover in "Philadelphia"

Portrayed sinister gay bloodsucker Armand in Neil Jordan's film adaptation of "Interview with the Vampire"

Acted in "Of Love and Shadows", another picture adapted from a work by Allende

First leading role in Hollywood film, Robert Rodriguez's "Desperado"

Co-starred with future wife Melanie Griffith in "Two Much"

Played Che in the film musical "Evita", opposite Madonna

Formed Green Moon Productions, deriving its name from Federico Garcia Lorca's declaration that "Andalusians are not dark from the sun, but from the green moon"

Starred alongside Anthony Hopkins in "The Mask of Zorro"; Martin Campbell replaced Rodriguez as director

Feature directorial debut, "Crazy in Alabama", starring Griffith; also produced

Reteamed with Glimcher for "The White River Kid" (filmed in 1998); aired on Starz! in lieu of a theatrical release

Starred opposite Woody Harrelson as professional boxing rivals in Ron Shelton's "Play It to the Bone"

Reteamed with Robert Rodriguez to play a retired espionage agent who comes out of retirement in "Spy Kids"

Had leading role opposite Angelina Jolie in "Original Sin"

Reprised role of espionage agent and parent in "Spy Kids 2"

Co-starred in the bio pic feature "Frida"

Co-starred opposite Rebecca Romijn-Stamos in "Femme Fatale"

Made Broadway debut in a revival of the award-winning musical "Nine"

Returned to his role as Gregorio Cortez in "Spy Kids 3D: Game Over"

Reteamed with director Robert Rodriguez for "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" the third in an unofficial trilogy begun with "El Mariachi"

Portrayed Pancho Villa in the HBO movie "And Starring Poncho Villa as Himself"; received a Golden Globe and an Emmy nomination for Best Actor in a Miniseries or movie (2004)

Voiced the character Puss-in-Boots, opposite Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz for "Shrek 2"

Reteamed with Catherine Zeta-Jones and director Martin Campbell for "The Legend of Zorro"

Played a former professional dancer in the musical-drama "Take the Lead"

Directed second feature, the Spanish-language production "El Camino de los Ingleses/The English Path"

Reprised role of Puss in Boots for "Shrek the Third"

Cast opposite Jennifer Lopez in "Bordertown"