“Gypsy”, the fourth musical directed by Antonio Banderas in his theater in Malaga, had a big star in the audience yesterday. Actor Richard Gere attended one of the performances of the play starring Marta Ribera, whom he expressly congratulated on her performance. The American actor, winner of a Golden Globe, congratulated the rest of the cast, although he cannot understand all the dialogues due to his knowledge of Spanish. He also congratulated Banderas on his commitment to the CaixaBank Soho theater, which he described as “beautiful,” according to sources consulted.

Gere, who has been living in Madrid since last year, came to Malaga with his Spanish wife Alejandra Silva and checked into the Hotel Miramar. Regarding the decision to move to Madrid, Gere admitted a few months ago: “For me, coming to Spain is a great adventure because I have never lived full-time outside the United States. And I think it will be very interesting for my children too.” For Alejandra, it is wonderful to be closer to her family, her lifelong friends and her culture. She was very generous in giving me six years of life in my world, so I think it’s only fair that I give her at least six more years of life in hers.

Banderas and Gere have had a close bond for years. At an event organized by Elle in November, the star of hits such as “Pretty Woman” and “An Officer and a Gentleman” revealed the origins of their friendship: the Malaga actor recently confessed that he had sold a photo of the two of them to the paparazzi buy a plane ticket to Los Angeles. “It was the first time he came to Los Angeles, so the credit for his international career goes entirely to me,” he joked about the fame the “The Skin I Live In” star has achieved on the other side of the Atlantic .

In 2022, Gere was one of the guests at the charity gala organized by the Starlite Foundation, hosted by Banderas and Sandra García-San Juan. On this occasion the protagonist was Alejandra Silva, who was recognized for her participation in the NGO Open Arms. “I am very happy about the recognition after the pandemic and after such a difficult time for work that is not just mine,” she said at the time.

Gere began his film career in the mid-1970s, but it was only in the early 1980s that he began to stand out as an actor, thanks to his participation in the films American Gigolo directed by Paul Schrader and Officer and Gentleman directed by Paul Schrader by Taylord Hackford; In both cases these were roles that John Travolta had previously turned down. In 2002, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded him an honorary Oscar in recognition of his career.