Javier Bardem discusses Penélope Cruz, wealth and Ceuta migrant charity on La Revuelta

Promotion of El ser querido and Oscar preselection

Actors Javier Bardem and Victoria Luengo appeared on the RTVE talk show La Revuelta on Thursday night to promote their upcoming feature film El ser querido. Directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen and co-written with Isabel Peña, the drama follows a film director, played by Bardem, who returns to Spain to shoot a project about the Sahara while attempting to reconcile with his estranged actress daughter, portrayed by Luengo. The Spanish Film Academy selected the title as one of three preselected candidates to represent Spain at the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film. The production's opening sequence served as the actual first meeting between the two actors, requiring them to improvise a two-hour dialogue from a ten-page script without knowing the camera placements.

Gifts and support for Ceuta migrant charity

Upon arriving at the Teatro Albéniz studio in Madrid, the guests presented host David Broncano with two items from the set: a production clapperboard and a stuffed mackerel fish. Luengo explained that the toy referenced a scene where her character was required to eat 20 bowls of mackerel soup. Noting that residents of the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta are colloquially known as caballas, Broncano addressed the community on air before Bardem took the microphone to express support for a non-governmental organisation operating in the enclave since 1999.

“I would like to send a hug and my support to an organisation called Elin.”

Bardem explained that the group works to defend the human rights of migrants arriving at Spain's southern border in Ceuta.

First date memories and marriage to Penélope Cruz

During the interview, Broncano asked the guests about their last first dates. Luengo recounted an evening three and a half years ago with her current partner, which began after he falsely claimed to have bought cinema tickets and took her out to dinner instead. Bardem shared the story of his initial romantic weekend with his wife, actress Penélope Cruz, explaining that they traveled to London 19 years ago to see the Rolling Stones perform on Saturday and Prince on Sunday. The pair first met on the set of Jamón, jamón in 1992, reconnected while filming Vicky Cristina Barcelona in 2007, and married in 2010.

Responses to classic show questions on money and career

Bardem also addressed the programme's recurring questions regarding personal finances, sexual activity, and professional setbacks. When asked about his bank balance, the actor avoided specific figures while reflecting on his financial perspective and his focus on family security.

“I have more money than I would have ever imagined and much less than people assume.”

Bardem explained that having enough money provides stability for his family and allows him to assist close relations rather than pursuing endless accumulation. When the host explained the scoring rules for the question on monthly sexual relations, Bardem asked what petting meant before joking that his monthly tally matched his financial description. Both actors also recalled past job dismissals, with Bardem citing early hospitality work and Luengo describing discovering her character had been written out of a television series after reading that the role was moving to the United States.