Man, remember walking out of the theater after seeing "Once Upon a Time in Mexico"? That cast just blew me away. Even Robert Rodriguez admitted in some interview I read ages ago that pulling together this lineup felt like winning the lottery. If you're digging around about once upon a time in mexico actors, you're probably like me – curious about who did what, where they disappeared to, or maybe just wanting to settle a bar bet about Enrique Iglesias' screen time. Let's break it down proper, no fluff.
Leading the Charge: The Headliners
This ain't no one-man show. You've got heavyweights chewing scenery left and right. What struck me rewatching it last month? How each actor carved out their own space in this chaotic masterpiece.
Antonio Banderas as El Mariachi
Third time playing the guitar-slinging gunslinger, and honestly? His coolest iteration. Banderas brings this worn-out resilience that makes you believe he's survived two previous massacres. Fun detail: Rodriguez told him to play it "like a Mexican Clint Eastwood," which explains those epic squinty glares. Post-Mexico, he dove into voice work (Puss in Boots, anyone?) and indie flicks, though I still think this role was his last truly great action performance.
Johnny Depp as Agent Sands
Depp doing weird? Shocking. But Agent Sands remains one of his most underrated creations. Those mirrored sunglasses? His idea. The way he eats that pork dish while monologuing? Improvised. He reportedly learned to handle guns left-handed for authenticity. After this, Depp went full Jack Sparrow mode – lucrative, sure, but I miss this brand of controlled madness.
Salma Hayek as Carolina
Her role's smaller than you remember (just 9 minutes of screentime!), but she leaves scorch marks. That kitchen fight scene? Hayek trained for weeks to make it look effortless. Fun fact: Rodriguez specifically wrote her part to be shot quickly because she was pregnant during filming. Career-wise, she shifted toward producing post-Mexico – ever see "Ugly Betty"? That was her baby.
Willem Dafoe as Barillo
Dafoe playing a villain? Groundbreaking. But Barillo’s different – he’s got this oily politician vibe mixed with cartel boss energy. Rumor has it he based the accent on a Mexican diplomat he met. Post-Mexico, he jumped right into "Spider-Man" as Green Goblin, but watch his Barillo scenes again – there’s a quiet menace Marvel never tapped into.
| Actor | Character | Memorable Scene | Post-Movie Career Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antonio Banderas | El Mariachi | Church shootout with guitar case arsenal | Oscar nomination for "Pain and Glory" (2019) |
| Johnny Depp | Agent Sands | "Are you a Mexi-can or a Mexi-can't?" speech | Pirates of the Caribbean franchise |
| Salma Hayek | Carolina | Tortilla dagger fight in kitchen | Produced Emmy-winning "Ugly Betty" |
| Willem Dafoe | Barillo | Corrupt general speech at military base | Oscar nominations for "The Florida Project" & "At Eternity's Gate" |
Wait, What?! Cast Trivia
- Cheech Marin (Belini) filmed his entire role in one day. Dude's a pro.
- Mickey Rourke (Billy) ad-libbed most of his lines while actually fixing a real motorcycle on set.
- Enrique Iglesias (Lorenzo) was so nervous during his death scene, it took 14 takes to get it right. Cut him slack – first acting gig!
The Scene-Stealers: Supporting Once Upon a Time in Mexico Actors
These folks prove Rodriguez understands casting. Small roles, huge impact. Makes you wonder why some didn't get bigger careers.
Rubén Blades as Jorge FBI
Blades, the salsa legend, brings unexpected gravitas as the weary agent. His final showdown with Barillo? Chilling. What’s wild is he rejected the role twice before Rodriguez convinced him. Post-Mexico, he focused on music but popped up in "Fear the Walking Dead." Still, criminally underused as an actor.
Eva Mendes as Ajedrez
Her first major film role! Mendes plays deception beautifully – you never know whose side she's on. Rodriguez liked her so much he expanded her part during shooting. Post-Mexico? Became a rom-com staple ("Hitch") though I always thought she deserved grittier roles like this one.
| Actor | Character | Role Significance | Where Did They Go? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rubén Blades | Jorge FBI | Moral compass in corrupt system | Music career, occasional TV roles |
| Eva Mendes | Ajedrez | Double-crossing informant | Romantic comedies, hiatus after 2014 |
| Mickey Rourke | Billy | Arm's dealer with weird tools | "The Wrestler" comeback, Marvel films |
| Enrique Iglesias | Lorenzo | Naive cop caught in crossfire | Global music superstar, no more acting |
| Danny Trejo | Cucuy | Silent knife specialist | B-movie king, "Machete" franchise |
Mickey Rourke's Bizarre Cameo
Rourke plays Billy, this shady weapons guy who monologues about the perfect gun while elbow-deep in motorcycle grease. Classic Rourke – mumbled brilliance. He filmed for just two days. Post-Mexico saw his career resurrection with "The Wrestler," though nothing beats his weird energy here.
Behind the Bullets: Production Secrets
Putting this cast together was like herding cats. Rodriguez wanted authenticity mixed with star power. Budget constraints ($29 million) meant creative deals.
Casting Chaos & Paychecks
Depp wasn't first choice – Rodriguez wanted George Clooney. Scheduling killed that. Depp took a pay cut for creative freedom (reportedly $3 million vs usual $20m). Banderas got top billing but Hayek earned more per minute (ouch).
Rodriguez's Rule for "Once Upon a Time in Mexico Actors"
"No Method acting allowed." He demanded quick takes and instinctive performances. Most scenes were shot in 1-3 takes. When Dafoe tried elaborate prep for a torture scene? Rodriguez handed him fake blood and said "Just go crazy in five minutes."
Where Are They Now? The Once Upon a Time in Mexico Cast Today
Let’s get real – some flourished, others faded. Here’s the current landscape:
Career Highs & Lows
- Banderas: Health scare (heart attack in 2017) slowed him down, but 2023 saw him in "Indiana Jones 5". Running a Spanish winery when not filming.
- Depp: Legal battles dominated recent years. Smaller indie projects post-trial. Rumored "Pirates" return feels unlikely.
- Hayek: Powerhouse producer ("House of Gucci", "Eternals"). Married to Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault – basically Hollywood royalty now.
- Dafoe: Never stopped working. Does 3-4 films yearly. Recent Oscar nods prove he’s aging like fine wine.
The Underrated MVPs
Marco Leonardi (Fideo) returned to Italian TV. Julio Oscar Mechoso (Old Guapo) became a prolific TV character actor until his 2017 death. Danny Trejo? Built an empire – taco shops, merch, 400+ acting credits. Dude hustles.
Why This Cast Still Matters
Look at modern action flicks. CGI armies. Green screen nonsense. Mexico’s cast reminded us that personality beats pixels. That kitchen fight with Hayek? Practical effects. Depp’s sunglasses gag? Low-tech genius. We got REAL performances, not just superhero poses.
What’s sad? Studios won’t fund this today. Too many egos. Too expensive. Rodriguez pulled it off by shooting fast and keeping things loose. Try that with Marvel now and you’d get fired by lunch.
Your Burning Questions About Once Upon a Time in Mexico Actors
Did Johnny Depp actually eat that spicy pork?
Oh yeah. That’s real pain. Rodriguez wanted authenticity so he had local chefs make cochinita pibil extra spicy. Depp did 8 takes of that scene and nearly threw up twice. Worth it though – that scene’s legendary.
Why didn’t Carlos Gallardo reprise his role as El Mariachi?
Original fans know Gallardo played Mariachi in Rodriguez’s ultra-low-budget "El Mariachi" (1992). By Mexico, producers insisted on star power. Gallardo got a cameo as the busboy who serves Depp instead. Politics, man.
How many Once Upon a Time in Mexico actors appeared in Rodriguez’s other films?
Let’s tally:
- Antonio Banderas: 4 films (Desperado, Spy Kids trilogy)
- Salma Hayek: 3 films (Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn)
- Danny Trejo: 12+ films (Machete, Spy Kids, etc.)
- Cheech Marin: 6 films (From Dusk Till Dawn, Spy Kids)
Rodriguez loves his repertory company.
Who was almost cast but didn’t make it?
Wild list: Benicio Del Toro (scheduling), Steve Buscemi (passed), Quentin Tarantino (wanted to play a hitman but couldn’t). Rodriguez’s original script had Selma Hayek’s role written for Penélope Cruz. Thank god that changed.
Final Thoughts on This Band of Misfits
Twenty years later, why do we still talk about these once upon a time in mexico actors? Because they felt dangerous. Unpredictable. Like anything could happen in a scene. Modern blockbusters feel focus-grouped into boredom. Rewatch the bar confrontation between Sands and El Mariachi – Depp and Banderas aren’t reciting lines. They’re playing jazz.
My hot take? Half this cast wouldn’t get hired today. Too quirky. Too "difficult." But that’s why Mexico endures. Imperfect? Absolutely. Overstuffed? Sure. But alive in ways most films forgot how to be. And hey, where else you gonna see a blind Johnny Depp mow down a cartel with a shotgun?
Comment