There are actors whom you remember once and for all. This refers to one of the "universal soldiers" of American cinema - Michael Penier. Why universal? Because the range of his roles is so wide that you no longer understand - Peña is in front of you or someone else, he is so skillfully reincarnated.
Most of the films with his participation cannot be called Oscar-winning or stellar, but they are definitely remembered, and both spectators and critics speak about them. Moreover, the multi-genre of the pictures in which the actor is shot ensures the interest of spectators of different tastes and social layers.
Actor Biography
Michael Anthony Pena was born in 1976 in Chicago in a family of Mexican immigrants. After arriving from Mexico, his mother became a social worker, and his father became a factory worker. Since childhood, the boy dreamed of becoming an actor.
Like all ordinary children, Michael graduated from high school, and then moved to Hubbard High School - a school for gifted and motivated students. This education was enough for him to get a job at the bank. Like all aspiring actors, he had to earn a living. In another way, you will not get into the cinema.
Michael constantly went to auditions in the hope that he would be noticed and invited to the shooting. This happened in 1994, when he got the role of Bank in the film "Free Hunter". This film was followed by a series of soap operas, but Peña’s partners were real celebrities: in “The Seventh Heaven” he starred with Jessica Beale, in the “Slaughter Department” with Daniel Baldwin, in “The Profile of the Killer” with Julian MacMahon.
Movie career
The young actor learned a lot during the time that he was next to these stars, and became more confident and liberated. In 2000, he starred in the film, which is still watched by viewers around the world - this is the action movie "Gone in 60 Seconds" with Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie in the lead roles. A dramatic plot, charismatic actors, a chase involving the police, a real threat to the lives of loved ones - all this could not leave indifferent any viewer, and the film became a cult.
Six years later, he will again meet with Cage on the set of the twin towers catastrophe film, where they played policemen rescuing people after the explosion. This is the story of September 11, horrified the whole world. Maggie Gyllenhaal became Peña's partner, she played his wife.
The acting world is very cramped, and now Michael is filming with his on-screen wife's brother Jake Gilenhall in the Slaughter Department, and a little later in Patrol. Here Peña again plays the role of a policeman. Apparently, the directors see in him a sort of brutal character capable of courageous acts. Indeed, the film turned out to be interesting: it touched on the topic of male friendship, pride and self, which lead to dramatic consequences, which often happens in life.
Filmography of Peña
In 2004, a real breakthrough occurred in the actor’s career: he played a major role in “The Clash”. This is a drama in which the problems of modern society are revealed: racial, religious, moral, philosophical, legal and others. The film received three Oscars, there were two nominations for the Golden Globe, and it was also awarded two prizes by the British Film Academy. And Pena himself received the ALMA Awards prize.
This is what happens in the fate of the actors: once you wake up famous because the audience liked your work. And then it turns out that critics also appreciated the contribution of the entire group to the creation of the film project, and this is doubly pleasant. True, such moments happen quite rarely, but once is enough to feel at the top of Olympus.
In general, Peña was very lucky with his partners on the set in his cinema everyday life. For example, in 2004, he starred with Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman in the sports drama Baby in a Million. This is the tragic story of an athlete who decided to become a professional boxer, achieved success, and then was injured and because of this she could no longer perform. The dramatic ending of the story caused an ambiguous reaction from the audience, but did not leave anyone indifferent.
Another Oscar-winning film starring Peña is the drama "Babylon" (2006). The main character here was played by Brad Pitt, who for the sake of this project refused all other offers. Apparently, not in vain, because the picture was highly appreciated by BAFTA, the American Film Academy, various guilds of actors, and also received recognition from the Cannes Film Festival. Peña played a border guard here.
In general, he played many roles of the military, police and the like. For example, in the films "War against all", "Martian" (astronaut), "Shooter", "California Road Patrol" and others.
The best films in the portfolio of Michael Peña: “The Martian, ” “Shooter, ” “Patrol, ” “Fury, ” “Ant-Man.” Best TV shows: Narco: Mexico, Ambulance, Slaughter Department, Shield, CSI Crime Scene.
The last work of the actor - the role in the family film "Dora and the Lost City". This is an interesting adventure picture that combines several motives at once: the theme of friendship and love, the theme of socialization of a person in society and the theme of our past - lost civilizations. The film has already collected a decent box office and received favorable reviews from the audience.
