Antonio Banderas congratulates Morocco after they beat Spain in the Qatar World Cup

Antonio Banderas congratulates Morocco after they beat his home nation Spain in the Qatar World Cup as he attends dedicated Red Sea International Film Festival event

Antonio Banderas showed off his smart but casual style as he walked the red carpet at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

The actor, 62, wore a navy blue T-shirt and cream trousers as he arrived at the In Conversation with Antonio Banderas event.

Spanish screen star Antonio congratulated Morocco during his Q&A session on their triumph against his home nation in the Qatar World Cup this week, after Morocco beat Spain 3-0 on penalties on Tuesday.

Keeping it casual: Antonio Banderas, 62, showed off his smart but casual style as he walked the red carpet at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Thursday

He said: ‘In a way, that match represented the personalities of what is going on in our country right now. The Spanish didn’t know what to do. They were just passing horizontally, but the goal is there! 

‘So congratulations to Morocco. What the hell! I was surprised the defeat didn’t hurt me that much. On other days, I would’ve spent three days depressed!’

The star said he felt an affinity to Morocco growing up in Spain, with the country being less than nine miles from Morocco at its closest point. 

In conversation: The actor wore a navy blue T-shirt and cream trousers as he arrived at the In Conversation with Antonio Banderas event

In conversation: The actor wore a navy blue T-shirt and cream trousers as he arrived at the In Conversation with Antonio Banderas event

Success: Spanish screen star Antonio congratulated Morocco (pictured) during his Q&A session on their triumph against his home nation in the Qatar World Cup this week

Success: Spanish screen star Antonio congratulated Morocco (pictured) during his Q&A session on their triumph against his home nation in the Qatar World Cup this week 

Missed out: Spain's Ansu Fati is seen sitings on the floor looking dejected moments after Morocco beat Spain 3-0 on penalties on Tuesday

Missed out: Spain’s Ansu Fati is seen sitings on the floor looking dejected moments after Morocco beat Spain 3-0 on penalties on Tuesday

He explained: ‘I can see Morocco from my house. Moroccan culture was in my house. I had a relationship with them.’

Antonio’s latest film Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is playing at the Red Sea International Film Festival as part of the Red Sea: Families and Children strand.

He said his understanding of different cultures has enable him to break down barriers in his acting career after he was told he’d have to play ‘the bad guys’ while living in the United States in the early nineties.

Linked: The star said he felt an affinity to Morocco growing up in Spain, with the country being less than nine miles from Morocco at its closest point

Linked: The star said he felt an affinity to Morocco growing up in Spain, with the country being less than nine miles from Morocco at its closest point

The star said his 1998 film The Mask of Zorro holds a special place in his heart as he was given a ‘sword and a mask’ for his role as Alejandro Murrieta / Zorro, while the villain ‘had blue eyes, was blonde and spoke perfect English’.

Antonio went on to congratulate festival organisers in Saudi Arabia, saying they were ‘opening space’ for Arab countries to say: ‘We have something to say and we are going to do it on the big screen’.

He added that he was ‘happy to be here and defend that idea’. 

Movie magic: Antonio's latest film Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is playing at the Red Sea International Film Festival as part of the Red Sea: Families and Children strand

Movie magic: Antonio’s latest film Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is playing at the Red Sea International Film Festival as part of the Red Sea: Families and Children strand

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