Javier Bardem awarded Spanish National Cinema Prize

Spain's ICAA film institute has awarded actor Javier Bardem its National Cinema Prize in the amount of $46,000. For what, you ask? Well it's not for "being terrifying," as his Oscar-winning role in No Country For Old Men might suggest (see above).

Rather, the ICAA (Institute of Cinematogrphy and Audiovisual Art) recognized Bardem for his recent parts in stellar films like Best Picure-recipient No Country, as well as his "defense of the acting profession and continued commitment to Spanish film at home and abroad," Variety reports.

Bardem's next appearance will be in the forthcoming Woody Allen flick Vicky Cristina Barcelona, alongside Patricia Clarkson, Penélope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson. (The film appeared at the Cannes Film Festival in May and will release stateside Aug. 15.) As previously reported, he won't be appearing in Rob Marshall's Nine because he's taking a much-needed break. The next show on Bardem's docket, according to the IMDb, is the Joe Carnahan-directed Colombian gangster film Killing Pablo, scheduled for release in 2009.

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Javier Bardem on IMDb
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