Lou Diamond Phillips mimicking Antonio Banderas for Elena of Avalor

Actor Lou Diamond Phillips is channelling his inner Antonio Banderas for his “suave” Latin villain in Disney’s new animated series, Elena of Avalor.
The La Bamba star worked closely with Banderas on last year’s (15) Chilean miner movie The 33, and Lou reveals he turned to his old pal for inspiration as he came up with the voice for his role as Disney baddie Victor Delgado.
“It worked out really well because I did this movie, The 33… with Antonio Banderas, and I’m doing a voice in Elena of Avalor,” he tells U.S. morning show Live! with Kelly.
“I play Victor Delgado… he’s a recurring villain. He’s suave, he’s debonair, and when you think of Latino and suave and debonair, you know, I spent two months in a mine with Antonio, without his shirt on, you’re going to get some essence on you! So now you get a little Banderas essence (in Elena of Avalor).”
“It comes out of me naturally, it comes out of my pores…,” Lou quips. “You just have to channel Antonio!”
Elena of Avalor also features the vocal talents of Jaime Camil and Tyler Posey, while Aimee Carrero stars in the titular role as Disney’s first Latin princess.