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Spanish actor Javier Bardem has never been shy when it comes to talking about his views. Whether it be his opposition to the Iraq War in 2003 or his vocal opposition to Israeli actions in Gaza in recent years, he says what he feels.

Which is why very few people were surprised when he spoke freely about Gaza during an interview with Variety on Tuesday. Responding to a question on what motivates him to speak, he said, “It’s funny, because the question would be, how come I wouldn’t?”

He said he has always felt that he has microphones and recorders recording his voice, and that he has the right to denounce what he thinks is wrong, gesturing to the recording equipment set up around him.

The actor, who ended his last speech at the Academy Awards with, “No to war, and free Palestine,” said he anticipated a couple of jeers from the crowd, certainly not the cheers he received instead.

He agreed there was pressure to stay quiet when it comes to the war on Gaza, as evidenced by Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon being dropped by her agent because of her opposition to Israel.

“That tells you how wrong this whole system is,” Javier said. “She was one of the first ones to go there. And then she got that professional punishment.”

He said he might have been targeted too. “Yes, I’ve heard things: ‘They were going to call you about that project, but that’s gone.’ Or, ‘This brand was going to ask you to do the campaign, but they cannot.’ It’s fine. I live in Spain, American studios are not the only place.”

The actor said there was more to the story, though. “Some people will put you on a blacklist. I cannot tell you if that’s true or not — I don’t have the facts. What I do have the facts about are the new people that are calling you because they want you in their project. That makes me feel that the narrative that they’ve been using for so long is changing.”

Another thing he feels very strongly about, as someone who grew up in 20th-century Spain, is masculinity and how toxic it can get. “We were educated in a culture that was giving us all we wanted, and we took for granted that we are way more powerful and more in control — we are the driving force, as men. That is absolutely wrong in every sense.”

He said he was “very sensitive” on the subject as the father of a teenage boy and a pre-teen girl. “One of the things I’m very afraid of is that we’re going backwards.” He credits his mother, actor Pilar Bardem, for raising him right when his father was absent.

“My mother fought very hard to find her own place and to find her dignity — and I worship her. I worship her sacrifice, and her love and her strength,” he said.

Lastly, he spoke about his wife and occasional co-star, Penélope Cruz. The couple, who rarely appear together in public, don’t talk about work at home, Javier revealed. “We don’t waste too much time talking about work, though we love what we do. We try to compartmentalise life and fiction.”

Likely Cruz’s biggest fan, the actor said, “When I see her being photographed on some magazines, I go, ‘Is that my wife? Jesus, is it? It must be!’”

He also said, “It’s important that you respect and support your partner, but also that you admire that person for what she is, for what she does. Penélope is an amazing, beautiful, good human being… It’s been a lot of years, and I haven’t seen a hint of malice in her.”

Javier said he enjoys working with Cruz particularly because it gives him a chance to sit down with her in her element, and for them to “listen to each other and be in emotional contact for many hours”.