Born on 12 December in 1960 in Málaga,[1][2] Bandera started his career performing as dancer in the game show Un, dos, tres... responda otra vez.

[3] He landed a breakthrough role with his performance in the Jaime Chávarri's film The Things of Love (1989), which garnered him public recognition.

[1][4][2] He played Mario, a homosexual artist victim of the Francoist repression,[2] inspired by the real-life Miguel de Molina [es].

[6][7] Bandera starred in the lead role of Boabdil in the television miniseries Réquiem por Granada.

[8] He has performed several main cast roles in soap operas, including El súper,[9] Amar en tiempos revueltos,[7] Bandolera[10] and Acacias 38.