Gael Garcia Bernal rides the Latin American new wave

He does not regret his time in London, though you sense it was a difficult period: "Of course, millions of people live like that — with no money and no family close by. Without that support, it was hard to kick things off. But for me, London sends you down a route of introspection in a way that no other city does. It was an introspection compounded by loneliness. The city confronts you and exploits the most creative side of you. Maybe that's why there are so many great artists from there." He worked on building sites and in Cuba Libre, an Islington bar, to make his way. He reckons he could still knock out a decent mojito if push should happen to come to shove. Quite clearly, it won't.