Cuban-born Steven Bauer has made only two films: Scarface
and his latest,
Thief of Hearts, but his exciting talent and instant sex appeal
look set to
make him Hollywood's new screen heart throb.
As they say in Hollywood, he's going to
be hot. And I mean hot! Who would have thought that a young
unknown could emerge from Al Pacino's overwhelming shadow, to shine through
the hail of bullets and chainsaw carnage of "Scarface". But Steven
Bauer managed it in the most electrifying screen debut of 1984.
His casting as funny, flashy, volatile Manny Rivera, right hand man to
Pacino's Cuban drug king, was not only perfect but appropriate.
Bauer is himself a Cuban, brought to America,
at the age of three, by his airline pilot father and schoolteacher
mother, to join the burgeoning Cuban expatriate community of Miami.
"We were all hungry for American culture when we arrived," recalled
Bauer, "and movies, especially musicals, were an important part of our
lives." As a child Bauer learned to play the guitar and trumpet,
and joined his high school choir. Acting caught his interest at
college, where he enrolled in any course connected with theatre - drama,
ballet, speech and modern dance. But it was after winning a role
as one of the Jets in a Miami University production of "West Side Story"
that his commitment to acting deepened.
His first breakthrough came when he won
a role in a local television series called "Que Pasa USA". Soon
after, Hollywood beckoned and Bauer found himself with a TV contract.
Moving to California the young actor made his 'network' debut in "The
Rockford Files", followed by six months as a regular opposite William
Devane in the series "From Here to Eternity". After a succession
of other guest-starrring roles on television, Bauer moved to New York to
study with famed drama coach Stella Adler. There he appeared in
off Broadway productions of "Waiting for Lefty" and "Mozart and Salieri".
Then came "Scarface".
His latest is "Thief of Hearts", a romantic
thriller in which he plays the starring role of burglar Scott Muller.
"Scott is the ultimate professional," says Bauer. "He's a guy
who's cultivated his mind and his sense of style because that's what
is important to his work. But he's always been on the outside until
he sees a chance to connect with someone..." That someone is co-star
Barbara Williams, and how they connect! But although the couple
enjoy some erotic love scenes together, Bauer proves that he's just
as, if not more, sexy with his clothes on, as he is with them off.
Okay, so the script is silly and the plot a contrived piece of glossy
nonsense, but believe me, Bauer makes it all positively crackle with
energy. I confidently predict this thief, with his dark good looks,
athletic physique and panther-like grace, will steal the heart of many
a female viewer. Richard Gere had better watch out. Steven
Bauer is about to topple him as the screen's new heart throb.
