Hollywood actor Antonio Banderas has endorsed gay marriage.

The 53-year-old Banderas, who is best known for playing Zorro in The Mask of Zorro and portraying the voice of Puss in Boots in the Shrek franchise and Puss in Boots, made his comments in a wide-ranging interview with Peruvian journalist Beto Ortiz.

Speaking in Spanish, Banderas, who was born in Spain, said he “absolutely” favored Spain's 2005 law legalizing marriage for gay couples.

“I am absolutely in favor of gay marriage,” Banderas said.

“I believe that a legal framework is needed for people of the same sex who have decided to start a life together.”

Of the Catholic Church's position on the issue, Banderas said: “Pope Francis' last declarations were, 'Who am I to judge?' That seemed smart to me.”

“I think right now the church is inching closer to reality every day. And I think a Latin American pope is making giant steps,” Banderas added. (The video is embedded on this page. Visit our video library for more videos.)