Gael Garcia Bernal has revealed that he "chooses projects based on the director" when deciding on film roles.

Gael stars in the Oscar-nominated No, a Chilean film about the country's democratic revolution in the 1980s.

He said that he signed on "to work with [director] Pablo Larrain" and that he benefits from "bonding" with his directors.

The Mexican actor, who has also starred in The Science Of Sleep and The Motorcycle Diaries, said: "I like working with directors who I've worked with before like Alfonso Cuaron, Walter Salles. I've been in a very lucky situation."

Gael has featured in Hollywood films and in international films and said he enjoyed the variety of his career, adding: "I like to be surprised."

However, he did concede that he prefers "working in Spanish".

No centres on the 1988 campaign for democracy in Chile. Based on true events, Gael's character concocts a brilliant advertising campaign to dethrone the ruthless General Pinochet. The concept of the ad was "happiness".

Gael said: "That's the thing, it was necessary at that point to do something like that. They were experimenting with the commercial and that communication language. The lightness of the commercial and the campaign, it caused a great surprise every time anyone saw it on TV, especially related to politics."

:: No will be released on February 8.