Actor Antonio Banderas has opened up about his relationship with ex-wife Melanie Griffith, revealing they remain best friends 11 years after their divorce. Speaking with People, the 65-year-old Spanish actor admitted that his 68-year-old former spouse is, "if not my best friend, one of my best friends."
The couple tied the knot in 1996, but after 18 years together, Griffith filed for divorce in June 2014, and the split was finalized by December of that year. The Daily Mail reached out to a representative for Banderas and Griffith but has not yet received a response.
Banderas, whose new Anthony Bourdain biopic titled Tony opens on Friday, admitted that he and his ex-wife still make a habit of seeing each other regularly. "When I go to Los Angeles, we get together anyway, we got a lot of fun. We laugh and we just... It’s a very healthy thing, and it was very healthy for our kids," he said.
Family Dynamics and Children
Banderas and Griffith share one daughter, 29-year-old Stella Banderas. Griffith also has three other children from previous relationships: 40-year-old son Alexander Bauer, 36-year-old daughter Dakota Johnson, and 43-year-old Jesse Johnson, who is ex-husband Don Johnson's son from a previous relationship whom Griffith adopted.
When asked about the secret to keeping a friendly relationship going with his ex-wife, the Spy Kids actor stressed that their solution would not necessarily work for others. "The thing is that when we were a couple, when we separated, we were always very sincere," he shared. "We came out of our relationship in a nice way that was very important for [the kids] and for us."
The actor showered praise on Griffith for being an "unbelievable mother" while also praising their children. "I see them blossoming and becoming good people," he said.
Recent Public Reunions
Back in April, Banderas revealed a rare reunion with his ex-wife when he posted a photo to Instagram on a Monday morning after they enjoyed a cozy dinner over the weekend in Los Angeles. The Mask Of Zorro actor raved about Griffith, the daughter of The Birds star Tippi Hedren, calling the Oscar-nominated actress his "lifelong friend" as they sat together on a sofa while laughing.
Their 29-year-old daughter Stella Banderas was also in the frame alongside her husband Alex Gruszynski. "A lovely and fun moment yesterday in Los Angeles with my son-in-law Alex, my daughter Stella, and my ex-wife and lifelong friend, Melanie," Banderas wrote in his Instagram caption.
The social media post arrived shortly after the pair were seen leaving Japanese restaurant Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills days earlier. Dressed casually, Banderas and Griffith laughed together as they walked arm in arm with daughter Stella following close behind.
Relationship History and Split
The exes have remained close pals since settling their divorce. In a 2019 interview with Vulture, Banderas referred to Griffith as "family" and "one of my best friends." He declared at the time, "I am not married with Melanie anymore, but she is my family. She is probably one of my best friends, if not the best friend that I have. My family is there, Dakota, Little Estella and Alexander."
The couple fell in love while shooting the 1995 romantic comedy Two Much, married in May 1996, and welcomed Stella that September. The blonde beauty even tattooed her husband's name inside a heart on her arm during their marriage.
The Puss In Boots star admitted he was smitten by the Hollywood veteran the first time he saw her at the 1989 Academy Awards. "The first time I went to the Academy Awards after we got a nomination for Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, we got on the red carpet and I saw this blonde woman and I knew her because I saw movies of her, but I didn't remember [her name] at the time," Banderas recalled. "So, I said to Pedro Almodóvar, "Who is she? Who is she? What is her name?" Pedro said, "That's Melanie Griffith!" I said, "That's it. Oh my God." Six years later, I was married to her."
Their love story came to an end in 2014. In a joint statement announcing their split, they said, "We have thoughtfully and consensually decided to finalize our almost 20-year marriage in a loving and friendly manner honoring and respecting each other, our family and friends and the beautiful time we have spent together - Melanie & Antonio."
Health Perspective and Current Life
While speaking to People, Banderas also opened up about his 2017 heart attack, which he unexpectedly called the "best thing" that ever happened to him. "It was like somebody put glasses on me so I could see the reality that I didn’t see before," he explained, adding that he was "just too worried about stupid things" before the medical emergency.
Banderas reflected further on mortality and his outlook on life. "We sometimes forget that we are going to die," Banderas explained. "People live like they are not going to die. They collect things and they collect. I don’t want to collect anything. I want to just experience. The only thing that I am interested in now is in the experience of living."
Banderas has been dating Dutch entrepreneur Nicole Kimpel for the past 12 years. Meanwhile, Griffith's past marriages include her first union with Don Johnson, with whom she shares 36-year-old daughter Dakota Johnson, a marriage that also made her stepmother to Johnson's 43-year-old son Jesse Johnson. She also shares 40-year-old son Alexander Griffith Bauer with her second husband, Steven Bauer, prior to her marriage to Banderas from 1996 to 2015.
