Antonio Banderas ‘Burst Into’ Melanie Griffith’s Kids’ Lives And Loved Them ‘Fiercely’

Mar 17, 2022

Antonio Banderas has played a hero in films and in real life. Born Aug. 10, 1960, in Malaga, Spain, Banderas has become an international icon in the entertainment industry. He entered the scene in the 1980s and has since made a name for himself as a Spanish actor, director, producer, and singer. Some of Banderas’ most notable roles include “Evita” in 1996, “The Mask of Zorro” in 1998, the “Spy Kids” series, and his role as Puss in Boots in the “Shrek” franchise and spin-off films.

He managed to land a critically praised role in “The Mambo Kings” in 1992, before reaching new heights with the film “Philadelphia” in 1993, opposite Tom Hanks. Madonna and Banderas were reunited when they held important roles in “Evita,” an adaptation of the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

Over the span of his career, Banderas has still made time to find love, settle down and start a family. He met Melanie Griffth in 1995 while shooting “Two Much,” and the two instantly began dating. Both Banderas and Griffith have made names for themselves over their long careers in the entertainment industry, mostly as actors and philanthropists.

Griffith had previously been married to Don Johnson and Steven Bauer and already had children, including Dakota Johnson and Alexander Bauer, before marrying Banderas in 1996. They stayed together until 2015. During that time, Banderas provided a sense of stability and support for Griffith’s children as she dealt with the hardships of fame, and Banderas ultimately changed the family’s lives forever.

Griffith is most famous for being an actress and film producer. She was raised in Los Angeles, California, under the wings of her actress mother Tippi Hedren. Her career kicked off in the 1970s before finding mainstream success in the 1980s. Griffith met her former husband Johnson on the set of “The Harrad Experiment,” which was released in 1973. The two began dating and resulted in a six-month marriage from January to July 1976.

The actress later appeared opposite Hedren in the 1981 film “Roar.” Noel Marshall, her then-stepfather, directed and starred in the movie as well, as he and Hedren had come up with the project together. The film was incredibly dangerous and almost tumultuous to Griffith’s career, as USA Today reported she suffered an injury from being mauled by a lion during filming.

As the daughter of a famous actress, Griffith learned about the darker side of the industry. According to Yahoo, she learned about issues of sexual misconduct in Hollywood through Hedren’s experiences while working with Alfred Hitchcock. “She became an example of what to never let happen in my life,” Griffith explained. This is something that she has also talked about with her own daughter, Dakota. The “Fifty Shades of Grey” actress added, “I was taught self-respect and grace and strength.”

Griffith also struggled with substance abuse, becoming dependent on alcohol and painkillers, according to PEOPLE. She underwent treatment back in 1988 and 2000, and checked into rehab again in 2009 to “reinforce her commitment to stay healthy.” It’s clear that Griffith’s struggles and her busy schedule was hard for her children – Dakota and Alexander – and they needed someone to help guide them.

When Banderas entered the lives of Griffith, Dakota and Alexander, he completely changed their lives for the better. And even though Griffith and Banderas’ marriage ultimately didn’t last as they divorced in 2015, they have since remained good friends, and Banderas has continued to support his former step-children. This is something that Dakota especially has been grateful for.

She presented Banderas with an award at the Hollywood Film Awards in November 2019 and talked about how wonderful he has been for her family. Dakota said:

“My stepfather, Antonio Banderas, burst into our lives. He was so vibrant and so fun and so funny, and his English was abstract. We found it absolutely amazing. He loved my mother and my siblings and I so fiercely, and so big and so loud that it would change all of our lives forever.”

It’s evident that the feeling is mutual, as Banderas said that he still loves Griffith and her children, as he sees them as part of his family just as much as his biological daughter Stella is part of his family. “(Griffith) is probably one of my best friends, if not the best friend that I have,” Banderas said. “My family is there, Dakota, little Estella and Alexander.”

Even though Griffith has had three failed marriages, she has stayed optimistic and has remained on great terms with all three of her ex-husbands: Bauer, Johnson and Banderas. Speaking with InStyle in 2018, she said, “All of my husbands, my three husbands – I love them all so much, and we’re all very close.”

What do you think about Antonio Banderas’ relationship with Melanie Griffith? Did you know he made such a long-lasting impression on her children? Let us know, and be sure to send this to your family and friends.