In His 60s Antonio Banderas Proved That His Relationship With 20-Years-Younger Girlfriend ‘Changed’ His Life

Dec 26, 2022

Antonio Banderas has played a hero in films and in real life. 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.

Undeniably, Banderas possesses the charm and charisma that any man would want. In the late 80s, the Spanish actor married Ana Leza and eventually had a divorce in 1996. Around that same time, he then married his co-star Melanie Griffith while shooting the movie "Two Much." He then became a co-parent of Griffith's children, including Dakota Johnson. 

However, in 2015, the couple divorced, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their separation, but assured everyone that it was done "in a loving and friendly manner." Johnson, on many occasions, referred to Banderas as his "bonus dad" even after the finalization of her mother's divorce from the actor. 

After his separation from Griffith, Banderas rekindled an old fire in one of his friends whom he met while at a party held during the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Banderas and his now-girlfriend Nicole Kimpel had been in a great relationship since – proving that love transcends boundaries, expectations, and even hardships. 

Born Aug. 10, 1960, in Malaga, Spain, Banderas has become an international icon in the entertainment industry. Although growing up, he didn't actually want to be an actor right off the bat; he wanted to be a professional soccer player. However, it seemed like fate had another thing in mind. After Banderas suffered a bad foot injury when he was 15, he knew that his dreams of being an athlete were over. But it was also around that time that he developed a liking for the idea of acting. 

Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Nicole, was born a thousand miles away from him. A German native, Kimpel, lived a nomadic lifestyle because of his father, who had to travel for work. Interestingly, she can speak a total of seven languages, including Italian, French, and Spanish – giving her a vast knowledge of the different cultures of the world.  

The two chanced upon each other at a Cannes Film Festival party. Although, at the time, his divorce from Griffith was not yet final, as it was just a friendly interaction. 

According to Infobae, their meeting at the party was a rather peculiar way to start their friendship.

Back then, Banderas didn't know that Nicole had an identical twin sister Barbara. At the time, it was Barbara who caught the dashing actor's eye, and the gentleman did not waste any time talking to her. 

"But suddenly Nicole appeared, and my heart skipped a beat," he told the outlet. But per Bandera, at the time, he saw something on Nicole that made her stand up, and they instantaneously clicked.  

Banderas, who is now in his sixties, had been public about his health struggles in the past. In an AP News report in 2017, he revealed to Spanish media the following: "I suffered a heart attack on Jan. 26, but it wasn't serious and hasn't caused any damage." Furthermore, he even noted that he underwent surgery to place three stents in his arteries. 

Years later, Banderas revealed in a Jimmy Kimmel interview that Nicole had actually saved his life when he had a heart attack. 

"The night before that I had this event, my girlfriend, she had a headache and we didn't have anything in the house. So she went out to buy something, a pain killer or whatever. [Nicole] bought this aspirin," he told Kimmel. "She got some water, some other stuff, and at the time that she was at the cashier to pay the girl that was working there, she said, 'You just dropped that thing over there,' and it was the aspirin."

Little did they know that the aspirin that Nicole had dropped would save his boyfriend's life hours after. 

"The next morning, when I started having the symptoms, and I clearly knew what was going on, she put one of those aspirins inside of my tongue, and that saved my life. So I had a second chance, and some stuff changed in my life since then," he concluded.

Last May 2022, the couple celebrated their eight-year anniversary, and in an Instagram post, Banderas revealed that they are "enjoying every second of it."

When asked about their future plans, the "Puss in Boots" actor told Toronto.com back in 2015 that they have no plans for a wedding or children as he needed the stability that his relationship with Nicole gives. 

Are you a fan of Antonio Banderas? What do you think of his relationship with Nicole Kimpel? Aren't their relationship adorable? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to your family, friends, and other loved ones.