Antonio Banderas talks candidly about divorce from Melanie Griffith

Antonio Banderas is giving a look behind the scenes at his surprisingly unorthodox relationship with his ex-wife, Melanie Griffith.

Banderas, 65, admitted that he and his 68-year-old ex-wife are still ‘best friends,’ even 11 years after they ended their marriage, while speaking with People.

The couple had tied the knot in 1996, but after 18 years, Griffith filed for divorce in June 2014, and it was finalized by December of that year.

But Banderas – who revealed a rare reunion with his ex back in April – admitted that Griffith is, ‘if not my best friend, one of my best friends.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to a representative for Banderas and Griffith but has not yet received a response.

The Spanish heartthrob – whose new Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony, opens on Friday – admitted that he and his ex-wife still make a habit of seeing each other regularly.

Antonio Banderas, 65,  is giving a look behind the scenes at his surprisingly unorthodox relationship with his ex-wife, Melanie Griffith, 68. Banderas admitted that he and his ex-wife are still ‘best friends,’ even 11 years after they ended their marriage, while speaking with People; pictured together in 2012 in Madrid, Spain

They tied the knot in 1996, but after 18 years, Griffith filed for divorce in June 2014, and it was finalized by December of that year. But Banderas admitted that Griffith is, ‘if not my best friend, one of my best friends’; pictured in 2012 in Los Angeles

‘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.

Banderas and Griffith share one daughter, Stella Banderas, while Griffith also has three other children from previous relationships: Alexander Bauer, Dakota Johnson and her ex-husband Don Johnson’s son from a previous relationship, Jesse Johnson, whom she adopted.

When Banderas was asked about the secret to keeping a friendly relationship going with his ex, he stressed that their solution wouldn’t necessarily work for others.

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‘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 Spy Kids actor, who showered praise on Griffith for being an ‘unbelievable mother,’ also had nothing but praise for their children.

‘I see them blossoming and becoming good people,’ he said.

Back in April, Banderas posted a rare pH๏τo to Instagram with his ex-wife after they enjoyed a cozy dinner over the weekend.

In his caption, The Mask Of Zorro actor raved about Griffith, the daughter of The Birds star Tippi Hedren.

‘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; pictured in 2024 in Madrid, Spain

Banderas said the secret to his strong friendship with Griffith was staying ‘sincere,’ and he said it was important for their kids that they have a good relationship; pictured with daughter Stella Banderas (center)

He called the Oscar-nominated actress his ‘lifelong friend’ as they were seen on a sofa together while laughing. 

Together, they share 29-year-old daughter Stella Banderas who was also in the frame with 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,’ wrote the actor in his Instagram caption. 

Antonio Banderas gushes over ex-wife Melanie Griffith following their cozy dinner in Beverly Hills

The post arrived shortly after the pair were seen leaving Japanese restaurant Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills days earlier.

The two were dressed casually as they laughed together while walking arm in arm with daughter Stella following close behind.

The exes appear to have remained close pals after they settled their divorce. 

In 2019, Banderas referred to his ex-wife as ‘family’ and ‘one of my best friends’ in an interview with Vulture.

‘I am not married with Melanie anymore, but she is my family,’ he declared. ‘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.’

Antonio Banderas posted a very rare pH๏τo to Instagram with his ex-wife Melanie Griffith on Monday morning after they enjoyed a cozy dinner over the weekend

The exes fell in love while shooting the 1995 romantic comedy Two Much, married in May 1996, and welcomed Stella that September. 

The Puss In Boots star admitted he was smitten by the Hollywood veteran the first time he saw her, at the 1989 Oscars.

He recalled: ‘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.

‘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.’ 

The blonde beauty tattooed her husband’s name inside a heart on her arm during their marriage.

But the love story came to an end in 2014. 

In a 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.’

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. 

The 65-year-old Spanish actor was married to the Hollywood actress from 1996 to 2015. Seen in 2005 at the Academy Awards 

Banderas has been dating Dutch entrepreneur Nicole Kimpel for 12 years

‘It was like somebody put glᴀsses 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.

‘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. 

Griffith was previously married to Don Johnson, with whom she shares daughter Dakota Johnson, 36. 

The marriage also made her a stepmother to Johnson’s son Jesse Johnson, 43.

And she shares son Alexander Griffith Bauer, 40, with her second husband, Steven Bauer.