A whirlwind romance. Two broken marriages. Madonna mix-up. Antonio Banderas was enamored
with Melanie Griffith from the first moment he saw her. Eight years after their breakup,
the former flames are one hell of a pair of exes. In today’s video, we’re diving into
the almost 20-year-old love story, with all their ups and downs, and in-betweens.
The love story between Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas begins in 1995 in the romantic
comedy Two Much. The actor confessed that at first, he thought that what he felt for the
stunning blond was an infatuation, the result of playing her lover on screen, but as time went on,
he realized that it was more than that. Antonio had first caught sight of Melanie at the
1989 Academy Awards and was taken by her beauty. "I saw this beautiful woman with a cream dress,
with pearls," he recalled, soon after asking Spanish director Pedro Almodovar
who she was. "Pedro said, 'That's Melanie Griffith!' I said, 'That's it. Oh my God.'"
When they worked together six years later, sparks flew like crazy.
"We just thought this may be one of those, you know, infatuation moments that we have
when we shoot movies because we got to play together a couple, so let's just go home."
Within a year, the future couple divorced their respective spouses:
Griffith was married to Don Johnson, with whom she shared a daughter, Dakota,
and Banderas to Spanish actor Ana Leza . Ana was a fellow actress and his English tutor,
who essentially instructed him on how he could develop his craft in mainstream cinema. The actor
said he wouldn't have the acclaim he does today without Ana's continuous support and direction.
"Without her, I would not have gotten the role," he said. Ana backed up his
statement by saying it was "imperative" to accompany him to the United States.
However, Banderas took a brutal financial hit from his divorce with Leza, who received over
$3 million in the settlement, $12,000 a month in alimony, and half of the rights to the movies
he'd made during their marriage! To put it simply, it was a nasty,
expensive divorce battle. Antonio didn't love the process, calling it a "business"
through and through. He doesn't think he should've been mandated to give up so many assets. Yet it
didn't put a damper on his future love endeavors. When she'd met Antonio, Melanie was on her second
marriage to Don Johnson, whom she'd first married and divorced when she was just 19.
The couple had remarried in 1989 and welcomed their daughter that same year.
Griffith was already a mother, having welcomed her first child,
son Alexander, with her second husband, Steven Bauer , to whom she was married for eight years.
Ana bitterly accused Melanie of "stealing" Antonio,
but can you really steal someone's partner? The two were married in 1996 when their
divorces were final. Soon after, Banderas landed a role in Madonna's musical Evita .
The pop star had made no secret of her interest in Banderas. And Griffith insisted on accompanying
her husband onto the film set every day until Madonna had her banned for being disruptive.
Five months pregnant when they took their vows, Melanie gave birth to
their daughter Stella on September 24, 1996. "Melanie is more of a disciplinarian with the
little girl than me", said Antonio of their distinct parenting styles. "Probably because
it's my first baby. She gets everything easy from Papa. I am more weak. She takes advantage of me."
The newlyweds found a way to spend even more time together with their joint venture Greenmoon
Productions. The new company produced Melanie's starring vehicle Crazy in Alabama in 1999
with Antonio behind the camera directing his wife. The couple's daughter Stella
and Melanie's daughter Dakota had roles in the film as Melanie's on-screen children.
A year later, Melanie had her husband's name tattooed onto her right arm, which was a genuine
romantic gesture, of course. Sadly, it was also a year that saw problems for the couple.
The couple welcomed their daughter, and it seemed as if Melanie had finally found the
happiness and stability she craved, but former addictions returned to haunt the actress.
Griffith had struggled with cocaine and alcohol addiction in the late 80s but
had gone into rehab after the filming of Working Girl ended. Unfortunately, she became addicted to
prescription drugs after a knee injury in 2000. Melanie would later admit that her addiction
placed a lot of pressure on her relationship with Antonio. "He's always been extremely supportive
of me in situations where other people might have run away," Griffith revealed. However,
Banderas admitted that he was at the end of his rope and that if Griffith hadn't
kicked her addiction, he would have left her. She began to question her strength after a skiing
accident required her to start taking painkillers. Recognizing that she may have a problem,
she voluntarily sought professional help. It is perhaps because Melanie has seen the
darker side of life that helping to alleviate the suffering of others is so important to her now.
The blonde star and her ex-husband have put their energies into philanthropy over the years.
"I think everybody who has done well out of life has to give something back,"
she says. "We have to share, and we have to help those who have nothing."
In 2002 their dedication was recognized when the couple received the Stella Adler
Angel Award for their extensive charity work. Always striving for new experiences, the couple
set their sights on Broadway in 2003, each taking to the stage in critically acclaimed performances.
Melanie made her debut playing Roxie in Chicago, while Antonio appeared across the street in Nine.
Griffith thought it would be a kick to work across the street from her husband.
Despite doubts about her decision to appear in the musical, she received rave reviews.
The New York Times proclaimed her: "A sensational Roxie, possibly the most convincing I have seen."
Living bi-Atlantically, the couple have created a safe
haven for themselves and their family in Spain. "Melanie and I have two lives, a professional one
that we developed in Los Angeles — apart from which it's the city where Melanie was raised.
And the other, more familial, in our house in Spain where we live when we don't work."
Despite the doubts about their relationship, given their rush to the altar and the stress that
Melanie's time in rehab brought to the family, the couple has made their bond last for years on end.
"There were people who literally didn't give us more than six months!"
Antonio once said. "But we love each other, and above all, we love our family.
We've figured out how to get past obstacles … and if you get past those, you only get stronger."
It was when in 2014 Griffith did not participate in Holy Week in Malaga, as was tradition and
very important for Banderas, the rumors were confirmed, and the couple announced their breakup.
The divorce was amicable, and the actors have been vocal in expressing their love and admiration for
each other despite the differences that led to the end of their 18-year-marriage.
Griffith revealed that she had been diagnosed with epilepsy in 2011,
a condition that had since responded positively to treatment. According to the actor, her divorce
had a positive impact on her condition. In 2021, Melanie became nostalgic and
shared a beautiful image with Antonio and some loving words in Spanish with
which he remembered his unforgettable love. The actor confirmed that there's no bad blood
between him and his ex-wife. In fact, things between them are great. During an interview with
Entertainment Tonight, Antonio admitted that he still has great respect and love for his Melanie.
"I will love that woman until the day I die," he proudly stated.
"Melanie is my dear friend, and she just texted me," he also said following his nomination and
loss for an Emmy for his role in Genius. "She was really sorry that I didn't win.
So we're going to see each other this week because she's still my family and my kids'."
Well, as long as they both are happy and fulfilled.
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