Hollywood icon Antonio Banderas is opening up about the life-changing moment that compelled him to change his priorities nearly a decade ago. In an interview with The Times published on Wednesday, March 25, Banderas described his 2017 heart attack as “a really serious warning.”
The Oscar-nominated actor, now 65, reflected on how the health scare became a turning point, prompting him to slow down and rethink both his career and personal life after decades in Hollywood.
A Wake-Up Call That Changed His Perspective
GettyAt the time, Banderas was rushed to the hospital after experiencing chest pain during a workout. The episode was later confirmed to be a heart attack.
Looking back, he described it as a moment that brought clarity. “Faced with death, it made me look back and realise that I am, in fact, a theatre actor.”
In the months that followed, he made meaningful lifestyle changes, including quitting smoking and stepping away from the fast pace of Hollywood life.
Banderas also decided to forgo several luxuries, including a private jet and homes in the United States and the United Kingdom.
GettyHe returned to Málaga, Spain, where he was born, and now lives in a modest city apartment with his partner, Nicole Kimpel.
The shift has brought him closer to his roots and to the people around him. “I have never been so happy,”
Even as his film work has slowed, he continues to take on select roles while building a life that feels more balanced and grounded.
A Passion for Theatre and Creative Freedom
At the heart of this new chapter is Teatro del Soho, a theater Antonio Banderas helped revive in his hometown. Once a neglected cinema, the venue has been rebuilt into a working cultural space, with Banderas personally supporting its operations.
Getty“I did theatre on Broadway in 2003 with quite a bit of success – we won a Tony that year for Nine – but there were lots of musicals I wanted to put on at a time when there were no musicals in Spain,”
“Then the opportunity arose to buy this venue, a former cinema, which was in a state of disrepair and full of asbestos. It was awful. So I cleared it out and built it inside its shell.”
Outside of his work, Banderas has embraced a quieter life centered on family.
He recently reflected on his daughter Stella’s wedding in Spain, describing the moment as deeply meaningful.
“Seeing my daughter dressed as a bride will be one of the most beautiful moments of my life. I get to be the father of the bride, and it’s a role I take on with all the emotion in the world.” He wrote:
He also shared his pride in her decision to celebrate in her country of birth.
“She’s very Andalusian, very much from Málaga, even if she grew up in the US. This is her way of reconnecting with her roots and sharing her homeland with her future husband and his family.”
In a previous interview with Page Six in December 2022, Banderas also reflected on how his health scare reshaped his outlook on life.
“I realized that it probably was one of the best things that ever happened in my life because the things that were not important and I was worried every day about them, meaningless,” he explained.
Today, Banderas says his life feels more grounded and fulfilling. What once centered on a fast-paced Hollywood career has shifted toward purpose, creativity, and connection.
His journey reflects a deliberate move toward a simpler, more meaningful way of living.
