Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith are offering a warm glimpse of their connection years after their marriage ended. The former couple recently came together for a quiet family moment in Los Angeles, sharing a couch with their daughter, Stella Banderas, and her husband, Alex.
Antonio Banderas Shares Rare Family Snapshot With Ex-Wife Melanie Griffith
Banderas shared the photo on Instagram, capturing a warm and familiar scene.
“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,” Banderas wrote in the caption.
The family photos reflect a connection that has remained strong, even more than a decade after their separation.
A Love Story That Evolved Into a Lasting Friendship: ‘She Is My Family’: Banderas Reflects on Their Bond
GettyBanderas and Griffith first met while filming “Two Much” in the mid-1990s. Long before they became husband and wife, Banderas first noticed Griffith during a chance moment on the Oscars red carpet.
GettyLooking back on that encounter in a Vulture interview, Banderas recalled spotting her at the ceremony following the nomination for “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.”
“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,” he said.
GettyWanting to know more, he turned to director Pedro Almodóvar. “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,” Banderas shared.
Reflecting on their years together, he described that chapter of his life as “very effervescent and really beautiful.”
Their relationship quickly deepened, leading to their marriage in May 1996 and the birth of their daughter later that year.
After nearly 20 years together, the couple announced their separation in 2014. Page Six reported that their divorce was finalized in 2015, but their approach remained grounded in mutual respect.
GettyIn a joint statement at the time shared with TODAY, they stated: “We have thoughtfully and consensually decided to finalize our almost twenty-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.”
Years later, in a 2019 interview with Vulture, he said, “I am not married to Melanie anymore, but she is my family.”
He continued, “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.”
He later shared a similar sentiment with People, adding, “Melanie is not my wife anymore, but I think she is my best friend. I love her and will love her until the day I die. She’s my family.”
A Blended Family That Stays Close
Griffith, whose career includes acclaimed roles in films such as “Working Girl” and “Celebrity,” shares a daughter, Stella, with Banderas. She is also the mother of Alexander Bauer and Dakota Johnson from previous relationships.
Over the years, the former couple has remained closely connected, continuing to come together for family moments and milestones. Their bond has shifted with time, but the sense of unity has stayed intact.
The recent photo reflects that lasting connection, showing that while their marriage ended, their relationship as a family continues with deep respect and care for one another.
