Antonio Banderas' First Marriage Left Him Feeling Bitter But His Second Wife Reignited His Love

Mar 24, 2022 by apost team

Antonio Banderas has played a hero in films and in real life. Born Aug. 10, 1960, in Malaga, Spain, Banderas has become an international icon in the entertainment industry. 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.

Over the span of his career, Banderas has still made time to find love, settle down and start a family. He has been married and divorced twice. His marriage to his first wife Ana Leza ended quite bitterly in 1995 and may have left many to feel that love is no longer worth pursuing. However, Banderas did not give up on finding love.

He met Melanie Griffth in 1995 while shooting “Two Much,” and the two instantly began dating. Both Banderas and Griffith have made names for themselves over their long careers in the entertainment industry, mostly as actors and philanthropists.

Though Banderas ended up divorcing Griffith after a long marriage of 18 years, they still consider each other friends and have raised a beautiful blended family. 

Banderas first met Leza in 1987 and married six months after their meeting according to Celeb Suburb. Leza played a large part in helping Banderas make a name in Hollywood. When Banderas first entered the industry, his English language skills were not up to the mark. Leza was Banderas' private English tutor and translator as per Nicki Swift, so their relationship began professionally. However, Leza helped Banderas become a better version of himself, and their professional bond culminated into a romantic one. 

Antonio told Vanity Fair,

"She helped me translate the script for Los reyes del mambo , to work on it, she gave me a lot of confidence. Without her I would not have gotten the role."

Leza also added, "​​It was essential that I accompany him to the United States, because he did not speak a word of English and I speak it fluently." 

Unfortunately, the couple separated in the mid-90s and went on to have a bitter divorce, which Banderas called the "eight days of trial" as per Vanity Fair. The divorce allowed Leza to keep their home which was worth 3.4 million euros, which amounts to nearly $4 million. Moreover, she was also entitled to monthly alimony payments of $14,100 as well as got 50% of Banderas' movie earnings during the course of their marriage according to Nicki Swift. 

Speaking about his divorce proceedings, Banderas recalled, "What the judge wants to know is how much you are going to pay your partner." 

He also added that "They grab you by the foot, they shake you and, when [they bleed you dry] they leave you. That's what they did to me."

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Banderas did not give up on finding love, however, and this was rewarded almost immediately. He met Malanie Griffith in 1995, the same year that he divorced Leza. 

Griffith is most famous for being an actress and film producer. She was raised in Los Angeles, California, under the wings of her actress mother Tippi Hedren. Her career kicked off in the 1970s before finding mainstream success in the 1980s. Griffith met her former husband Johnson on the set of “The Harrad Experiment,” which was released in 1973. The two began dating and resulted in a six-month marriage from January to July 1976.

The actress later appeared opposite Hedren in the 1981 film “Roar.” Noel Marshall, her then-stepfather, directed and starred in the movie as well, as he and Hedren had come up with the project together. The film was incredibly dangerous and almost tumultuous to Griffith’s career, as USA Today reported she suffered an injury from being mauled by a lion during filming.

As the daughter of a famous actress, Griffith learned about the darker side of the industry. According to Yahoo, she learned about issues of sexual misconduct in Hollywood through Hedren’s experiences while working with Alfred Hitchcock. “She became an example of what to never let happen in my life,” Griffith explained. This is something that she has also talked about with her own daughter, Dakota. The “Fifty Shades of Grey” actress added, “I was taught self-respect and grace and strength.”

Griffith also struggled with substance abuse, becoming dependent on alcohol and painkillers, according to PEOPLE. She underwent treatment back in 1988 and 2000, and checked into rehab again in 2009 to “reinforce her commitment to stay healthy.” It’s clear that Griffith’s struggles and her busy schedule was hard for her children – Dakota and Alexander – and they needed someone to help guide them.

When Banderas entered the lives of Griffith, Dakota and Alexander, he completely changed their lives for the better. And even though Griffith and Banderas’ marriage ultimately didn’t last as they divorced in 2015, they have since remained good friends, and Banderas has continued to support his former step-children. This is something that Dakota especially has been grateful for.

She presented Banderas with an award at the Hollywood Film Awards in November 2019 and talked about how wonderful he has been for her family. Dakota said:

“My stepfather, Antonio Banderas, burst into our lives. He was so vibrant and so fun and so funny, and his English was abstract. We found it absolutely amazing. He loved my mother and my siblings and I so fiercely, and so big and so loud that it would change all of our lives forever.”

It’s evident that the feeling is mutual, as Banderas said that he still loves Griffith and her children, as he sees them as part of his family just as much as his biological daughter Stella is part of his family. “(Griffith) is probably one of my best friends, if not the best friend that I have,” Banderas said. “My family is there, Dakota, little Estella and Alexander.”

Even though Griffith has had three failed marriages, she has stayed optimistic and has remained on great terms with all three of her ex-husbands: Bauer, Johnson and Banderas. Speaking with InStyle in 2018, she said, “All of my husbands, my three husbands – I love them all so much, and we’re all very close.”

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