It's been more than a decade since one of Hollywood's most high-profile marriages broke down, but despite their romantic relationship coming to an end, Antonio Banderas, 65, and Melanie Griffith, 68, couldn't be on better terms. The exes have struck up a "lifelong" friendship since their 2015 divorce and recently reunited for a lowkey day with their grown-up daughter.
"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," Antonio captioned a heartwarming home photo of him sitting on a couch next to Melanie and their daughter, Stella Banderas, 29.
Melanie had her head thrown back mid-laugh as she sat between her daughter and Stella's longtime partner Alex Gruszynski, whom she married last October. Meanwhile, Antonio, who primarily resides in Spain, had a big smile plastered across his face as he shared a sweet moment with his daughter.
© Instagram/ @antoniobanderas"Lovely sight," actress and director Trudie Styler, who has been married to The Police frontman, Sting, since 1992 commented on the post.
They split a decade ago
Melanie and Antonio were married for nearly two decades from 1996 before their split in 2014. Their divorce was then finalised in 2015. During their marriage, they welcomed one child together, their daughter Stella in 1996.
"Stella is not so much of an actress," Antonio told HELLO! about his daughter in an exclusive 2025 interview.
"She wants to be behind the camera, and she's driving herself into that. She has made some commercials. She's now doing short movies, and I suppose that she is going to end up doing a feature film, but she's too shy to be in front of the camera. She prefers to be behind it."
Melanie and Antonio's blended family
When Antonio married Melanie, he became a stepfather to the star's two children from her previous marriages. Melanie welcomed her first son, Alexander Griffith Bauer, with her second husband Steven Bauer in 1985. She then had her daughter, Dakota Johnson, in 1989 when she reunited with her first husband, actor Don Johnson. As well as sharing a daughter with Don, Melanie became a stepmother to his son Jesse.
© David LivingstonJust like her parents and ex-stepfather, Melanie's daughter Dakota has carved out a career in Hollywood as an actress. You'll likely know her from films like The Social Network, Materialists and the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy.
Opening up about parenting, Antonio told Best Quality Designer Handbag : "It's difficult to just give advice. If they ask you, you just kind of put on the table whatever your experience has been in situations that are the same or talk about the characters."
Speaking about his stepdaughter, he added: "But they have their own approach. Dakota created her own world, and that's the healthier way to do it than just to be 'Mami, Papi'. No, she needs to get out of the house, find her own way, and that's what she did, and we are very proud of her."
