Antonio Banderas still considers his ex-wife, Melanie Griffith, his best friend — a decade after their divorce.
“When I go to Los Angeles, we get together anyway, we [have] a lot of fun. We laugh and we just… it’s a very healthy thing, and it was very healthy for our kids,” the Spanish actor told People Thursday.
“If [Griffith] is not my best friend, [she is] one of my best friends.”
The “Mask of Zorro” star also revealed the secret to remaining on such good terms with his ex over the years.
“The thing is, when we were a couple, when we separated, we were always very sincere,” he explained. “We came out of our relationship in a nice way that was very important for [the kids] and for us.”
He also praised the “Working Girl” actress for being “an unbelievable mother” to their children, whom he says are “blossoming and becoming good people.”
Griffith and Banderas met on the set of the 1995 rom-com “Two Much” and married the following May in London.
During their marriage, the former couple welcomed their daughter, Stella.
They also successfully became a blended family as Griffith had three other children from previous marriages, most famously daughter Dakota Johnson, whom she shares with two-time ex-husband Don Johnson.
However, in 2014 Griffith filed for divorce and the two announced their split in a joint statement.
“We have thoughtfully and consensually decided to finalize our almost-20-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,” the statement read.
Their divorce was finalized in December 2015, a year and a half after Griffith originally filed.
Banderas moved on from their marriage soon after their split. He has been with girlfriend Nicole Kimpel since 2014.
As for Griffith, she has not been in any public relationships since Banderas. In 2018, she admitted that she doesn’t see the point of marriage anymore.
“I really don’t think it’s relevant for anyone anymore,” she told InStyle at the time. “But especially if you’re 60 and you have four kids and you’re living the life you’ve always wanted. Then why get married? It’s like, I would love to fall in love and have a romance, a relationship, but I haven’t. I keep looking. I’ve had a couple of lovers but not a relationship.”
Griffith and Banderas have reunited over the years — despite the latter fleeing Hollywood and moving to Spain after a near-fatal heart attack in 2017.
They both attended daughter Stella’s wedding in October 2025. At the time, the environmental activist wed her childhood sweetheart, Alex Gruszynski, in a lavish Spanish ceremony.
Griffith and Banderas most recently reunited in April. In photos obtained by Page Six, the exes enjoyed a rare night out in Los Angeles.
In the snaps, the duo linked arms as they left dinner and smiled as they walked together.
They were joined by Stella and her husband.
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