Dakota Johnson on How Stepfather Antonio Banderas Changed Her Life
Even after his separation from Melanie Griffith in 2015, the actor remained a constant in Dakota’s life
In movies, there are characters who burst onto the screen and change the story. In real life, that can happen too. For Dakota Johnson, that unexpected plot twist had a name and a Spanish accent: Antonio Banderas.
He didn’t arrive as the lead in a film, but as a stepfather. However, he became something much deeper: a bright, magnetic presence who filled the house with energy, laughter, and the kind of noisy affection that, in the actress’s words, “changed our lives forever.”
The Spanish actor has just turned 65, adding to decades of career success and a personal life woven from friendships, travels, loves, and goodbyes. Among his most cherished chapters is the one he wrote with Melanie Griffith. They married in 1996 and spent nearly two decades with before separating in 2015.
Estas palabras que le dedicó Dakota Johnson a Antonio Banderas son más valiosas que 20 Oscars. pic.twitter.com/uMgR9yQAGl
— 💫 Ferran Movies 📺 🎬 (@Ferranmx) February 10, 2024
After the Split
Far from a predictable script, the breakup didn’t erase the bonds. Antonio remained a constant in the lives of Dakota and her brother, Alexander Bauer.
“He was so vibrant and so fun and so funny […] 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,” the actress shared. It wasn’t just affection—it was his way of opening the door to a whole new world: Spain, his friends, flamenco dancing, jamón ibérico, and a sense of family that crosses borders.
Today, Dakota continues making her mark on the big screen. Now, another key figure in this story is stealing the headlines: Stella del Carmen. She’s the daughter Banderas and Griffith share. Born in 1996, she’s set to bring everyone back to the same table this October for her wedding to Alex Gruszynski, her longtime partner.
According to those close to him, Antonio is thrilled at the chance to reunite “his family” for a day that promises just as many smiles as toasts.
JANUARY 25th, 2004: Dakota, Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith and Stella Banderas at the 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California.#DakotaJohnson pic.twitter.com/VNye6SWKj7
— Dakota Johnson Throwbacks (@onthisdaydakota) January 25, 2021
In a world where family stories are often reduced to names and dates, the one between Dakota and Antonio is still told with the ease of people who never truly say goodbye. Some bonds aren’t cut—they simply learn to live in different settings