Antonio Banderas calls Melanie Griffith his ‘best friend’ and an ‘unbelievable mother’

Antonio Banderas is opening up about one of the best friends he’s made in his life. In a new interview, Banderas discussed his relationship with Melanie Griffith, his ex-wife of almost a decade. 

In an interview with PEOPLE, Banderas discussed his dynamic with Griffith, calling her “if not my best friend, one of my best friends.”

He said that whenever he’s in LA, he spends time with her and their children, which include Stella Banderas, and Griffith’s own kids, whom Banderas formed a sweet relationship with over the years. Her kids include Alexander Bauer, Dakota Johnson, and her stepson Jesse Johnson.

“And 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,” he said. 

© Frazer Harrison

When asked about the endurance of his relationship with Griffith, he said that there was no secret in maintaining that dynamic. “But the thing is that when we were a couple, when we separated, we were always very sincere,” said Banderas.

“We came out of our relationship in a nice way that was very important for [the kids] and for us.”

He concluded by calling Griffith “an unbelievable mother.” When describing their children and who they’ve grown up as, Banderas couldn’t be prouder. “I see them blossoming and becoming good people.”

Banderas sweet post with Griffith

© @antoniobanderas

Earlier this year, Banderas celebrated a special visit to his family in Los Angeles by sharing some photos on social media. In one photo, he’s seen seated on a couch alongside Griffith, Stella and her husband Alex Gruszynski. 

“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 captioned it. 

Earlier, he celebrated the wedding of his daughter, which was hosted in his hometown of Spain. 

“The wedding of my daughter Stella has turned into a heartfelt family reunion, emotional, joyful, and full of laughter,” he wrote on social media in Spanish and English. “Thank you to everyone who made this possible.”

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