Banderas Reflects on Los Angeles Exit, Explains Long-Held Desire to Return to Spain

Spanish actor Antonio Banderas has disclosed the reasoning behind his relocation from Los Angeles back to Málaga, Spain, revealing a sense of displacement that persisted throughout his time in California. Speaking with People magazine, the 65-year-old Banderas detailed how his initial move to the West Coast was driven by a romantic relationship with actress Melanie Griffith, whose young children required her to remain in the United States rather than relocate internationally.

Despite acknowledging the fulfillment he experienced during his Los Angeles years, Banderas emphasized that he never genuinely felt the city would serve as his permanent home. The actor articulated his conviction that Spain, particularly his birthplace, represented his true destination rather than the California coastal community where he ultimately spent decades of his life and career.

Banderas and Griffith met while filming the 1995 motion picture “Two Much” and married the following year in 1996, subsequently welcoming daughter Stella later that same year. The couple separated after 18 years of marriage when Griffith initiated divorce proceedings in June 2014, with the dissolution becoming final in December 2015. Despite the end of their romantic relationship, Banderas characterized their connection as enduring, describing Griffith as among his closest confidants.

During his marriage to Griffith, Banderas served as stepfather to her children from a prior relationship, including actress Dakota Johnson. In a February 2025 interview with E! News, Banderas expressed interest in collaborating professionally with Johnson, praising her versatility across comedic and dramatic roles and recalling her work on the television series “Ben and Kate.”

Banderas achieved mainstream recognition through the 1993 film “Philadelphia” and subsequently appeared in major productions including “Interview with the Vampire,” “Desperado,” “The Mask of Zorro,” and the 2020 drama “Pain and Glory,” the latter earning him an Academy Award nomination. He currently stars in the biographical film “Tony,” centered on chef and television personality Anthony Bourdain.

In a March interview with The Times, Banderas reflected on his early Hollywood experiences, recounting industry guidance suggesting that actors of color were cast primarily as antagonists. He highlighted his career evolution, noting that his most significant roles—including the masked hero Zorro and the voice of Puss in Boots in animated films—positioned Hispanic characters as protagonists rather than villains, representing meaningful progress in casting practices.