Antonio Banderas expressed immense joy over his daughter Stella Banderas marrying Alex Gruszynski in Spain. The wedding was a significant family event.
Banderas, 65, was seen toasting with the press at Stella’s wedding venue. The celebration took place at the Abadía Retuerta estate in Valladolid, Spain, on Saturday, October 18. Stella, 29, is Banderas’ daughter with ex-wife Melanie Griffith.
Just two days after the ceremony, Banderas shared a heartfelt tribute to Stella on social media. He honored her special day.
"My daughter Stella’s wedding has become a very emotional, joyful, and laughter-filled family reunion," Antonio wrote on Instagram on Monday, October 20. He included several photos of himself and Stella through the years, adding, "Thanks to everyone who made this possible."
Stella first announced her engagement to Gruszynski, her preschool sweetheart, in August 2024.
"I get to spend time with my favorite person on Earth forever!!!!!!!! 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍," she shared on Instagram. Her post included old photographs of the couple, some dating back to their time at Wagon Wheel School.
Following the engagement news, Antonio had openly shared his enthusiasm for the couple.
"I feel great! She is happy, I am happy," he told People in September 2024. "He is amazing. I have known him since he was a child."
Banderas was previously married to Ana Leza from 1987 to 1996. He married Griffith, 68, in May 1996 after they met filming ‘Too Much.’ Stella was born in September 1996.
Antonio and Griffith announced their divorce in 2014. Their joint statement to Us Weekly in June 2014 stated they had "decided, thoughtfully and consensually, to end our nearly 20-year marriage in a loving and friendly way." They committed to "honoring and respecting each other, our family and friends, and the beautiful time we have spent together."
Later that year, Antonio began dating investment banker Nicole Kimpel. The couple has remained together since.
Despite their divorce, Antonio revealed that he and Griffith remain very close.
"I am no longer married to Melanie, but she is my family," Antonio told People in January 2020. "She is probably one of my best friends, if not the best I have. My family is there: Dakota, little Stella, and Alexander."
Griffith herself reflected on aspects of her marriage to Antonio in an April 2023 Instagram post.
"The Captive ♥️🙏🏻♥️During the 19 years I was married to Antonio, one of the many extraordinary experiences he gave me and the children was our initiation and subsequent love for Holy Week," she wrote. "It is a very old and beautiful tradition. During Holy Week, more than one hundred thrones representing Christ and the Virgin Mary parade through the streets of Málaga every day and night, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. It is a magical and mystical week."
Griffith continued, noting that "many people follow the thrones on their journey, which sometimes lasts eight hours." She added, "When I first saw Cautivo, I was moved to tears. I consider it a spiritual experience. It is magnificent. It represents Christ captured, on the way to the cross. So for many years I had the privilege of being one of the 30,000 people who follow it on its route through the city. I send much love to my family and friends in Spain. Long live Cautivo! Long live Spain! Thank you and love @antoniobanderas ⭐️."