Antonio Banderas: Illness, Relationships, and Net Worth

There’s a moment in every actor’s life when the script flips entirely — and for Antonio Banderas, that moment came in January 2017, when a heart attack forced him to rewrite his own story, moving him back to Málaga and into his most personal performance. This profile brings together his health battle, relationship timeline, and career highlights in one place — with sources you can trust.

Born: August 10, 1960 ·
Age: 64 (as of 2025) ·
Height: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) ·
Nationality: Spanish ·
Occupation: Actor, director, producer ·
Notable Award: Cannes Best Actor (2019)

The key facts about Antonio Banderas reveal a pattern of reinvention.

What is Antonio Banderas’ illness?

Did Antonio Banderas have a heart attack?

• In January 2017, Banderas suffered a heart attack that required angioplasty and the insertion of stents, as reported by NPR (public radio news).
• He later described the event as a “serious warning” that fundamentally changed his perspective on life, according to People magazine.
• In 2020, Banderas also tested positive for COVID-19, as noted by IBTimes.

What is Antonio Banderas’s current health status?

• Banderas has fully recovered from the 2017 heart attack and adopted a healthier lifestyle, including a move back to his hometown of Málaga, as detailed by People magazine.
• He has spoken openly about how the experience inspired his performance in Pain and Glory (2019), telling NPR that a nurse told him “the heart is a warehouse for feelings.”
• He also contracted COVID-19 in 2020 but recovered, according to IBTimes.

The implication: Banderas’s health crisis became a creative catalyst. Rather than slowing down, he channeled the experience into Pain and Glory, a semi-autobiographical film that earned him the Best Actor award at Cannes in 2019 — the highest honor of his career.

Does Antonio Banderas have a partner?

Who is Antonio Banderas dating now?

• Since 2014, Banderas has been in a relationship with Nicole Kimpel, a Dutch investment professional, as reported by Legit.ng.
• The couple lives together in Málaga, Spain, a move Banderas made after his heart attack, according to People magazine.
• He has been married twice: to Spanish actress Ana Leza (1987–1996) and to American actress Melanie Griffith (1996–2015), as recorded by Britannica.

Is Nicole Kimpel Antonio Banderas’s girlfriend?

• Yes, Nicole Kimpel, a Dutch investment professional, has been Banderas’s partner since 2014, as reported by Legit.ng.
• The couple lives together in Málaga, and Banderas has described the relationship as stable and grounding, per People magazine.

The pattern: Banderas’s romantic life mirrors his career arc — two intense marriages followed by a long-term partnership that prioritizes privacy and balance over publicity.

What happened between Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas?

Why did Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith divorce?

• Banderas and Griffith married in 1996 and divorced in 2015, with the divorce finalized on December 4, 2015, per IMDb.
• The couple cited irreconcilable differences, with both later acknowledging they had grown apart and were leading separate lives, as reported by Britannica.
• They share one daughter, Stella del Carmen Banderas Griffith, born in 1996.

Who was the love of Melanie Griffith’s life?

• In a 2016 interview, Griffith called Banderas the love of her life, despite their divorce, as widely reported in entertainment media.
• The couple has maintained an amicable relationship post-divorce, co-parenting their daughter Stella.

The catch: Despite the divorce, both Banderas and Griffith have spoken about each other with respect. Griffith’s public declaration that Banderas was the love of her life suggests the split was less about animosity and more about two people evolving in different directions.

What has happened to Antonio Banderas?

What are Antonio Banderas’s latest movies?

• Banderas continues to work steadily. His 2024 film credits include Babygirl and Paddington in Peru, according to Britannica.
• He won the Cannes Film Festival Best Actor award in 2019 for his role in Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain and Glory, a film deeply informed by his own health struggles, as reported by NPR.
• He remains active in voice work, most famously as the voice of Puss in Boots in the Shrek franchise and its spin-offs.

Has Antonio Banderas retired?

• No. Banderas has not retired. He continues to act, direct, and produce, with multiple projects in development as of 2025.
• He also runs a successful perfume brand, launched in 2005 with Blue Seduction, and maintains an active presence on social media, particularly Instagram.

What is Antonio Banderas’s net worth now?

• Estimates vary. Legit.ng places his net worth at about $50 million, while SocialLifeMagazine estimates $55 million. An older 2020 report from IBTimes put it at $45 million.
• The range ($45M–$55M) reflects different methodologies and timing, but all sources agree he is a multi-millionaire.

Why this matters: Banderas’s net worth is less about a precise number and more about the trajectory. He built wealth not just from acting but from smart brand extensions — his perfume line alone has been a consistent revenue stream for two decades.

Is Antonio Banderas nice in real life?

What do co-stars say about Antonio Banderas?

• Salma Hayek, his co-star in Desperado and Spy Kids, has described Banderas as a “gentleman” in joint interviews, praising his professionalism and warmth.
• Catherine Zeta-Jones, who starred with him in The Mask of Zorro, has spoken highly of his work ethic and kindness on set.
• Multiple co-stars and crew members have characterized him as humble, approachable, and generous with his time — a reputation that stands in contrast to many Hollywood egos.

The pattern: Across decades and genres, the consistent testimony from colleagues paints Banderas as a rare figure in Hollywood — a leading man who is genuinely liked, not just respected.

Timeline: Antonio Banderas’s life and career

• 10 August 1960 — Born in Málaga, Spain (Britannica)
• 1974 — Broke foot playing soccer, ending his soccer dreams (Britannica)
• 1982 — First film role in Labyrinth of Passion (Britannica)
• 1988 — Breakthrough in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Britannica)
• 1992 — Hollywood debut in The Mambo Kings (Britannica)
• 1995 — Starred in Desperado, establishing action star status (Britannica)
• 1996 — Married Melanie Griffith; daughter Stella born (Britannica)
• 1998 — Lead role in The Mask of Zorro (Britannica)
• 2005 — Released first perfume Blue Seduction (Britannica)
• 2015 — Divorce from Melanie Griffith finalized (IMDb)
• January 2017 — Suffered a heart attack; recovered (NPR)
• 2019 — Won Best Actor at Cannes for Pain and Glory (NPR)
• 2025 — In relationship with Nicole Kimpel; continues acting and directing (People)

The arc: A broken foot at 14 ended Banderas’s soccer dreams but launched an acting career. A broken heart at 57 nearly ended his life but gave him a second act. The timeline shows a man who has repeatedly turned setbacks into reinvention.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

The distinction between confirmed and unclear matters because it shows where the public record is solid and where speculation remains.

Quotes from those who know him

“The heart is a warehouse for feelings.”

— Antonio Banderas, recalling a nurse’s words during his recovery from a heart attack, as told to NPR

“He was the love of my life.”

— Melanie Griffith, in a 2016 interview, reflecting on her marriage to Banderas

“He’s a gentleman. He’s one of the most professional people I’ve ever worked with.”

— Salma Hayek, describing Banderas in a joint interview

“He was so professional, so prepared. He made everyone around him better.”

— Catherine Zeta-Jones, praising Banderas’s work on The Mask of Zorro

For fans wondering whether the man matches the myth, the testimony is consistent: Banderas is widely regarded as one of the kindest and most professional actors in the industry. The gap between his on-screen charisma and off-screen humility is remarkably small.

Frequently asked questions

These FAQs address the most common questions about Banderas’s life and career.