Antonio Banderas has opened up about his decision to leave the United States and return to his native Spain, a move that followed a significant health event more than two decades after his initial emigration.
In a recent interview with People, the 65-year-old actor described his 2017 heart attack as an "unbelievably clear reminder" that prompted him to re-evaluate his life and its priorities. "It was like somebody put glasses on me so I could see the reality that I didn't see before," Banderas told the outlet.
The actor, who moved to the U.S. in 1995 after falling in love with actress Melanie Griffith, described his years in Hollywood as "beautiful, exciting years." However, he admitted to a persistent feeling of "provisionality," believing his time in the U.S. was not permanent. "I knew that Malaga was there, my hometown. I was not supposed to be in Malibu, but in Malaga," he stated.
Banderas experienced chest pain at his home in England in 2017 and was hospitalized, undergoing emergency surgery to have three stents placed in his arteries. He reflected to People that the heart attack was "the best thing that ever happened in my life," offering a new perspective on his existence. He further discussed the impact of the health scare with The Times in March, calling it a "really serious warning" that altered his outlook. "Faced with death, it made me look back and realize that I am, in fact, a theater actor," he expressed.
Following the health scare, Banderas has relocated to Spain, where he lives with his longtime girlfriend Nicole Kimpel. He is also actively involved in the theater, having founded his own company, Teatro del Soho, in 2019. The venture was born from a desire to stage musicals in Spain, a concept he pursued after a successful Broadway run in 2003 that earned him a Tony Award for the musical "Nine."
"I have never been so happy," Banderas said about his current life, though he acknowledged a financial commitment to his theater work. He described acquiring a dilapidated former cinema in his hometown and rebuilding it for his company.
Banderas also spoke about the period after his divorce from Griffith, which was finalized in late 2015. He married Griffith in 1996, and they have a daughter, Stella. "I was coming out of my divorce and was confused. It was just doing a lot of things. I'm protecting myself and finding sanctuary in work. Making movies one behind the other. It was crazy," he recalled. Despite their divorce, Banderas stated that he and Griffith remain "best friends."
In addition to his theater endeavors, Banderas has continued his film career. He recently took on a role in the biographical comedic drama "Tony," which explores the early career of Anthony Bourdain. The film had a limited release in the United States in August.