Antonio Banderas had a heart attack that led to him reprioritizing essential things in his life.
Banderas made a choice to focus on the people he loved, including his daughter Stella Banderas.
Antonio Banderas is an actor and director born August 10, 1960, in Málaga, Spain. The movie star has been married twice. He and his first wife, Ana Leza, divorced in 1996. In 2015, the actor and his second wife, Melanie Griffith, divorced.
Two years after Banderas and his second wife divorced, he had a heart attack. The actor described the 2017 episode as a moment in his life when he thought he was going to die. However, he used the health crisis to reprioritize the important things in his life.
Banderas’ heart attack made him detach from things he thought were important but wasn’t really essential. With the fear of death still in his body, Banderas had an awakening. He recalled:
“I realized that probably was one of the best things that ever happened in my life because the things that were not important and I was worried every day about them, material things, basically…they were meaningless.”
The “Desperado” actor wondered why he was worried about meaningless things when he was going to die. He decided the rest of his life would be spent on important things like his daughter Stella Banderas, whom he shares with Griffith. Banderas also decided to prioritize his friends, family, and his career as an actor.
When Banderas suffered the heart attack in January 2017, his longtime girlfriend Nicole Kimpel, an investment banker, was with him. She reacted quickly by giving him an aspirin, which the actor said saved his life.
The actor was talking to Kimpel’s twin, Barbara, when suddenly his girlfriend-to-be appeared, and his heart skipped a beat.
In March 2017, Banderas said the heart attack didn’t lead to any serious injuries, but doctors had to carry out a medical procedure to insert three stents into his arteries. Now, he is focused on the people he loves, including his daughter.
Banderas has a close relationship with Stella. He revealed that his daughter, who was born on September 24, 1966, was following his career path as an actor. In 2018, Banderas said she was going to New York to focus on acting.
At this time, Stella was still testing if acting was really her passion by trying various things in the entertainment industry. Banderas commended his daughter and said she was doing it the right way, which would help her make the perfect choice.
Banderas added that he wants his daughter to do whatever she chooses and assured her that she will have his support in every way. Even if Stella decided to become a doctor, Banderas would support her as he wouldn’t force her to do anything she didn’t want. He said:
Banderas also said he and Griffith were best friends and that he still loved her even after the divorce. “We are, believe it or not, still a family,” he asserted. The two co-parent Stella and get on well with each other. Griffith once shared a picture of Banderas, Stella, and her on a date.
In the photo, Stella posed between her mom and dad. Griffith captioned the picture, “Surrounding our Stella with love ♥️” and tagged her daughter and ex-husband. Her fans couldn’t help but notice how cute Stella looked.
Fans also pointed out that Stella was so beautiful and that she “has her father’s genes.” More agreed that father and daughter were look-alikes. An online user said she was just as gorgeous as her father.
After Banderas and Stella’s mom divorced, the actor started dating his current girlfriend.
Banderas’ girlfriend was born in Stuttgart, Germany, but then her family moved to Dusseldorf when she was a child. The family relocated to Geneva, Switzerland, and eventually moved to the US.
Kimpel holds many titles. She is a model, financial advisor, and fashion entrepreneur. She has worked for companies such as Merill Lynch and Lombard Odier as a financial professional.
As a fashion entrepreneur, Kimpel and her twin sister Barbara co-founded Baniki, a clothing and accessory line that deals with hats, handbags, sunglasses, and other items. They have also worked for Success Channel, Inc.
When Banderas and Kimpel met in 2014, the actor and Griffith were not yet divorced. However, Banderas said his second marriage was already falling apart. Still, he and Kimpel didn’t become a couple until the actor’s divorce was finalized.
Banderas recalled that when he met Kimpel at the Cannes Film Festival, they were at a party a friend had thrown for the night. The actor was talking to Kimpel’s twin, Barbara, when suddenly his girlfriend-to-be appeared, and his heart skipped a beat.
The 63-year-old said Kimpel and Barbara were exactly the same, but he saw something in Kimpel that differentiated her from her identical twin sister. The thing he saw made Banderas click with Kimpel.
However, Banderas didn’t act on his feelings as he was still a married man. Kimpel told him to go solve his problems first, then they’ll see what the future holds for them. Once the divorce documents were signed, Banderas and Kimpel started to get to know each other, leading to the start of their relationship.
Now, Banderas and Kimpel have been dating for close to a decade. Kimpel said the actor was the love of his life. The two look stunning together and always show each other love when they grace red-carpet events as a couple.
