Antonio Banderas’ Stepdaughter Dakota Johnson Still Calls Him ‘Papi’ despite His Split with Her Mom

Movie star Antonio Banderas married a woman with two young children and expressed that it was nerve-wracking to marry into a wholesome family of three while being inexperienced.

The Spanish actor and actress Melanie Griffith met while still married to other people. Griffith was at the time, the wife to actor Don Johnson whom she wed twice, but they officially separated in 1994.

She later fell for Banderas, who happened to be her co-star at the time in the 1995 rom-com, “Two Much.” Banderas was at the time married to his first wife, actress Ana Leza even though they were going through a separation then.

A month after the two finalized their divorces, they walked down the aisle again in an intimate ceremony on May 14, 1996, in London. When Banderas was asked what attracted him to Griffith, he said he had “admired Melanie” long before he met her.

Banderas recalled the first time he saw Griffith in the 1988 movie, “Working Girl,” and was mesmerized by her beauty, “Wow, she’s so beautiful, so special,” he said. He later spotted her at the Oscar Awards on the red carpet but had forgotten her name.

He recalled Spanish film director telling him, ” ‘It’s Melanie Griffith, you idiot! She’s nominated for an Academy Award tonight!’ Six years after that, we’re married!” When asked how they went from their working relationship to being romantically involved while starring in “Two Much,” Banderas revealed they were both “unhappy” in their marriages.

“Things don’t work out sometimes, and that’s the way it goes. But we recognized that we were unhappy. I saw her with her kids, and she was so beautiful as a mom,” said the Spain native.

Banderas explained that it is typical for co-stars to develop a connection while working together and that most of the time, after filming, everyone cuts ties, but the same cannot be said about him and Griffith.

They kept in touch frequently until they finally admitted they had feelings for each other. Something he noted “was not easy” to do. When the “Frida” star married the Golden Globe Award winner, she had two young children from her previous marriages.

Griffith had her first child, son Alexander, with actor Steven Bauer whom she wed in 1981 and divorced in 1989 following five years of marriage. She welcomed her eldest daughter Dakota with Johnson, whom she was married to between 1976-1976 and 1989-1996.

Banderas Became an ‘Inexperienced’ Stepdad to Griffith’s Kids

When asked how he managed to integrate into his marriage as a stepfather to Griffin’s son and daughter, Banderas acknowledged that it was challenging because he needed to reassure the children that he was there to stay. He explained that it was hard because the kids had to accept him, and he was “totally inexperienced.”

He found himself suddenly caring for a 6-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy. However, he noted that once the kids realized he was there for the long haul, they were fine adding that they needed a stable environment where they could grow.

Once he came to that realization, the “Spy Kids” star began “establishing my relationship, giving them security, little by little doing the father thing.” When asked how long it took to put the children’s minds at ease, Banderas divulged “it took less than a year” for his stepchildren “to realize that I was not temporary.”

Soon, his daughter Stella was born, which became overwhelming because he was still trying to get Alexander and Dakota to warm up to him.

Banderas Had a Huge Influence on His Stepdaughter’s Career

Banderas’ hard work bonding with his stepkids yielded positive results as he became instrumental in Dakota’s acting career. The “Fifty Shades of Grey” star first had her acting stint in her stepfather’s directorial debut, “Crazy in Alabama” in 1999, alongside her mother. Dakota played Sondra in the film.

As a young child, she often visited Banderas on set and fondly remembered bringing pop singer Madonna an Easter basket while filming “Evita” in Budapest in 1996.

Banderas treasures such memories as well and once expressed his affection, saying that she is his daughter and he loves her. He reminisced about having her on his shoulders as they traveled around the world together.

Banderas also shared Dakota’s endearing nickname for him during her childhood, which is a blend of the word “daddy” in Spanish and his name. He explained that Dakota called him Paponio, a mix of “papa” (Spanish for daddy) and Antonio, making him her Antonio papa, or Paponio.

Sadly, Banderas and Dakota’s mother filed for divorce in June 2014 after 18 years of marriage. They released a joint statement, announcing that they had thoughtfully and consensually decided to end their nearly twenty-year marriage.

They explained partying ways in a loving and friendly manner, honoring and respecting each other, their family and friends, and the beautiful time they had spent together. The former couple had an amicable separation, with Griffith citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their parting.

Dakota Still Maintains a Loving Relationship with Her Stepfather

Many years later, Dakota presented Banderas with the Best Actor Award at the 2019 Hollywood Film Awards in a heartfelt speech. She became emotional as she lovingly spoke about her stepfather, referring to him by her childhood nickname.

Dakota shared that she came from a family with many marriages and felt very lucky to have gained a bonus dad who, over time, became one of the most influential people in her life.

The Texas native said Banderas brightened their lives and shared his sense of “creativity and culture” with them, adding he brought “one remarkably magical little sister into our family.”

Dakota expressed that her stepfather, Antonio Banderas, had burst into their lives with vibrant energy, fun, and humor. She fondly remembered his abstract English, which they found amazing. Dakota noted that Banderas loved her mother, and she, and her siblings so much that it changed their lives forever.

In his acceptance speech, Banderas dedicated the award to two people he loved, including Dakota, mentioning how she has always called him “Papi,” a nickname he cherishes. After the event, the devoted stepdad told E! News Online that he had no idea Dakota would honor him with such a heartwarming speech.

He shared that while he knew she would be giving the speech, he had no clue about the contents of her heartfelt tribute, as she hadn’t told him anything in advance.

The proud father said it brought back all those memories he created with his blended family and that “it was a confirmation” that the time he spent with Griffith was not only about them but “about the family. They were all worth it.”

In February 2015, Banderas was promoting his animated film “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water,” which was to be released the same weekend as Dakota’s “Fifty Shades of Grey” movie, and mentioned what a stellar actress she was.

He emphasized that there was “no competition” between him and his stepdaughter because their audiences differed for the films. “I wish Dakota the best, not only because of this movie,” but because he and the rest of the family, including Dakota’s biological father, knew she was an excellent performer.

Banderas added that Dakota would have a thriving career because she is versatile in portraying different characters. She nails comedy, which was evident in the TV series “Ben & Kate,” and drama too, which showed in the movie, he said. He noted that it was a window of “opportunity” for Dakota and that he knew she would grab it with both hands and run with it.

Despite Banderas and Griffith parting ways, the actor and his stepdaughter Dakota remain close-knit. Their strong bond is evident in a recent post shared by the Spanish actor, featuring a series of photos highlighting their quality time together.

In one of the snaps, Banderas and Dakota are seen enjoying each other’s company, with Banderas simply captioning it, “Happiness: Dakota in Malaga!” This indicates they were savoring their time together.

Another photo shows the actor and his talented stepdaughter sitting among unidentified people, posing for pictures, further showcasing their enduring and affectionate relationship.