The wedding of Stella del Carmen, daughter of Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, to Alex Gruszynski became one of the most talked-about social events. The celebration, held at a picturesque estate in the province of Valladolid, was filled with touching moments, but there was also a hint of sadness in the air. The reason was the absence of the bride’s older relatives—her grandparents, three of whom have already passed away. The only one still alive to witness this day is 95-year-old Tippi Hedren, Hitchcock’s legendary muse, whose health, according to rumors, no longer permits her to travel. The absence of Banderas’s own parents was especially felt, as they were not just family to him, but his true foundation.
The actor’s path to success from Málaga is inseparably linked to his parents, José Domínguez and Ana Bandera. It was they who completely believed in the young man who dreamed of conquering the stage. When the future Hollywood star set off for Madrid, he had only 15,000 pesetas in his pocket but carried massive moral support from his loved ones. They never doubted his talent as he took his first steps in the capital’s theater circles and landed his life-changing role with Pedro Almodóvar in “Labyrinth of Passion.” That faith became his main asset on the road to global recognition.
José Domínguez, a police commissioner, and Ana Bandera, a school teacher, led a modest life in Málaga, in the Esperanza district. They always stood by their son, even when his name was recognized all over the world. They accompanied him to major events, proudly watching as their boy received prestigious honors, including the title of “Favorite Son of Málaga.” In 2005, while receiving another honorary title, Antonio delivered a touching speech dedicated to his parents. He called them the ones who, invisibly and quietly, shaped his character and gave him the shields that shielded him more than once in the life battles of a complex world.
The loss of his parents was a tremendous challenge for the actor. His father passed away first, in February 2008, at the age of 87. It happened at the famous “Chaika” villa in Marbella after a prolonged illness. Nearly ten years later, in November 2017, his mother also passed away. Ana Bandera died at 84 in one of Málaga’s clinics. Antonio shared the tragedy himself on social media, posting a black-and-white photograph of her. Fate arranged it so that, during his mother’s final days, he was by her side: the actor was in his hometown filming the series “Genius,” portraying another great native of Málaga – Pablo Picasso. This invisible bond with his family and native land, which he carried throughout his life, has also been passed on to his daughter, who was born in Marbella and chose to celebrate her wedding precisely in Spain.
