Years have passed, but the heartwarming bond between Antonio Banderas and Dakota Johnson still captures our attention.

Despite living separate lives, Antonio remains a cherished part of Dakota’s world.

Even after his divorce from her mother, Antonio continues to enjoy spending time with Dakota, creating new memories together.

Here’s a glimpse into their special relationship.

Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith met while both were still married to other people. Melanie was married to actor Don Johnson at the time, having been married to him twice before their final separation in 1994. Griffith’s first child, Alexander, was with actor Steven Bauer, whom she married in 1981 and divorced in 1989. She had her daughter Dakota with Johnson, with marriages spanning 1976-1976 and 1989-1996.

Marrying Griffith, who had two young children, was nerve-wracking for the actor. At 35, Antonio Banderas suddenly became the stepfather to 6-year-old Dakota and 10-year-old Alexander. When asked about becoming a stepfather, Banderas admitted it was challenging. He had to reassure the kids that he was there to stay and acknowledged that it was difficult because they had to accept him while he was “totally inexperienced.”

Once he understood his fatherly role, Banderas began slowly building a relationship with his stepchildren, trying to offer them stability and gradually becoming a father figure. The situation became even more challenging when his daughter Stella was born, as he was still working on earning Alexander’s and Dakota’s trust and affection. When asked how long it took for the kids to feel at ease, Banderas mentioned that within a year, they realized he was there to stay. Banderas played a significant role in Dakota’s acting career. She got her start in his directorial debut, Crazy in Alabama, in 1999, acting alongside her mom. As a child, Dakota often spent time with Banderas on movie sets.

Dakota Johnson’s relationship with her stepdad, Antonio Banderas, has only grown stronger. At the 2019 Hollywood Film Awards, Dakota gave a heartfelt speech while presenting him with the Best Actor Award, calling him by her childhood nickname (“Papi”) and tearing up as she spoke. She shared how lucky she felt to have gained a bonus dad who turned out to be one of the most influential people in her life.Growing up, Dakota saw Banderas light up their lives, bringing “a remarkably magical little sister” into their family.

Years have passed since that speech, but nothing has changed between the two. They still love spending time together. Just recently, Antonio Banderas shared a photo with Dakota from one of their hangouts in Malaga, captioning it, “Happiness: Dakota in Malaga!” Another picture shows them posing with friends, highlighting their close and loving relationship.