Overview
- Wednesday interviews with People, republished Aug. 5, 2026, quote the 65-year-old actor saying his 2017 heart attack became “the best thing” that ever happened to him.
- Banderas says the episode made him change habits by quitting smoking and by leaving long-term life in the U.S. to live in his native Málaga.
- He underwent emergency treatment after chest pains in 2017 and had three stents placed in his arteries, a medical detail he has previously discussed when describing the scare as a warning.
- The actor praised ex-wife Melanie Griffith as an “unbelievable mother” and said the health crisis made him focus on raising and taking pride in his children.
- Banderas links the experience to a new career and personal focus—opening a theatre and restaurants and choosing roles that reflect life and lived experience—which could shape his projects going forward.