Melanie Griffith’s journey has been nothing short of a wild ride. The renowned actress, who is the daughter of Tippi Hedren, first appeared on screen at the tender age of 12 and has since been part of numerous major films.
As her professional life flourished, her personal life attracted significant attention. She has been married three times, including a notable union with Antonio Banderas, faced challenges with rehab, and has raised three children.
Her kids from her first two marriages, Alexander Bauer and Dakota Johnson, experienced a challenging childhood, particularly as they navigated the difficulties of having a mother who was struggling during that period.
Melanie Griffith truly shone in the 1980s. She exuded a sensuality reminiscent of some European actresses, a quality that was often lacking in her American counterparts. Additionally, she had genuine acting talent, even if she may not have fully tapped into her capabilities.
I adored her performances in Working Girl and Paradise!
Born on August 9, 1957, in New York City, she is the daughter of Peter Griffith and the renowned actress Tippi Hedren, best known for her role in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film, The Birds.
Looking back, Griffith’s life has been nothing short of remarkable, yet it has also been marked by tragedy. The celebrated actress, recognized for her portrayals of strong and alluring characters, has faced a car accident, struggled with alcohol issues, and experienced three divorces.
From the very beginning, she faced the demands of a life in the spotlight. Her mother, Tippi, was a renowned superstar, and her upbringing was lavish in a way that was quite extraordinary, even for Hollywood.
At the age of seven, Griffith’s mother tied the knot with agent and producer Noah Marshall. Upon returning from a trip to Africa, the couple chose to create a film centered around lions. An animal trainer suggested a novel approach: to better understand the majestic creature, they could invite one into their home.
Melanie Griffith had a rather unique childhood, as she shared her home in Los Angeles, California, during the 1970s with a pet lion.
“I grew up with lions, tigers, and two elephants,” Griffith recalled.
The lion, named Neil, was a part of the family. Life Magazine captured this remarkable experience, featuring images of Hedren lounging on Neil’s back. Interestingly, the lion would even snuggle under blankets in Melanie Griffith’s bed.
“It was incredibly foolish,” Griffith later remarked.
While she never faced any issues with Neil, a different encounter years later did not turn out as well.
Melanie Griffith began her career in front of the camera before she even turned one, starring in her first commercial. She continued to work in commercials and modeling for several years, and at the age of 12, she made her acting debut in Extra!, although she wasn’t credited for it.
When she was 14, Griffith landed a role in The Harrad Experiment, where she met her first significant romance. On set, she encountered actor Don Johnson, and the two quickly fell deeply in love. Their age difference sparked some controversy, as Don was 22—eight years her senior—but their feelings for each other prevailed.
“I thought he was the most beautiful person I’d ever seen,” Griffith recalled.
Her mother was concerned about the age difference between them, but ultimately relented. At the age of 15, Melanie Griffith moved in with Don Johnson, and they became engaged on her 18th birthday.
“My daughter was displaying behaviors I had never witnessed before, especially with an older man, and it filled me with panic,” her mother, Tippi Hedren, remembered.
Griffith and Johnson married in Las Vegas in 1976, but their union lasted only six months before they separated. They later reignited their relationship and tied the knot again in 1989.
Melanie Griffith’s lion incident
Melanie Griffith began her promising acting journey in the 1970s, appearing in films like Night Moves and Joyride.
In 1981, she took part in the film Roar. Although her mother and stepfather raised lions for the production, the situation on set became perilous. Being in front of the camera proved to be dangerous, and Melanie sustained injuries.
She suffered a serious injury near her eye, which left her worried about her vision. Plastic surgery was necessary for her recovery, while her mother, Tippi Hedren, faced complications from gangrene and required skin grafts, as reported in a New Yorker article.
According to The Guardian, Melanie Griffith shared that the lioness “didn’t mean to hurt me. After spending seven years with the lions, I let my guard down. You can never be completely sure of your safety, and a single strike can be devastating.”
Despite the frightening experience, Melanie Griffith moved forward and continued her acting career, though she avoided working with live wild animals afterward. She starred in films like Body Double, Something Wild, and Working Girl, the latter of which earned her an Academy Award nomination in 1989.
In the 1980s, Melanie also found love again when she married actor Steven Bauer in 1981. They welcomed a son, Alexander Bauer, four years later.
Melanie Griffith – mother to Dakota Johnson
Their marriage lasted until 1989, after which she rekindled her relationship with Don Johnson. They divorced again in 1996, following the birth of their daughter, Dakota Johnson, in 1989.
“You have to understand that we have a connection, and I care for him,” Melanie Griffith remarked, adding, “I will always love [Don Johnson]. But loving someone doesn’t always mean you can live together.”
Dakota Johnson has emerged as a well-known actress, recognized for her roles in Fifty Shades of Grey and The Social Network. However, her childhood was quite challenging, especially after her parents divorced when she was just seven. This led to frequent moves, attending various schools, and even being homeschooled for a period.
From an early age, Dakota spent a lot of time on film sets with her parents, which sparked her desire to pursue acting herself, a dream she ultimately fulfilled.
Despite her success, Dakota’s upbringing was marked by difficulties stemming from her family dynamics. Consequently, she began attending therapy at the tender age of three.
“The whole experience,” Dakota Johnson shared with Vogue. “It’s all about getting as much support as you can.”
Melanie Griffith – her marriage to Antonio Banderas
“I often felt lost and confused, lacking any stability. I never really learned how to navigate life like most kids do. I questioned, ‘Why should I go to school on time? What’s the point when you’re in Budapest for six months while your stepdad is filming Evita and I’m doing schoolwork in a hotel room?’ I felt like a mess and believed for a long time that there was something off about my mind. Now I understand that it simply functions differently.”
Dakota Johnson’s upbringing could have easily led her astray. However, a new figure soon appeared in her life, transforming everything. As she noted, she was in search of an anchor, and that’s exactly what she found in her stepfather, Antonio Banderas.
In 1996, the same year Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson ended their marriage, Antonio Banderas also experienced a divorce from Ana Leza, his wife of nine years. He had long been a fan of Griffith, having admired her performances in films like Gone Girl and at the Academy Awards.
Banderas recounted, “The first time I attended the Academy Awards after our nomination for Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, we stepped onto the red carpet, and I spotted this blonde woman. I recognized her from movies I had seen, but I couldn’t recall her name at that moment,” he shared with Vulture.
I asked [director Pedro Almodóvar], “Who is she? What’s her name?” He replied, “That’s Melanie Griffith!” I exclaimed, “That’s it! Oh my God.” Fast forward six years, and I found myself married to her.
Dakota Johnson’s bond with her stepfather, Antonio Banderas, began when they met on the set of the comedy Two Much in 1995. They discovered a shared experience of unhappiness in their marriages, which helped them connect.
Antonio Banderas was immediately drawn to Melanie Griffith during their collaboration. He admired her humor, kindness, charm, and beauty. After filming Two Much, they kept in touch, and by May 1996, they were married, welcoming their daughter Stella later that same year.
In addition to becoming a father to Stella, Antonio Banderas also embraced the role of stepfather to Alexander, Melanie’s son from her previous marriage to Steven Bauer, and Dakota Johnson. For both Alexander and Dakota, Antonio became an essential figure in their lives, providing the support and presence of a dedicated stepfather.
At first, Banderas shared that it was challenging for the children to accept him since they were unsure of how long he would be around.
“I was completely new to this. Suddenly, I found myself with a 6-year-old girl, a 10-year-old boy, and then Stella came along almost right away,” he told AARP. “I thought, ‘Oh, my God!’ But once the kids realized I was committed to being there for them, everything changed. They needed a stable foundation to thrive. Once I understood that, I began to build my relationship with them, providing security and gradually stepping into the father role.”
Transformed Dakota Johnson’s life
Dakota and Alexander soon recognized that Antonio Banderas was not just a fleeting presence. He embraced the role of their stepfather and supported them in every way he could.
For Dakota, this was particularly significant. Her childhood had been filled with stress and uncertainty. With Banderas, she gained a stepfather who imparted valuable lessons about “true passion and discipline.”
In 2011, he shared that the kids affectionately call him “Paponio,” a blend of “Papa” and “Antonio.”
In 2019, during an award ceremony where Antonio Banderas was honored with the Hollywood Actor Award, Dakota Johnson and Melanie Griffith had the pleasure of presenting him with the accolade.
“I come from a family with many marriages, and I feel incredibly fortunate,” Johnson shared in her speech.
“I gained a bonus dad who, over the years, has become one of the most significant influences in my life. When I was just six, my mother married a man who introduced an extraordinary light, a whole new realm of creativity and culture, and a wonderfully magical little sister into our lives.”
“He loved my mother and my siblings and me so deeply, so passionately, and so openly that it transformed our lives together,” Dakota continued in her address.
A Lasting Connection
The bond between Antonio Banderas and his stepchildren remains strong, even after his divorce from Melanie Griffith in 2014.
Although Melanie and Antonio are no longer married, their family ties remain unbreakable. Currently, Banderas is in a relationship with Nicole Kimpel, but whenever he is in Los Angeles, he prioritizes spending time with his stepchildren and ex-wife.
Banderas noted that their divorce in 2014 was quite amicable, which his stepchildren appreciated.
He expressed that he will always treasure the moments he shared with Melanie and that his love for her endures. As for his stepdaughter, Dakota Johnson, he feels a deep, proud fatherly connection to her, akin to that of a biological father.
Antonio Banderas shared his fond memories, describing those years as vibrant and truly wonderful. Although he is no longer married to Melanie, he considers her family and one of his closest friends, if not his best friend. He mentioned, “My family includes Dakota [Johnson], Little Estella, and Alexander,” during an interview with Vulture in 2019.
He reminisced about meeting Dakota when she was just five years old, saying, “I’ve been there for every step of her journey. I’m incredibly proud of her. I saw her recently in Toronto, and she looked amazing. I even posted a picture of us on social media, captioning it, ‘My radiant Dakota.’”
Melanie Griffith in 2023
Now at 65, Melanie Griffith is enjoying her life as a single woman. Her most recent film appearance was in 2020, where she had a supporting role alongside her daughter Dakota in The High Note.
These days, she focuses on her family and is reportedly working on her memoir, as noted by BestLife. There’s likely a wealth of experiences to share, particularly her journey through cancer.
In 2010, the actress was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and it was eight years later that she publicly disclosed her cancer diagnosis.
Melanie faced a challenging experience when doctors had to excise a cancerous cell from her nose, which deeply affected her.
“It’s frightening as an actress to rely on your appearance for your career,” she shared with InStyle, adding, “But I understand that I just need to cover it up with a Band-Aid, and that’s okay. I might look a bit silly, but it’s manageable.”
Fortunately, the outcome was positive – Melanie has since become a passionate advocate for cancer awareness and actively supports the initiatives of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
No matter what opinions you have about Melanie’s appearance or her chaotic life, it’s clear that she possesses a genuinely kind spirit!
