Antonio Banderas Calls Ex Melanie Griffith a “Best Friend” After Divorce

Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith are more than coparents.

The Babygirl actor emphasized just how close he and the Working Girl star—who were married for 18 years before divorcing in 2015—have remained as friends, in addition to raising their 29-year-old daughter Stella Banderas.

In fact, Banderas, 65, told People in an interview published Aug. 6 that he considers Griffith, 68, “if not my best friend, one of my best friends.”

Despite their romance, which began at the 1989 Oscars, becoming platonic, the Hollywood couple still treasures quality time together.

“When I go to Los Angeles, we get together anyway, we got a lot of fun,” Banderas shared. “We laugh and we just…It’s a very healthy thing, and it was very healthy for our kids.”

As such, Banderas explained that one of the traits he loves most about Griffith—also mother to son Alexander Bauer, 40, shared with ex Steven Bauer, as well as daughter Dakota Johnson, 36, and stepson Jesse Johnson, 43, shared with ex Don Johnson—is how she shows up for her children.