Melanie Griffith’s life has been quite a ride. She started acting at the young age of 12, following in the footsteps of her famous mother, Tippi Hedren. Over the years, Melanie has appeared in many well-known movies.
Her personal life has often been in the spotlight. Melanie has been married three times, including to actor Antonio Banderas. She has also been to rehab and has raised three children.
Melanie’s first two children, Alexander Bauer and Dakota Johnson, had a tough childhood. They had to deal with their mother’s struggles during some very difficult times.
In the 1980s, Melanie Griffith was a sensation. She had a unique, sensual style that was rare among American actresses. Despite her talent, she might not have fully realized her potential as an actress. Some of her most loved performances were in the movies “Working Girl” and “Paradise.”
Melanie was born on August 9, 1957, in New York City. Her father, Peter Griffith, was an actor, and her mother, Tippi Hedren, was famous for her role in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film “The Birds.”
Looking back, Melanie’s life has been both amazing and tragic. Known for her roles as strong yet sexy characters, she has faced many challenges, including a car accident, struggles with alcohol, and three divorces.
From the start, Melanie was under the pressure of show business. Her childhood was extravagant, even by Hollywood standards, because of her superstar mother. When Melanie was seven, her mother married agent and producer Noel Marshall. After a trip to Africa, the couple decided to make a film about lions. An animal trainer suggested they bring a lion into their home to get to know it better.
Melanie Griffith had a very unusual childhood in the 1970s. She grew up with a pet lion named Neil at their home in Los Angeles, California.
“I grew up with lions, tigers, and two elephants,” Melanie said.
The lion, Neil, lived with the family and even shared their home. Life Magazine took pictures of this extraordinary situation, showing Melanie’s mother, Tippi Hedren, resting on Neil’s back. The lion was so much a part of the family that he even slept in Melanie’s bed under the blankets.
Looking back, Melanie admitted, “It was stupid beyond belief.”
Although Melanie didn’t have any problems with Neil, another encounter with lions later on didn’t end as well.
Melanie Griffith started her career very early. She appeared in her first commercial before she was even one year old. She continued doing commercials and modeling for a few years. When she was 12, she made her debut in the TV show Extra! although she wasn’t credited for it.
At 14, Melanie got a role in the movie The Harrad Experiment. On set, she met actor Don Johnson, who became her first big love. Their relationship was quite controversial because of their age difference. Don was 22 years old, eight years older than Melanie, but they didn’t let that stop them.
“I thought he was the most beautiful person I’d ever seen,” Melanie said.
Melanie Griffith’s mother, Tippi Hedren, was worried about her relationship with Don Johnson because of Melanie’s young age. However, she eventually accepted it. When Melanie was 15, she moved in with Don, and they got engaged on her 18th birthday.
“They were two beautiful, wonderful people, and my daughter was showing signs I’d never seen before, with an older man, and I panicked,” Tippi Hedren recalled.
Melanie and Don got married in Las Vegas in 1976, but they separated after just six months. They later rekindled their romance and married again in 1989.
Melanie met Antonio Banderas while filming the comedy Two Much in 1995. Both were unhappy in their marriages at the time and recognized this in each other. Antonio was instantly attracted to Melanie, finding her funny, generous, sweet, and beautiful. After filming, they kept in touch and got married in May 1996. They had their daughter, Stella, later that year.
Antonio not only became a father to Stella but also a stepfather to Melanie’s other children, Alexander (from her second marriage to Steven Bauer) and Dakota Johnson. Antonio became an important figure for both Alexander and Dakota, providing the stability and presence they needed.
In the beginning, Antonio Banderas found it challenging to connect with his stepchildren because they weren’t sure if he would stay in their lives. He told AARP, “I had no experience. Suddenly, I had a 6-year-old girl, a 10-year-old boy, and then Stella came along. I thought, ‘Oh, my God!’ But once the kids realized I was there to stay, they were fine. They needed stability to grow. Once I understood that, I started building our relationship, giving them security and slowly taking on the father role.”
Dakota and Alexander, his stepchildren, soon understood that Banderas was not just a temporary figure. He embraced his role as their stepfather and supported them in every way he could.
This was especially important for Dakota, who had a stressful and uncertain childhood. Banderas became a stepfather who taught her many things, including “true passion and discipline.”
In 2011, Banderas shared that the kids call him “Paponio,” a mix of “Papa” and “Antonio.”
At an award ceremony in 2019, when Antonio Banderas received the Hollywood Actor Award, Dakota Johnson and Melanie Griffith presented the trophy to him.
In her speech, Johnson said, “I come from a family with many marriages, and I got very lucky. I got a bonus dad who turned out to be one of the most influential people in my life. When I was six, my mother married a man who brought an incredibly bright light, creativity, culture, and a magical little sister into our family.”
She added, “He loved my mother, my siblings, and me so much and so intensely that it changed all of our lives.”
Even after Banderas and Melanie Griffith divorced in 2014, he maintained a strong relationship with his stepchildren.
Though Banderas and Griffith are no longer married, their family bond remains strong. Banderas is now in a relationship with Nicole Kimpel, but whenever he is in Los Angeles, he ensures he spends time with his stepchildren and ex-wife.
Banderas explained that their divorce was not dramatic, which his stepchildren appreciated. He cherishes the time he had with Melanie and will always love her. Regarding his stepdaughter, Dakota Johnson, he feels like her proud biological father.
“I remember those years as very effervescent and really beautiful. I am not married with Melanie anymore, but she is my family. She is probably one of my best friends, if not the best friend that I have. My family is there, Dakota [Johnson], Little Estella and Alexander,” Antonio Banderas told Vulture in 2019.
”I met her when she was five years old,” he added. “I followed every single step of it. I’m so proud of her. I saw her the other day in Toronto, and she looks — as I said in the social networks when I put a picture of her and myself, I put there, ‘My radiant Dakota.’”
At 65, Melanie Griffith is happily single. Her last appearance on the big screen was in 2020, when she had a minor role and co-starred alongside her daughter Dakota in The High Note.
Today, she devotes her time to her family, and according to BestLife, Melanie is currently writing her memoir. And there will probably be a lot to pen down – including her battle against cancer.
The actress was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2010, and eight years later, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
Doctors had to remove a cancerous cell from Melanie’s nose, and the experience was very stressful for her.
“It’s scary when you’re an actress and your face is important for your work,” she told InStyle. “But I know I have to put a Band-Aid on it, and it’s fine. I just look silly.”
Thankfully, everything turned out okay. Now, Melanie is a strong supporter of cancer awareness and also supports the efforts of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
You can say what you want about Melanie’s looks and her turbulent life, but she does seem to have a really sweet soul!