Stella Banderas is engaged to her childhood sweetheart.
On Monday, the daughter of Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas shared the news that she accepted a marriage proposal from Alex Gruszynski.
And the 27-year-old Los Angeles native also posted several throwback photos with Alex, including one in elementary school with her childhood sweetheart.
They were just little kids when they first got together, Instagram photos showed.
Stella, whose grandmother is Tippi Hedren from the film The Birds, also raised her left hand to show off her diamond engagement ring from Alex.
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Stella Banderas is engaged to her childhood sweetheart, it was announced Monday. Stella, whose grandmother is Tippi Hedren from the film The Birds, also raised her left hand to show off her diamond engagement ring from Alex
Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas’ daughter shared the news that she accepted Alex Gruszynski’s marriage proposal (pictured in 2012)
Alex is not involved in the film industry like Stella’s parents. He is the founder of NOVA Community, which is “aimed at creatives and those who hire them.”
Melanie and Antonio began their relationship in 1996 during the filming of their movie Two Much.
Melanie would go on to star in her husband’s 1999 directorial debut, Crazy In Alabama, which also featured Stella’s first on-screen role.
She filed for divorce from Antonio in June 2014, after 18 years of marriage.
Melanie’s youngest daughter is the half-sister of Alexander Bauer and Dakota Johnson, from their marriages to Steven Bauer and Don Johnson, respectively.
Although the former couple divorced six years ago, they have remained close and Antonio, 61, says Melanie will always be a part of his life because they shared so many “wonderful years” and have their “amazing daughter” Stella together.
Speaking to the television programme ‘El Break de las 7’, she said: ‘I think we are both reluctant to bury 20 years of marriage. We are human beings, we make mistakes and that is the human condition. We have to put our egos aside and not want to prove that one is right or look for someone to blame for what. Because it could be both of us or neither of us. There comes a time when things end and we have to accept it.
And the 27-year-old Los Angeles native also shared several throwback photos with Alex, including being seen in elementary school with her childhood boyfriend.
They were just kids when they first got together, Instagram photos showed. Stella, whose grandmother is Tippi Hedren from the film The Birds, also raised her left hand to show off her diamond engagement ring from Alex.
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Her mother, Melanie, added in the comments section: “I love you both so much! Congratulations again!!! .”
The two were also seen partying with friends in their youth.
Here they are seen kissing in more recent years.
“The life I had with Melanie was beautiful. We had 20 wonderful years in which we gave our best and lived wonderful moments that I will not forget. We had a wonderful daughter whom we both loved and that is the end result of our relationship, the most beautiful thing we have done together,” he added.
In 2021, Stella filed a request to remove “Griffith” from her name, according to legal documents, obtained by The explosion.
The actress wants to ‘shorten’ her name to Stella Del Carmen Banderas by ‘eliminating the extra surname’.
“I don’t normally use ‘Griffith’ when referring to myself or in documents,” she explained in the documents about the reasoning behind her request.
He added: “Therefore, removing the name would be in line with my usual usage.”
The actress, who has dual Spanish and American nationality, was raised largely out of the spotlight, but last week she attended the 69th San Sebastian International Film Festival at the Kursaal Palace with her father.
Stella’s choice seems to have nothing to do with her relationship with her mother, who recently received a sweet birthday gift from her two little girls.
The Night Moves star shared a picture of her dining room which was filled with gold balloons spelling out “Mom.”
“I love my girls ,” Melanie captioned the photo from her early birthday celebration.
With mom, on the left, in 2017, and with dad, on the right, in 2021
Griffith and her daughter Stella seen together in 2016
Alexander Bauer, Stella Banderas, Antonio, Dakota Johnson and Melanie photographed in 1998
Melanie has kept busy in recent years, with a recurring role on the reboot of Hawaii Five-0 and small parts in The Pirates Of Somalia and the Oscar-nominated film Disaster Artist.
The Something Wild star’s family has also been enjoying a few boom years.
Her daughter Dakota appeared in the cosmic horror film Wounds in early 2019, followed by the heartwarming drama The Peanut Butter Falcon alongside Shia LaBeouf and Bruce Dern.
Her two-time ex, Don, appeared in the critically acclaimed and financially successful mystery thriller Knives Out, as well as the first season of the hit HBO series Watchmen.
Antonio also received some of the best reviews of his career in Pedro Almodóvar’s autumn film Pain and Glory.
Last year, Antonio said he still talks to his ex-wife Melanie all the time and says she will always be part of his “family.”
Stella is seen here with Dakota, Melanie and Tippi Hedren in 2015