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 Stella Banderas, 27, gets engaged to childhood sweetheart — see the diamond ring 7 Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas' daughter shared the news that she accepted Alex Gruszynski's marriage proposal (pictured in 2012)](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1724162756_716_Melanie-Griffith-and-Antonio-Banderas-daughter-Stella-Banderas-27-gets.jpg.webp)
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.
![Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas' daughter Stella Banderas, 27, gets engaged to childhood sweetheart — see the diamond ring 9 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.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1724162757_4_Melanie-Griffith-and-Antonio-Banderas-daughter-Stella-Banderas-27-gets.jpg.webp)
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.
![Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas' daughter Stella Banderas, 27, gets engaged to childhood sweetheart — see the diamond ring 11 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.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1724162757_62_Melanie-Griffith-and-Antonio-Banderas-daughter-Stella-Banderas-27-gets.jpg.webp)
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.
![Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas' daughter Stella Banderas, 27, gets engaged to childhood sweetheart — see the diamond ring 13 1724162758 993 Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas daughter Stella Banderas 27 gets](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1724162758_993_Melanie-Griffith-and-Antonio-Banderas-daughter-Stella-Banderas-27-gets.jpg.webp)
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![Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas' daughter Stella Banderas, 27, gets engaged to childhood sweetheart — see the diamond ring 15 Her mother, Melanie, added in the comments section:](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1724162758_645_Melanie-Griffith-and-Antonio-Banderas-daughter-Stella-Banderas-27-gets.jpg.webp)
Her mother, Melanie, added in the comments section: “I love you both so much! Congratulations again!!! .”
![Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas' daughter Stella Banderas, 27, gets engaged to childhood sweetheart — see the diamond ring 17 The two were also seen partying with friends in their youth.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1724162759_635_Melanie-Griffith-and-Antonio-Banderas-daughter-Stella-Banderas-27-gets.jpg.webp)
The two were also seen partying with friends in their youth.
![Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas' daughter Stella Banderas, 27, gets engaged to childhood sweetheart — see the diamond ring 19 Here they are seen kissing in more recent years.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1724162759_859_Melanie-Griffith-and-Antonio-Banderas-daughter-Stella-Banderas-27-gets.jpg.webp)
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.
![Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas' daughter Stella Banderas, 27, gets engaged to childhood sweetheart — see the diamond ring 21 Melanie Griffith (left) and Stella in PORTER host the Incredible Women Gala in association with Estee Lauder at NeueHouse Los Angeles in 2017](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/Melanie-Griffith-and-Antonio-Banderas-daughter-Stella-Banderas-27-gets.jpeg.webp)
![Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas' daughter Stella Banderas, 27, gets engaged to childhood sweetheart — see the diamond ring 23 Antonio Banderas and Stella attend the red carpet of the opening ceremony of the 69th San Sebastian International Film Festival at the Kursaal Palace in 2021](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1724162760_115_Melanie-Griffith-and-Antonio-Banderas-daughter-Stella-Banderas-27-gets.jpeg.webp)
With mom, on the left, in 2017, and with dad, on the right, in 2021
![Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas' daughter Stella Banderas, 27, gets engaged to childhood sweetheart — see the diamond ring 25 Griffith and her daughter Stella seen together in 2016](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1724162760_294_Melanie-Griffith-and-Antonio-Banderas-daughter-Stella-Banderas-27-gets.jpg.webp)
Griffith and her daughter Stella seen together in 2016
![Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas' daughter Stella Banderas, 27, gets engaged to childhood sweetheart — see the diamond ring 27 Alexander Bauer, Stella Banderas, Antonio, Dakota Johnson and Melanie photographed in 1998](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1724162761_548_Melanie-Griffith-and-Antonio-Banderas-daughter-Stella-Banderas-27-gets.jpg.webp)
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.”
![Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas' daughter Stella Banderas, 27, gets engaged to childhood sweetheart — see the diamond ring 29 Stella is seen here with Dakota, Melanie and Tippi Hedren in 2015](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1724162761_481_Melanie-Griffith-and-Antonio-Banderas-daughter-Stella-Banderas-27-gets.jpeg.webp)
Stella is seen here with Dakota, Melanie and Tippi Hedren in 2015