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The three building blocks have links to nine images that represent Antonio's family life. |
A NEW FAMILY, NEW HOMES
Red Block: top image,
The family go boating during Antonio's sojourn in Argentina to film Evita; Yellow Block: top image,
It was actually Alexander's birthday August 1996, but Dakota grabbed the attention in her
beautiful white dress when the family went to a seafood restaurant in Marbella to
celebrate -- Antonio is throwing kisses to the locals who cheered them; Blue Block: top image,
Antonio once said his daughter would be a wanderer like himself and her early life has
proven him correct. Antonio and Melanie sightseeing in Mexico, November 1996 with Stella;
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One thing that never fit the media's spin on Antonio's and Melanie's relationship as a hot affair quickly to burn out was Antonio's close relationship with Melanie's children. It apparently did not take long for mutual affection to develop between Alexander and Dakota on one hand and their mother's new beau on the other. As Melanie described the situation to Ladies Home Journal: "They were tough on him, but they pretty much loved him right away. For being so macho, he's a kindhearted person." Little publicized was the fact that the children accompanied Melanie with Antonio to Puerto Rico while he was filming Assassins. By October, 1995, Antonio was ready to be entrusted as sole guardian of Alexander in London. (Alex preceded Melanie who was still filming Lolita in North Carolina). Alex and Antonio were seen at Harrod's buying toys. Tan Solo un Actor said that the temporary guardian was planning to take Alex roller skating at Hyde Park. Melanie said of this period of male bonding: "Antonio spent nine days, taking him on all the double-decker buses and to all the museums. It meant so much to Alexander." [LHJ, Sept. 96] The Christmas holiday, 1995 saw not only the children but Melanie's mother Tippie Hedren and even her father Peter Griffith celebrating the holidays in Spain with Antonio's family. Ana Bandera was later to say that she considered Melanie's children as her own grandchildren. Antonio had always been
crazy about kids. He is the godfather of his brother Chico's three-year old child, Javier Antonio's love for
Melanie's kids was already apparent in November, 1995 interview with Hello! . When he fell in love with
Melanie he had a ready-made family -- Melanie's daughter Dakota Mayi Johnson (born October
1989, father -- Don Johnson) and son Alexander Bauer (born late August, 1985, father -
Steven Bauer. While Antonio still has to travel a lot, he has set up roots in both the
house he purchased from Michelle Pfeiffer in Brentwood From GQ: We talk about Alexander, 10, and Dakota, 6-Melanie's kids, whose difficulties during the latest breakup of their mother's marriage were greatly assuaged by their affection for Banderas. "It was hard at the beginning," Antonio: "We had to talk--mostly with Alexander. He's more conscious about everything that is happening. So I really talked to him. I said, 'We have to put all the ghosts that you have inside on the table. Tell me exactly what you think, and don't think I'm gonna get mad at you. I want to try to understand everything that's happening in your mind. Because I've been a kid, too, and I know how painful it is sometimes.' And now it's gorgeous when I'm sitting down here and he jumps on me and puts his head here" on his shoulder. "He looks for me, he counts on me, and he calls me and says, 'Antonio, I need you.' Awww," Banderas moans, "I love that." And Alexander even looks after Antonio sometimes. When Banderas is
mangling some American expression and Dakota complains, "I didn't understand a
word!" Alexander says, "Don't say that. He's from Spain--he's trying ! "
Melanie locates some recent photographs of them frolicking on the beach-Antonio in red
trunks and a bandanna, with the kids, building castles in the sand. [GQ -1995]
AND THEN CAME STELLA Little Stella was no accident. Antonio in November, 1995 spoke to Hello! about the possibility of having a child the next year. Melanie confirmed in InStyle that the baby was planned. She had even told her children that she and Antonio were going to "try" to make a baby. How important was it for
you to marry Melanie and have a child? Antonio: "The birth
and everything else, it was fun. It was like a party; it was beautiful."
[Entertainment Tonight] It might sound like
Antonio is trivializing the pain of childbirth, but Melanie's sentiments were similar: Does Stella have a dad
that changes her diapers, gives her a bath, and feeds her? Would you allow your
child to become an actor? Banderas recalls the
moment he first spied his daughter's head, her neck wrapped thrice with her umbilical
chord. His voice drops to its lowest setting. -How about your
fatherhood? There has been much speculation in 1997 about Melanie being pregnant again. This gossip has been denied by Antonio. However, Melanie in Ladies Home Journal admitted, ""I might try to get pregnant at the end of this year," she says. "It would be great to have two little ones."
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