Dakota Johnson emotional while awarding former stepdad Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas, left, winner of the Hollywood actor award, and presenter Dakota Johnson pose backstage at the 23rd annual Hollywood Film Awards on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Image: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
When Antonio Banderas was to be recognized at the Hollywood Film Awards on Sunday, Nov. 3, he chose former stepdaughter Dakota Johnson to present the trophy to him.
Johnson is the daughter of Melanie Griffith, whom Banderas was married to for 20 years. He and Griffith parted ways in 2015.
The awards ceremony was a family affair for the acclaimed actor: he attended the event with girlfriend Nicole Kimpel, Johnson and Stella Banderas, his daughter with Griffiths.
Banderas won the Hollywood Actor Award for his role in Spanish drama “Pain and Glory,” and Johnson paid tribute to him in a speech, raving about the actor as a father to her, E! News reported yesterday, Nov. 4.
Dakota Johnson, left, presents the Hollywood actor award to Antonio Banderas at the 23rd annual Hollywood Film Awards on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Image: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
“I come from a family of many a marriage and I got very lucky,” she said. “I got a bonus dad who I realized that, over time, is actually one of the most influential people in my whole life.”
“When I was six years old, my mother married a man who brought an unbelievably bright light, a whole new world of creativity and culture and one remarkably magical little sister into our family.”
“My stepfather—f*ck!—Antonio Banderas burst into our lives,” she said. “He was so vibrant and so fun and so funny and his English was abstract and we found it absolutely amazing. He loved my mother, and my siblings and I so big, and so fiercely and so loud, that it would change all of our lives together.”
She also spoke of his craft and hard work as an actor. “Antonio taught me about true passion and discipline. He would spend hours, and days even, in his office trying to get to the nucleus of something he had become interested in, or a role he was preparing.”
“Now, as a grown woman working in the same industry, I understand that Antonio is one of our finest artists in film, stage and television, in multiple languages. As an actor, director, writer, singer, his range is absolutely astounding. I can look back on his entire career, and time after time, his performances and endeavors as an artist have made an imprint.”
Banderas returned the love to Johnson in his acceptance speech. He revealed that they still have a deep connection, with the actress calling him “papi.”
“I want to dedicate this to two people that I love, one is right here, Dakota, for something very simple, because you always call me papi, and still now you call me papi and I love that!” he said. “You have no idea how much I love that!”
Addressing Stella, he said, “No matter how many movies, or stage productions, you have been my best production.” Niña V. Guno /ra
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