Antonio Banderas returns to Málaga after heart attack, completely reinvents his life

Antonio Banderas, now 65, has opened up about how a heart attack in 2017 forced him to reassess his priorities. The actor was rushed to the hospital after experiencing chest pain during a workout—a “serious warning,” he recalls.

Following the incident, Banderas quit smoking, sold his properties in the U.S. and the U.K., as well as his private plane, and returned to his hometown of Málaga. There, he focused on theater, founding the Teatro del Soho, and on his personal life with partner Nicole Kimpel.

“That heart attack made me realize that, above all, I am a theater actor,” Banderas admitted. Today, he says he is happier than ever, running his theater, participating in cultural projects, and enjoying life with his family.