Born in Marbella in 1996, Stella del Carmen Banderas Griffith has spent her life in the public eye. Yet, despite being the daughter of Hollywood icons Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, she has deliberately chosen a path away from the limelight. Rather than pursuing an acting career like her famous parents, Stella is carving out her own space behind the camera in the film industry.
Splitting her time between the United States and Spain, Stella is known for her discretion, making only rare public appearances. In a recent interview with ¡HOLA!, she described herself as “someone of few words but rich in meaning,” favoring depth over small talk.
A unique blend of cultures and style
With a striking beauty that reflects the best features of her parents, Stella exudes effortless elegance, seamlessly blending European sophistication with Californian ease. This distinctive style is evident in her rare but captivating appearances at runway shows, premieres, and red carpet events.
“I see myself as a mix of my Malagan and Spanish roots combined with American culture,” she shared. “From Málaga, I’ve inherited a deep appreciation for traditions and family values, while my American background instills ambition and a drive to pursue my dreams.”
This dual heritage is reflected in her creative endeavors, which span fashion, writing, and filmmaking. As a graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) with a degree in Narrative Studies, Stella has explored storytelling in various forms. She has modeled for her ‘sister’ Grace Johnson (daughter of Don Johnson), assisted her father at the Soho Theatre in Málaga, and worked in the film department at the prestigious talent agency WME (William Morris Endeavor) in Beverly Hills. She also collaborated with her father on an advertising project and dabbled in jewelry design.
In 2021, Stella launched Lightbound, her own perfume line, inspired by her love of fragrance and its connection to memory. “Scents have a powerful way of evoking emotions and moments,” she explained. The first fragrance in the line was crafted from personal memories, blending influences such as the aroma of vanilla from baking, the incense burned at home, and even the scent of frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity in New York.
Her commitment to sustainability is a driving force behind her brand. “As a writer, perfumer, naturalist, and practitioner of yoga and reiki, I wanted to create something that aligns with my values—balancing the soul, body, and earth.”
Beyond perfumery, Stella has ventured into environmental activism. Last November, she unveiled her latest project as a director—a documentary produced for Ecoalf that sheds light on the devastating impact of fast fashion. “Promoting environmental awareness has always been important to me, and this project was a perfect fit,” she said. The documentary took her to the Atacama Desert, home to one of the world’s largest textile landfills. “Seeing the waste firsthand was a deeply moving experience. I hope this film encourages people to rethink their consumption habits—choosing quality over quantity and reducing waste,” she emphasized.
A love story years in the making
On a personal note, Stella recently announced her engagement to Alex Gruszynski, sharing the joyous news in August with a heartfelt social media post: “I’ll get to spend forever with my favorite person!” Accompanying the post were photos of her radiant smile and a gold ring adorned with a stunning emerald-cut diamond.
Her relationship with Alex is a story of childhood friendship turned lifelong love. The two met as children at Wagon Wheel School, a private Los Angeles institution, and reconnected in 2015. Their romance flourished until 2019, when they briefly parted ways before finding their way back to each other.
Alex, of Polish descent, studied Business Administration at Wake Forest University, specializing in Entrepreneurial Initiative at USC’s Marshall School of Business. His passion for film aligns well with Stella’s family legacy. Now an entrepreneur, he founded Nova, a company designed to connect industry professionals in the film sector.
Banderas and Griffith are thrilled about their daughter’s fiancé, having known him for most of his life. In a recent interview with El Hormiguero, Antonio expressed his excitement: “My daughter Stella is getting married. I’m happy because I really like her fiancé. They’ve known each other since childhood—he used to visit our home when they were just three or four years old.”
He added with a smile, “All I want is for my daughter to be loved, and he loves her deeply. That’s all that matters to me. I imagine a simple wedding... and who knows? Maybe I’ll be a grandfather soon!”
With her wedding on the horizon and a career fueled by creativity and purpose, Stella Banderas is gracefully stepping into a new chapter—one where she continues to build a life that is distinctly her own.