Banderas: I’m proud of Dakota

Antonio Banderas thinks Dakota Johnson “knows very well” what an acting career is all about.

The Mask of Zorro actor became the stepfather of the 25-year-old actress when he married her mother Melanie Griffith in 1996. But despite the couple announcing their intention to divorce in June last year, the 54-year-old still thinks a lot of his former stepdaughter.

“I got into the life of the girl when she was four years old and just to see her now, I'm so proud of her," he told Access Hollywood. "She knows very well what this career is all about. She has seen it in her father [Don Johnson], in her mother and I suppose me too, [and in her] grandmother, so she [has] a tradition in Hollywood."

Dakota’s career is about to go to a whole new level once the highly anticipated adaptation of 50 Shades of Grey hits the big screen next month. But while Antonio is pleased to see her star on the rise, he won’t be rushing to see the saucy flick.

“I don't think so. I probably will wait a little bit," he admitted.

Antonio and his former spouse cited “irreconcilable differences” in their divorce papers. Melanie has since started to get the tattoo of Antonio’s name on her upper arm removed, but for the Puss in Boots actor, he still treasures the time they had together.

“I'm not going to take 20 years of my life and put it in a hole," he continued. "There are beautiful things there that I'm gonna keep. It's part of my life."