Antonio Banderas Says 2017 Heart Attack Was ‘the Best Thing That Ever Happened’ To Him

Antonio Banderas is grateful for a second chance.

The Mask of Zorro actor, 65, opened up about the heart attack he suffered in 2017 and how the frightening moment gave him a completely new perspective in an interview with People published on Wednesday, August 4.

“You always have in your mind that you’re going to die,” he told the outlet. “But then when you have it so close, it’s an unbelievably clear reminder of how stupid you are losing time over things that don’t deserve to be in your life.”

At the time, Banderas’ health scare made headlines and ultimately inspired him to reevaluate his priorities. He eventually left California and returned to his hometown of Malaga, Spain, and began focusing more on what truly mattered to him.

“My heart attack was the best thing that ever happened in my life,” the Puss in Boots voice actor added. “It was like somebody put glasses on me so I could see the reality that I didn’t see before.”

This isn’t the first time Banderas has discussed the life-changing event. As Closer previously reported, Banderas told The Times that it “changed the way” he lived his day-to-day life.

The Pain and Glory star adjusted his lifestyle by selling his private jet, offloading some of his properties and quitting smoking, he previously revealed to The Times