Spanish actor Antonio Banderas, 62, was previously rushed to the hospital in 2017 after experiencing chest pains while exercising. Photo: AP
Spanish actor Antonio Banderas said that the heart attack he suffered in 2017 was "one of the best things" that happened in his life.
The 62-year-old Desperado star made this comment in a recent interview with Radio Times magazine.
According to Banderas, the heart attack he experienced gave him a newfound clarity and perspective in life.
"It probably was one of the best things that happened in my life. It was like putting glasses on and seeing what was important.
"I came back to Spain and started looking at my professional life from a different point of view. Since my heart attack, I’m looking only for the pleasure of acting. That’s it. I don’t care about anything else.
"For me, life starts when somebody says, "Action!" – or when the curtain comes up," he explained.
This isn't the first time the Mask Of Zorro actor shared about the impact the heart attack had on his life.
In a past interview with The Independent in 2019, Banderas said that being close to death allowed him to understand life in a "deeper, more complex way".
"I detached (myself) from things that aren't important any more and put my attention in family, friends and in recovering," he elaborated.
The movie star was previously rushed to hospital in 2017 after experiencing chest pains while exercising. He has since quit smoking.
Banderas is currently promoting his new flick, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish – which follows the titular feline character, Puss, coming to terms with his own mortality after reaching the last of his nine lives.
The animated movie is nominated for Best Animated Feature at the upcoming 95th Academy Awards and is showing in cinemas nationwide.
