Antonio Banderas and his ladies' day/night out...

Sharon Stone and Antonio Banderas in May 20, 2014. (Photo Getty Images)

Natalie Burn and Antonio Banderas in May 18, 2014. (Photo Getty Images)

Antonio Banderas and Filippa Lagerback in April 27, 2014. (Photo Getty Images)

Antonio Banderas and Paz Vega present in September 10, 2013. (Photo Getty Images)

Antonio Banderas and Saorise Ronan in September 8, 2013. (Photo Getty Images)

Karolina Kurkova, Antonio Banderas in May 24, 2012. (Photo Getty Images)

Karolina Kurkova, Antonio Banderas and Goga Ashkenazi in May 24, 2012. (Photo Getty Images)

Antonio Banderas and Natascha Berg in February 15, 2012. (Photo Getty Images)

Gina Carano and Antonio Banderas in February 15, 2012. (Photo Getty Images)

Antonio Banderas and actress Salma Hayek in November 25, 2011. (Photo Getty Images)

(Photo Getty Images)

Elena Anaya and actor Antonio Banderas in October 13, 2011. (Photo Getty Images)

Eva Longoria and actor Antonio Banderas in August 6, 2011. (Photo Getty Images)

Milla Jovovich, Franca Sozzani and Antonio Banderas in May 19, 2012. (Photo Getty Images)

Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas in  June 15, 2007 (Photo Getty Images)

Antonio Banderas and Jennifer Lopez in February 15, 2007 (Photo Getty Images)

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Antonio Banderas in October 2, 2005 (Photo Getty Images)

Melanie Griffith on June 5, 2014. (Photo Getty Images)

Banderas, Griffith announce 'loving and friendly' split

Hollywood power couple Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith announced the end of their 18-year marriage Friday, saying they had agreed to divorce "in a loving and friendly manner."

The pair, who dismissed rumors of marital strains two years ago, said they were happy for the 'beautiful time" they had spent together.

"We have thoughtfully and consensually decided to finalize our almost twenty years (of) marriage," the Spanish and US actors said in a joint statement.

The decision was taken "in a loving and friendly manner honoring and respecting each other, our family and friends and the beautiful time we have spent together," added the statement, signed "Melanie & Antonio."

Griffith filed for divorce in Los Angeles citing "irreconcilable differences" for the split, according to documents published by the TMZ celebrity news website.

It is the second divorce for Banderas, who was previously married to Spanish actress Ana Leza for eight years, divorcing in 1996, the same year he married Griffith.

The couple dismissed rumors of strains in 2012 after Banderas was seen dancing with Indian actress Mallika Sherawat in Cannes, and Griffith was seen without her wedding ring, People magazine noted.

A source told People at the time that they seemed "very happy, mutually supportive, loving."

Golden Globe-nominated Banderas, 53, is known in the United States for movies including the "Shrek" franchise and 1998's "The Mask of Zorro." He also featured in several Pedro Almodovar movies.

Fifty-six year-old Griffith, who was nominated for an Oscar for 1988's "Working Girl," has three previous divorces. Her former husbands include actor Don Johnson, to whom she was married twice.

Griffith is seeking custody of the couple's 17-year-old daughter Stella, according to the legal petition, dated Friday and published by TMZ on its website.

The actress is seeking sole physical custody and joint legal custody, with visiting rights for Banderas, the document shows.

Griffith - the daughter of Tippi Hedren, star of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" - is also seeking unspecified financial support from the actor.

The date of their separation was not specified in the document, which seeks dissolution of marriage, as opposed to legal separation or nullity of marriage.

Griffith lists her homes as Los Angeles and New York, while Banderas resides in LA and Marbella, Spain.

The actress attended a ceremony honoring veteran Jane Fonda in Hollywood on Thursday, along with "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria, People magazine reported.

Banderas was spotted Wednesday lunching in Beverly Hills with his daughter, People reported, saying the couple were last photographed together in March at Los Angeles airport.

Banderas, who supplied the voice of Puss In Boots in several "Shrek" movies and also appeared in the Oscar-winning "Philadelphia", bought 50 percent of a state-of-the-art winery in northern Spain in 2009.

The 250-hectare (620-acre) property, called Anta Banderas, makes red and rose wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and local grape Tempranillo. It produces around 600,000 bottles of wine per year.

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