Though frightening, the incident gave Banderas new perspective in life.

Last week saw the theater premiere of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, a spin-off of the beloved Shrek film franchise starring veteran actor Antonio Banderas in the titular role of the swashbuckling cat. Banderas is an accomplished actor with many roles to his name, but according to him, the moment that really cemented his passion for both the art and his family came in 2017.

Antonio Banderas' existentialism in Puss In Boots: The Last Wish was fueled by his heart attack and COVID-19 https://t.co/rxcRKbQv5w pic.twitter.com/modqUFpfw8

— The A.V. Club (@TheAVClub) December 20, 2022

In 2017, Banderas experienced a heart attack. Though the heart attack was not severe and caused no permanent damage to his body, he did need to have stents placed in his arteries during treatment. This intense moment gave Banderas new perspective in life and helped him realize what was most important.

“I realized that it probably was one of the best things that ever happened in my life because the things that were not important, and I was worried every day about them, meaningless,” Banderas said in an interview with Page Six.

Trust @antoniobanderas, you're going to want to catch #PusInBoots: The Last Wish in theaters this Christmas! Get tickets at https://t.co/cekcP4xD3y. pic.twitter.com/WAXFOWCrD4

— DreamWorks Animation (@Dreamworks) December 17, 2022

“I was like, why am I worried about that if I’m going to die? I knew always [that I was going to die], but now I know. I’ve seen it right here.”

Banderas worked to cut unimportant, toxic elements from his life and focus on the things that mattered: his family, his friends, and his passion for acting.