Meet Ana Leza’s Spouses: Dharma Villareal and Antonio Banderas

Ana Leza, born Ana Arana Leza in 1962 in Madrid, Spain, is a former Spanish actress who rose to prominence in the late 1980s with memorable performances in films such as Pedro Almodóvar’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988) and Of Love and Shadows (1994).

Raised in a creative household, she was deeply influenced by her mother, Concha Leza (also known as Conchita Leza Núñez), a respected actress recognized for her roles in Foul Play and Hospital Central.

Immersed in Madrid’s thriving post-Franco cultural revival, Ana began honing her craft from childhood, learning voice projection and script interpretation by the age of ten.

Of Spanish ethnicity and nationality, Leza later embraced Siddha Yoga, a meditative and spiritual path inspired by Hindu philosophy. Her devotion to the practice deepened around the time of her second marriage, and she has since participated in retreats and chanting workshops that reflect her spiritual evolution.

Now 63 years old, Ana’s life has been marked by two defining marriages. Her first was to renowned actor Antonio Banderas, whom she met in 1986. The pair married on July 27, 1987, and remained together until 1996—a period that coincided with Banderas’ rise to international fame.

After their separation, Leza found a new sense of peace and direction through her marriage to Dharma Villareal (born Christopher Lee Villareal), an American documentary filmmaker. They wed on November 26, 2000, in Santa Barbara, California, and share two daughters, Clara María Villareal (Clara Priya Villareal) and Sofia Macarena Villareal (Sofia Sindhu Villareal).

Standing at 5 feet 4 inches (162 cm), Ana Leza’s journey from acclaimed actress to spiritual devotee paints a portrait of transformation. Her two marriages—to Antonio Banderas and Dharma Villareal—reflect distinct phases of her life: one intertwined with global stardom, and the other grounded in family, faith, and inner discovery.

Antonio Banderas

To Ana Leza, Antonio Banderas was more than just a spouse; he was her partner in the early, exhilarating days of his ascent to global stardom and a key figure in bridging her life to the American entertainment industry.

The couple met in 1987 on the set of a Spanish film, sparking an intense romance that led to marriage just five months later on July 27, 1987, in a low-key ceremony that belied the fame awaiting them. Their union lasted nearly a decade, ending in divorce in 1996 amid reports of Banderas’s growing commitments abroad.

Banderas, born Antonio José Domínguez Banderas in Málaga, Spain, in 1960, was already making waves in Spanish cinema under directors like Almodóvar when he wed Leza. As a fellow actress fluent in English, Leza played a pivotal role in his transition to Hollywood, serving as his private language tutor during the early 1990s.

This support was instrumental as Banderas landed breakthrough roles in films such as Philadelphia (1993)—where Leza even made a brief appearance—and later blockbusters like The Mask of Zorro (1998) and the Spy Kids series.

Their shared screen time in projects like Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and De Amor y Sombra (1990) underscored a creative synergy that extended beyond the camera. The marriage, however, faced strains from Banderas’s rising profile and the couple’s nomadic lifestyle between Madrid and Los Angeles.

Post-divorce, Leza received a substantial settlement, including a $4 million Madrid home and monthly alimony of approximately €12,000 for three and a half years, allowing her financial independence as she stepped away from acting.

Today, Banderas, now 65, remains a prolific actor and producer with a net worth exceeding $50 million, but he has spoken fondly of Leza‘s influence, crediting her with opening doors to his English-speaking success. For Leza, Banderas embodies a chapter of passion, collaboration, and the bittersweet trade-offs of fame.

Dharma Villareal

Dharma Villareal is Ana Leza‘s enduring partner and second husband, representing stability, family, and a deliberate shift toward a life less in the public eye. The couple married on November 26, 2000, in an intimate ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, just four years after Leza‘s divorce from Banderas.

To her, Villareal is a devoted companion who has helped rebuild a world centred on parenthood and spiritual growth, far removed from the red-carpet intensity of her past. Villareal, an American editor and documentary filmmaker, has worked on projects for Xerox, blending corporate media with creative storytelling.

His low-profile career aligns with the couple’s nomadic yet grounded lifestyle, which has taken them from Madrid and Los Angeles to Abu Dhabi and has eventually settled in South Fallsburg, New York.

Together, they have built a family with two daughters: Clara María (also known as Clara Priya) and Sofia Macarena (Sofia Sindhu), whose names reflect the family’s immersion in Hindu-inspired spirituality through Siddha Yoga Meditation.

Leza‘s life with Villareal marks a profound pivot from her acting days; she retired from the screen after 1994’s Of Love and Shadows, embracing instead the roles of mother and meditator. The pair’s involvement in mystical practices has fostered a sense of community and inner peace, with Villareal supporting Leza through this transformative phase.

Their 24-year marriage stands as a testament to quiet resilience, contrasting sharply with the high-drama narrative of her first union. With an estimated net worth of $100,000 for Leza, their life emphasises fulfilment over fortune, proving that for her, Villareal is the steady harbour after the storm.

Ana Leza‘s marital journey—from the electric highs with Banderas to the serene depths with Villareal—mirrors her evolution from silver-screen ingenue to a woman prioritizing personal harmony.