Hollywood star Antonio Banderas appeared on RTÉ's Today show on Tuesday to speak about his life and career and said that suffering a heart attack was "one of the best things that ever happened in my life".
The 63-year-old Spanish actor, well known for films such as The Mask of Zorro, Evita, Pain and Glory, and more recently as the voice of Puss in Boots in the Shrek franchise, appeared on the show to talk about his new Christmas musical adventure Journey to Bethlehem.
While talking to presenters Dáithí Ó Sé and Lorraine Keane, the Oscar-nominated star said that the medical emergency in 2017 gave him a different outlook on his life.
"It was very weird to say this, but it was one of the best things that ever happened in my life," he said.
"Sometimes in life you need to be punched, by life itself, in order to understand where you are and the things that you need," Banderas continued.
"And at that particular time I was coming out of a divorce, I'd try to look for sanctuary in the world. I made too many movies all together, one behind the other.
"I was living a life completely out of order, just in an adrenaline situation, and suddenly my heart says 'Enough, stop this'."
"And then, only the beautiful things surrounded me stayed - my daughter, my family, my friends and my vocation. I wouldn't even say my profession, because profession sounds like money and things like that, my vocation as an actor."
The acclaimed actor said what he was left with was "a life that I wanted to live".
Banderas also spoke about the appeal of his new film, the musical Journey to Bethlehem, explaining: "I think it's a movie for family and especially for kids because it talks about love.
"The world is very confused and very violent these days and I thought a movie like this has a purpose, actually."
Journey to Bethlehem is out in cinemas on Friday 17 November.
Today airs on RTÉ One weekdays from 3:30pm.
