Actress Griffith and her husband, actor Banderas, arrive at 84th Academy Awards in Hollywood.
Actress Melanie Griffith and her husband, actor Antonio Banderas, arrive at the 84th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, February 26, 2012. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Following months of speculation that there was trouble in paradise, Melanie Griffith has ended her 18-year marriage to Spanish star Antonio Banderas.

According to TMZ, the Hollywood actress has filed divorce papers citing irreconcilable differences and hired heavyweight divorce attorney Laura Wasser.

The documents state that Griffith has requested joint custody of their daughter Stella, who turns 18 in September, as well as child support and spousal support.

The couple, who married in 1996 after meeting on the set of the 1995 film Two Much, have been blighted with rumours of infinitely in recent months.

In May, Griffith appeared to confirm that their marriage was on the rocks when she tweeted a cryptic message saying: "Who believes in marriage and why? Or why not?" and retweeted a comment from a friend celebrating divorce with the hashtag #HappilyDivorced.

Griffith was previously married to actor Don Johnson and Steven Bauer, and has son Alexander Bauer and daughter Dakota Johnson from the relationships.

Banderas tied the knot with first wife Ana Leza in 1987 but their union lasted just seven years.