Melanie Griffith is looking forward to being "completely free" following her split from Antonio Banderas.
The 57-year-old actress filed for divorce from the Expendables 3 star in June after 18 years of marriage, and says she is excited about what lies ahead in her life now that she can do what she wants.
She said: "Over the last years, I've devoted myself to my family, and that was it.
"But now, I'm completely free. So I'm determinate to do only what I want from now on, and none is going to stop me."
Melanie—who has 17-year-old daughter Stella with Antonio—plays alcoholic Sue in new short film Thirst.
The star admits she felt a "special connection" with her alter-ego because of her own battles with alcohol addiction.
Speaking to Spanish magazine Lecturas at the premiere of Thirst at Locarno's Film Festival, she said: "I'm an alcoholic in a recovery phase, and I've been struggling with this problem for the last five years. So, obviously, I felt a special connection with this character."
According to a petition filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, the couple cited "irreconcilable differences" as a reason for their split, but the 54-year-old actor refuses to discuss their divorce proceedings because he and Melanie struck a deal to not comment about the details in public.
He told Spanish website Vanitatis: "I have an agreement with Melanie, a pact. We have agreed to not talk or comment our divorce at all. That's our deal and, therefore, I'm not going to say a thing about her."