Actress MELANIE GRIFFITH checked into rehab after fearing she was too "weak" to resist her urge for drugs, her husband ANTONIO BANDERAS has revealed.

The 52 year old has been seeking treatment at the Cirque Lodge in Utah since the end of August.

Speaking on the ELLEN DEGENERES show, Antonio said his actress wife has admitted she is struggling to fight her demons.

He said: "In March, she came to me and said, 'I'm feeling a little bit weak in my determination for this (to stay sober)... so I just thought to go to rehabilitation by myself.

"Melanie has been addicted for many years and we always came out. We said it out loud. It was OK, we were never embarrassed of the situation but... she was clean and sober for six years."

But the Shrek star denied his marriage is on the brink of collapse because of her addictions.

He told the talk show host: "Let me explain to you. It was actually in some magazine that I said that I gave an ultimatum to my wife. That I present the matter of divorce (sic) because she has been involved in addictions and blah, blah, blah..."

Antonio says the couple are stronger than ever and Mel has the support of her whole family behind her.

"We have been following some type of therapy with other families. There are a number of invisible heroes working in AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) all around the world. I just say to families, 'Don't get embarrassed, just confront this problem head-on. And don't hide from that because there is a beautiful gift at the end of this tunnel, and it is the person that you love back, and that is what I am searching for.

"So the whole entire family is supporting her, and I am supporting her, and at this particular time more than ever. I'm very proud of her."

Melanie battled drink and drugs in the 1970s and 80s, and spent time in rehab in 1998 and again in 2000 in an effort to kick an addiction to prescription painkillers.