Melanie Griffith covers Antonio Banderas tattoo as she parties with Eva Longoria at Italian Film Festival in Taormina

WHAT is the strongest message you can send that you’re ready to move on? Not leaving your ring at home, not even filing for divorce — but covering up your former lover’s name on the tattoo.

WHAT’S the strongest message you can send that you’re ready to move on from a relationship?

If you’re Melanie Griffith, who has filed for divorce from Antonio Banderas, you cover up the one thing that signifies your 18-year union — your tattoo.

Gallery: Regrettable celebrity inkfatuations.

Griffith famously had her former love’s name etched on her arm inside a heart in the early days of their marriage.

But the 56-year-old star had her ‘Antonio’ tattoo covered up as she rocked the red carpet with pal Eva Longoria at the Italian Film Festival in Taormina — a sure sign that the pair’s marriage is well and truly over.

Griffith has proudly displayed the love tattoo at events over the years and this is the first time since her divorce that she’s used it as a statement about their split.

But at last night’s event Griffith made no effort to hide the patched-over tattoo, posing and smiling in a lion-print armless cocktail dress.

The tattoo appears to have been covered using thick make-up, with the name ‘Antonio’ still faintly visible inside the famous heart-shaped etch, which she debuted in 1998.

The pair celebrated together in the gorgeous Italian setting, even sharing a snap of their pre-party shenanigans on Instagram.

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Looking back over the years the tattoo was a strong symbol of unity for the pair, who got together in 1995 while shooting the film Too Much. They welcomed a baby girl, Stella, in 1996.

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Originally published as Melanie Griffith covers Antonio Banderas tattoo as she parties with Eva Longoria at Italian Film Festival in Taormina