Penélope Cruz

Cast · Director · Writer

Born

April 28, 1974 · Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain

Birth name

Penélope Cruz Sánchez

“[on acting] In terms of the work, it always seems like it's a first date. I mean, every time I go to the movie set and start a project, I feel the same feeling - the butterflies in the stomach, not having control over it - because acting is like that. That's the beauty of it. You can always keep learning. There's always more.” Spanish actress and model, recognized for being the first Spanish actress to be nominated for both "Best Actress in a Leading Role" at the Oscars in 2006, and for winning the Oscar for "Best Supporting Actress" in 2008 for her role in Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". Her love and interest in acting since she was a child, led her to do some work as a model and small interpretations on the small screen. Discovered by filmmaker Juan José Bigas Luna, she obtained her first leading role on the big screen in "Jamón, Jamón" in 1992. The success of this film gave her numerous opportunities to work with great directors such as Alejandro Amenábar and Pedro Almodóvar, who made her one of his muses. Cruz managed to become one of the best known actresses in Spain thanks to successful titles such as 'Belle Epoque' (1992), 'Más Que Amor, Frenesí' (1996), 'El Amor Perjudica Seriamente La Salud' (1996), 'Carne Trémula' (1997), 'Abre Los Ojos' (1997) or 'Todo Sobre Mi Madre' (1999). In 1998 she made her leap to Hollywood with the film "The Hi-Lo Country" alongside Billy Crudop, Woody Harrelson, Sam Elliot and Patricia Arquette, followed by important titles such as 'All the Pretty Horses' (2000), 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' (2001), 'Vanilla Sky' (2001), 'Gothika' (2003), 'Head in the Clouds' (2004), 'Sahara' (2005) or 'Bandidas' (2006). Among her nominations and awards are, in addition to the Oscar, a BAFTA and a Cannes for best actress, several nominations for the Emmy, Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild. In her personal life, she is married to Spanish actor Javier Barden with whom she shares 2 children.