 | Penelope Cruz biography |
Name: Penelope Cruz Sanchez
Born: April 28, 1974 in Madrid, Spain
Nationality: Spanish
Eyes: Black/Dark's
Hair: Black
Discovered: Penelope started performing as a toddler, re-enacting TV commercials for her family's amusement, but she decided to focus her energies on dance. She studied classical ballet for nine years at Spain's National Conservatory, but at 15 she turned to her true calling which was acting. She landed several roles in Spanish TV shows and music videos, which in turn paved the way for a career on the big screen.
Penélope made her movie debut in Laberinto griego, El in 1993 (The Greek Labyrinth), then appeared briefly in the Timothy Dalton thriller Framed (1992) (TV). Her third film was the Oscar-winning Belle epoque (1992), in which she played one of four sisters vying for the love of a handsome army deserter. The film also garnered several Goyas, the Spanish equivalent of the Academy Awards.
Her first big international hit was Almodóvar's Todo sobre mi madre (1999) (All About My Mother), in which she played an unchaste but well-meaning nun. Her next big project was Woman on Top in 2000, an American comedy about a chef with bewitching culinary skills and a severe case of motion sickness. The role wasn't a huge success but it opened up more Hollywood roles including opposite Johnny Depp in the drug-trafficking drama Blow (2001) that made her a true star. Penélope continued with starring roles opposite leading men like Matt Damon in Billy Bob Thornton's All the Pretty Horses (2000), and opposite Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky, a year later.
Resume: The Loop (2006)
The Good Night (2006)
Volver (2006)
Bandidas (2006)
Chromophobia (2005)
Sahara (2005)
Head in the Clouds (2004)
Noel (2004)
Gothika (2003)
Fanfan la tulipe (2003)
Masked and Anonymous (2003)
Waking Up in Reno (2002)
Vanilla Sky (2001)
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Sin noticias de Dios (2001) Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001)
Blow (2001)
All the Pretty Horses (2000) Woman on Top (2000)
Volavérunt (1999)
Todo sobre mi madre (1999)
The Hi-Lo Country (1998)
Niña de tus ojos, La (1998)
Talk of Angels (1998)
The Man with Rain in His Shoes (1998)
Don Juan (1998)
Celestina, La (1996)
Todo es mentira (1994) Ribelle, La (1993)
Belle epoque (1992)
Framed (1992) (TV)
Jamón, jamón (1992)
Penelope Cruz has a sister (Monica) and brother (Eduardo) and is the eldest of the three children. Her younger sister Mónica Cruz closely resembles her, a similarity exploited for some Spanish TV ads. Penelope's nickname is Pe which her friends like to call her.
Romance: Cruz has been linked romantically with Matt Damon, Johnny Depp, Nicholas Cage, and Tom Cruise. She is currently dating Sahara co-star Matthew McConaughey.
Quotes: "I think it is a privilege [to be working in show business.] Not everybody can do what they want to do and still eat. I'm very lucky. And it's getting better and better." -Penelope Cruz "I am amazed about how everyone wants to know about my love life. They whisper to me, 'Tell me the truth? Is it true?' Who cares? Because we have this job, we are to say to everybody what we do, or with whom we sleep? It's a bit absurd, but that's why everybody lies so much. " -Penelope Cruz "I like roles that people don't recognize me in." -Penelope Cruz
"The most difficult thing in the world is to start a career known only for your looks, and then to try to become a serious actress. No one will take you seriously once you are known as the pretty woman." -Penelope Cruz
"The most important lesson I've learned in this business is how to say no. I have said no to a lot of temptations, and I am glad I did." -Penelope Cruz
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