Penélope Cruz

Birthday: 28 April 1974, Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain

Birth Name: Penélope Cruz Sánchez

Height: 168 cm

Known outside her native country as the "Spanish enchantress", Penélope Cruz Sánchez was born in Madrid to Eduardo Cruz, a retailer, and Encarna Sánchez, a hairdresser. As a toddler, she was already a compulsive performer, re-enacting TV commercials for her family's amusement, but she decided to focus her energies on dance. After studying classical ballet for nine years at Spain's National Conservatory, she continued her training under a series of prominent dancers. At 15, however, she heeded her true calling when she bested more than 300 other girls at a talent agency audition. The resulting contract landed her several roles in Spanish TV shows and music videos, which in turn paved the way for a career on the big screen. Cruz made her movie debut in El laberinto griego (1993) (The Greek Labyrinth), then appeared briefly in the Timothy Dalton thriller Framed (1992). 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 resume continued to grow by three or four films each year, and soon Cruz was a leading lady of Spanish cinema. Carne trémula (1997) (Live Flesh) offered her the chance to work with renowned Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar (who would later be her ticket to international fame), and the same year she was the lead actress in the thriller/drama/mystery/sci-fi film Abre los ojos (1997), a huge hit in Spain that earned eight Goyas (though none for Cruz). Her luck finally changed in 1998, when the movie-industry comedy La niña de tus ojos (1998) won her a Best Actress Goya. Cruz made a few more forays into English-language film, but her first big international hit was Almodóvar's Todo sobre mi madre (1999), in which she played an unchaste but well-meaning nun. As the film was showered with awards and accolades, Cruz suddenly found herself in demand on both sides of the Atlantic. Her next big project was Woman on Top (2000), an American comedy about a chef with bewitching culinary skills and a severe case of motion sickness. While in the US, she also signed up to star opposite Johnny Depp in the drug-trafficking drama Blow (2001) and opposite Matt Damon in Billy Bob Thornton's All the Pretty Horses (2000). Cruz says she's wary of being typecast as a beautiful young damsel, but it's hard to imagine disguising her wide-eyed charms and generous nature. Fortunately, with Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky (2001) (a remake of Abre los ojos (1997)) and a John Madden collaboration looming in her future, Damsel Penelope isn't likely to disappear just yet. Hide

[on acting] In terms of the work, it always seems like it's a first date. I mean, every time I go to Show more [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. Hide

The most difficult thing in the world is to start a career known only for your looks, and then to tr Show more 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. Hide

[on Johnny Depp] When I first came to America I only knew two phrases in English. One was, "How are Show more [on Johnny Depp] When I first came to America I only knew two phrases in English. One was, "How are you?" and the other was, "I want to work with Johnny Depp." Then after I worked with him on Blow (2001), I learned how to say, "I want to work with Johnny Depp again!" Thank you for your friendship, your talent. You are such an inspiration to us all. Hide

I came to Los Angeles for the first time in 1994. I spoke no English. I only knew how to say two sen Show more I came to Los Angeles for the first time in 1994. I spoke no English. I only knew how to say two sentences: "How are you?" and "I want to work with Johnny Depp.". Hide

I love the Italian culture, it's a beautiful culture. I love the language, the Italian people, their Show more I love the Italian culture, it's a beautiful culture. I love the language, the Italian people, their music, their attitudes... I just love it! Sometimes, I think I'm an Italian trapped in a Spanish woman's body. Hide

My first audition was for the woman who became my manager and still works with me. She was testing a Show more My first audition was for the woman who became my manager and still works with me. She was testing around 300 actors. I was 14 years old, and she had me read a scene from Casablanca (1942), which is impossible to do when you are that age. But my manager asked me if I wanted to work with her, and she sent me on some castings. When I was 16, I got Jamón Jamón (1992). Of course, I had to lie about my age. And I had to lie to my parents about the content of the script. Hide

I love Salma Hayek, we've been friends for a really long time. I admire how she has come such a long Show more I love Salma Hayek, we've been friends for a really long time. I admire how she has come such a long way and always remained grounded and who she is. She never compromises to follow her vision and she is loyal. Such qualities only mark the great stars. Hide

I'm strong and opinionated. Those qualities brought me a lot of problems since I was a little girl i Show more I'm strong and opinionated. Those qualities brought me a lot of problems since I was a little girl in school, saying 'I don't agree' and fighting with the children. It's part of my curiosity for life. Hide

You cannot live your life looking at yourself from someone else's point of view. You cannot live your life looking at yourself from someone else's point of view.

There's so much more I want to do. I refuse to get to 50 and wait at home for the phone to ring. In Show more There's so much more I want to do. I refuse to get to 50 and wait at home for the phone to ring. In Spain, actresses work until they are old. That's my plan. Hide

Penélope Cruz's FILMOGRAPHY - Page 5

as Actor (107)

The Late Late Show with James Corden - Season 4

Ma ma

The 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards