Name : Penelope Cruz
Birth Date : 28 April 1974 (Age: 36)
Birth Place : Madrid, Spain
Height : 5' 6"
Awards : Won 1 Oscar, 1 BAFTA, nominated for 3 Golden Globes
Occupation : Actress
Years active : 1992–present
Spouse : Javier Bardem (m. 2010–present)
BIOGRAPHY
Actress. Born Penélope Cruz Sanchez on April 28, 1974 in San Sebastain de los Reyes, Madrid, Spain. Her father, Eduardo, worked as a car mechanic and her mother, Encarna, was a hairdresser. Cruz was born as the eldest of three and a natural performer; Penélope amused her family as a child by re-enacting TV commercials for their entertainment. Although a natural actress, she took up dance for her choice of performance arts. She studied classical ballet for nine years at Spain's National Conservatory and moved to New York to dance under a series of prominent performers.
When she was 15 years old, Cruz found her true vocation after beating out 300 other girls at a talent agency competition. Following this early success, she landed several roles as a dancer for music videos and on Spanish TV as the host of La Quinta Marcha. Cruz also explored her more sensual side in the French erotic TV series, Serie Rose.
In 1992, she made her film debut in the dark film, Jamón Jamón. The film's director, who had been unable to cast Cruz as the lead in another film because of her young age, waited until she was old enough for his next film. Her performance earned Cruz a nomination for Best Newcomer by the Spanish Actors' Union, Best Lead Actress from the Goya awards (Spain's Academy Awards), and Fotogramas de Plata's Best Movie Actress. A year later, Cruz played Luz in The Age of Beauty (1992). The film won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, virtually swept the Goya Awards, and earned Cruz the Spanish Actors' Union Award for Best Supporting Performance.
With an impressive apprenticeship to the craft, Cruz earned her place in Spanish cinema as a leading lady. Her resume continued to grow over the following few years, clocking up three or four films each year. In 1997, Cruz took the role of Isabel Plaza Caballero in Carne Tremula, for which she garnered more critical recognition. This was the first time she worked with internationally renowned director Pedro Almodóvar, who in turn became a life-long friend—and her vehicle for global fame. Two years later, Cruz landed a role in another film directed by Almodóvar, Todo Sobre Mi Madre. The Spanish film won an Oscar and a BAFTA for Best Foreign Language Film. With a series of well-respected movies under her belt, Cruz was in demand on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
At the age of 25, Cruz made the bold decision to move to Hollywood, California. Fully in command and on top of her career, she took on the role of a control freak and successful chef in Woman on Top (2000) and as the romantic lead in Billy Bob Thornton's western, All the Pretty Horses (2000), both of which received critical success. Her next film, Abre Los Ojos, caught the attention of director Cameron Crowe and film icon Tom Cruise. Impressed by the script and the actress, the duo created an American remake of the film, called Vanilla Sky (2001). The movie helped make Cruz a crossover success. During this time she also began dating her co-star, Tom Cruise, putting her firmly in American headlines.
When she was 15 years old, Cruz found her true vocation after beating out 300 other girls at a talent agency competition. Following this early success, she landed several roles as a dancer for music videos and on Spanish TV as the host of La Quinta Marcha. Cruz also explored her more sensual side in the French erotic TV series, Serie Rose.
In 1992, she made her film debut in the dark film, Jamón Jamón. The film's director, who had been unable to cast Cruz as the lead in another film because of her young age, waited until she was old enough for his next film. Her performance earned Cruz a nomination for Best Newcomer by the Spanish Actors' Union, Best Lead Actress from the Goya awards (Spain's Academy Awards), and Fotogramas de Plata's Best Movie Actress. A year later, Cruz played Luz in The Age of Beauty (1992). The film won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, virtually swept the Goya Awards, and earned Cruz the Spanish Actors' Union Award for Best Supporting Performance.
With an impressive apprenticeship to the craft, Cruz earned her place in Spanish cinema as a leading lady. Her resume continued to grow over the following few years, clocking up three or four films each year. In 1997, Cruz took the role of Isabel Plaza Caballero in Carne Tremula, for which she garnered more critical recognition. This was the first time she worked with internationally renowned director Pedro Almodóvar, who in turn became a life-long friend—and her vehicle for global fame. Two years later, Cruz landed a role in another film directed by Almodóvar, Todo Sobre Mi Madre. The Spanish film won an Oscar and a BAFTA for Best Foreign Language Film. With a series of well-respected movies under her belt, Cruz was in demand on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
At the age of 25, Cruz made the bold decision to move to Hollywood, California. Fully in command and on top of her career, she took on the role of a control freak and successful chef in Woman on Top (2000) and as the romantic lead in Billy Bob Thornton's western, All the Pretty Horses (2000), both of which received critical success. Her next film, Abre Los Ojos, caught the attention of director Cameron Crowe and film icon Tom Cruise. Impressed by the script and the actress, the duo created an American remake of the film, called Vanilla Sky (2001). The movie helped make Cruz a crossover success. During this time she also began dating her co-star, Tom Cruise, putting her firmly in American headlines.
Worldwide recognition in Career
Cruz appeared in the 2006 Western comedy film Bandidas as María Álvarez, a poor farm girl who robs banks with a wealthy friend to combat an enforcer terrorising their town. Randy Cordova of the Arizona Republic said the film "sports" Cruz and her co-star Salma Hayek as the "lusty dream team" and that they were the "marketing fantasy" for the film. A writer for 20minutos.es called Cruz and Hayek the "demand curves" of the film. Also in 2006, Cruz received favourable reviews for her performance as Raimunda in Pedro Almodovar's Volver. The film was well received by critics and on multiple top ten film lists for 2006. Carina Chocano of The Los Angeles Times wrote, "Cruz, who has remarked that in Hollywood she's rarely allowed to be anything more than pretty, instills her with an awesome resoluteness and strength of character." Jan Stuart of Newsday described Cruz as having "never been more radiant and funny". IGN film critic Todd Gilchrist praised Cruz, saying her "performance is nothing short of revelatory" and that "Here, she finds the best role of her career, and leaps in with complete commitment". She shared a Best Actress award at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival with five of her co-stars, as well as receiving a Goya Award and European Film Award, and was nominated for the Golden Globe, the Screen Actors Guild Award, the BAFTA Award, and the Academy Award for Best Actress in a leading role. She was the first Spaniard to ever be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.
In 2007, Cruz appeared in the lead female role in Manolete, a biopic of bullfighter Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez, playing Antoñita "Lupe" Sino. She also appeared in The Good Night, playing two characters, Anna and Melody. The film received negative reviews and did not perform well at the box office. TV Guide film critic Maitland McDonagh noted that in the film Cruz "expertly mines the contrast between chic, compliant, white-clad Anna and funky, street-smart Melody, who treats [Martin Freeman's character] Gary like the world-class drag he is." David Edelstein of New York Magazine said "Cruz shows up in the flesh, and she's wonderfully tart and funny". In 2008, Cruz appeared in Isabel Coixet's film Elegy, which was based on the Philip Roth story The Dying Animal, as the lead female role, Consuela Castillo. The film generated mixed to positive reviews, and appeared on multiple film critics' top ten film lists for 2008. Ray Bennett of the Hollywood Reporter described Cruz's performance as being "outstanding in an otherwise lame male fantasy [film]" and MSNBC film critic Alonso Duralde praised Cruz and her co-star, Ben Kingsley, writing that they give "extraordinary performances" in the film.
Cruz at the 81st Academy Awards. She won her first Academy Award later that night for her performance as María Elena.
Later that year, she starred in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona as María Elena, a mentally unstable woman. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian praised Cruz's performance in the film, commenting, "Cruz looks as if she has wandered in from a more hefty film entirely; everything she does and says seems to mean more, count for more. This isn't to say that she gets bigger laughs, or perhaps any laughs, but she certainly walks off with the film." Kirk Honeycutt of the Hollywood Reporter remarked that the film "belongs" to Cruz and her co-star Bardem. Todd McCarthy of Variety magazine felt that Cruz's performance was "dynamite" in both of the languages she spoke. A writer for 20minutos.es described Cruz as having planted "relentless growth" in the film. Cruz received a Goya Award and her first Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also received a Golden Globe and SAG nomination. Cruz was the first Spanish actress to ever be awarded an Academy Award and the sixth Hispanic person to ever receive the award.
Cruz's next film was the kid-friendly animated film, G-Force, which was released to theaters in July 2009. In the film, she voiced a guinea pig spy named Juarez. G-Force was a commercial success, making over $290 million worldwide. Also in 2009, she appeared in the film Broken Embraces as Lena, the lead character's mistress and assistant who is an aspiring actress. Moira Macdonald of the Seattle Times wrote "Cruz, so lovely she hardly seems real, makes Lena both vulnerable and steely. Lena's life, it seems, is turning into a movie that she can't escape, as men and cameras seem to blur together and her dazzling smile becomes little defense." Claudia Puig of USA Today described Cruz's performance as Lena as being "superb". Stephanie Zacharek of Salon.com noted in her review for the film that Cruz "doesn't coast on her beauty in Broken Embraces, and she has the kind of role that can be difficult to flesh out." Cruz received nominations from the Satellite Awards and European Film Awards for her performance in Broken Embraces.
Cruz's final 2009 film was the film version of the musical Nine, playing the character Carla Albanese, the lead character's mistress. Variety reported that Cruz had originally auditioned for the role of the film within a film's star, Claudia, which eventually went to Nicole Kidman. Cruz said that she trained for three months for the dance routine in the film. The film generated negative reviews and was a financial failure. Claudia Puig of USA Today commented that while Cruz "does a steamy song and dance," her "acting is strangely caricatured." Chris Tookey of the Daily Mail made a similar comment, saying: "I know Penelope Cruz has been nominated for a Golden Globe for her camp vamp act, but to me she is unnervingly over the top [in this film], like Strictly Come Dancing's Bruno Tonioli in drag." F. Bernal of Que.es commented, "In terms of its ability to integrate with luck in the cast of a musical, it is clear that Penelope does a good note [in the film]". Cruz's performance as Carla garnered her nominations for Best Supporting Actress from the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and SAG Awards. In 2010, Cruz appeared in the film Sex and the City 2, the sequel to the 2008 film, in a cameo role. Cruz is set to appear in the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film as Angelica Teach, Blackbeard's daughter and the former love interest of Captain Jack Sparrow. This film has Cruz and director Rob Marshall returning once more for a film. The film will have a total of four Spanish actors including Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Óscar Jaenada, and Juan Carlos Vellido. Though, Penelope's pregnancy has caused some problems on the set; as Penelope's baby bump grew producers on the film decided to enlist the help of her younger sibling, Monica Cruz who is the spitting image of her. According to reports, Penelope will be in all of the close-up shots, Monica will star in the long-distance scenes since the wardrobe department has struggled to hide her pregnancy. In April 2010, Cruz was contracted to star in the film Venuto al mondo, playing Gemma, a mother who accompanies her teenage son to Sarajevo, where his father died during the war. In an interview with the Italian publication La Repubblica Cruz commented on playing Gemma, saying, "I feel as an actress Gemma will be playing one of the most important opportunities of my life".
In 2007, Cruz appeared in the lead female role in Manolete, a biopic of bullfighter Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez, playing Antoñita "Lupe" Sino. She also appeared in The Good Night, playing two characters, Anna and Melody. The film received negative reviews and did not perform well at the box office. TV Guide film critic Maitland McDonagh noted that in the film Cruz "expertly mines the contrast between chic, compliant, white-clad Anna and funky, street-smart Melody, who treats [Martin Freeman's character] Gary like the world-class drag he is." David Edelstein of New York Magazine said "Cruz shows up in the flesh, and she's wonderfully tart and funny". In 2008, Cruz appeared in Isabel Coixet's film Elegy, which was based on the Philip Roth story The Dying Animal, as the lead female role, Consuela Castillo. The film generated mixed to positive reviews, and appeared on multiple film critics' top ten film lists for 2008. Ray Bennett of the Hollywood Reporter described Cruz's performance as being "outstanding in an otherwise lame male fantasy [film]" and MSNBC film critic Alonso Duralde praised Cruz and her co-star, Ben Kingsley, writing that they give "extraordinary performances" in the film.
Cruz at the 81st Academy Awards. She won her first Academy Award later that night for her performance as María Elena.
Later that year, she starred in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona as María Elena, a mentally unstable woman. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian praised Cruz's performance in the film, commenting, "Cruz looks as if she has wandered in from a more hefty film entirely; everything she does and says seems to mean more, count for more. This isn't to say that she gets bigger laughs, or perhaps any laughs, but she certainly walks off with the film." Kirk Honeycutt of the Hollywood Reporter remarked that the film "belongs" to Cruz and her co-star Bardem. Todd McCarthy of Variety magazine felt that Cruz's performance was "dynamite" in both of the languages she spoke. A writer for 20minutos.es described Cruz as having planted "relentless growth" in the film. Cruz received a Goya Award and her first Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also received a Golden Globe and SAG nomination. Cruz was the first Spanish actress to ever be awarded an Academy Award and the sixth Hispanic person to ever receive the award.
Cruz's next film was the kid-friendly animated film, G-Force, which was released to theaters in July 2009. In the film, she voiced a guinea pig spy named Juarez. G-Force was a commercial success, making over $290 million worldwide. Also in 2009, she appeared in the film Broken Embraces as Lena, the lead character's mistress and assistant who is an aspiring actress. Moira Macdonald of the Seattle Times wrote "Cruz, so lovely she hardly seems real, makes Lena both vulnerable and steely. Lena's life, it seems, is turning into a movie that she can't escape, as men and cameras seem to blur together and her dazzling smile becomes little defense." Claudia Puig of USA Today described Cruz's performance as Lena as being "superb". Stephanie Zacharek of Salon.com noted in her review for the film that Cruz "doesn't coast on her beauty in Broken Embraces, and she has the kind of role that can be difficult to flesh out." Cruz received nominations from the Satellite Awards and European Film Awards for her performance in Broken Embraces.
Cruz's final 2009 film was the film version of the musical Nine, playing the character Carla Albanese, the lead character's mistress. Variety reported that Cruz had originally auditioned for the role of the film within a film's star, Claudia, which eventually went to Nicole Kidman. Cruz said that she trained for three months for the dance routine in the film. The film generated negative reviews and was a financial failure. Claudia Puig of USA Today commented that while Cruz "does a steamy song and dance," her "acting is strangely caricatured." Chris Tookey of the Daily Mail made a similar comment, saying: "I know Penelope Cruz has been nominated for a Golden Globe for her camp vamp act, but to me she is unnervingly over the top [in this film], like Strictly Come Dancing's Bruno Tonioli in drag." F. Bernal of Que.es commented, "In terms of its ability to integrate with luck in the cast of a musical, it is clear that Penelope does a good note [in the film]". Cruz's performance as Carla garnered her nominations for Best Supporting Actress from the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and SAG Awards. In 2010, Cruz appeared in the film Sex and the City 2, the sequel to the 2008 film, in a cameo role. Cruz is set to appear in the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film as Angelica Teach, Blackbeard's daughter and the former love interest of Captain Jack Sparrow. This film has Cruz and director Rob Marshall returning once more for a film. The film will have a total of four Spanish actors including Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Óscar Jaenada, and Juan Carlos Vellido. Though, Penelope's pregnancy has caused some problems on the set; as Penelope's baby bump grew producers on the film decided to enlist the help of her younger sibling, Monica Cruz who is the spitting image of her. According to reports, Penelope will be in all of the close-up shots, Monica will star in the long-distance scenes since the wardrobe department has struggled to hide her pregnancy. In April 2010, Cruz was contracted to star in the film Venuto al mondo, playing Gemma, a mother who accompanies her teenage son to Sarajevo, where his father died during the war. In an interview with the Italian publication La Repubblica Cruz commented on playing Gemma, saying, "I feel as an actress Gemma will be playing one of the most important opportunities of my life".
FILMS & AWARDS
Jamon, jamon (1992)
Nominated—Goya Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Spanish Actors Union Newcomer Award
Belle Epoque (1992)
Spanish Actors Union Award for Supporting Performance (Secundario Cine)
For Love, Only for Love (1993)
The Greek Labyrinth (1993)
The Rebel (1993)
Alegre ma non troppo (1994)
Todo es mentira (1994)
Peniscola Comedy Film Festival for Best Actress
Entre rojas (1995)
El Efecto mariposa (1995)
Spanish Actors Union Award for Supporting Performance (Secundario Cine)
For Love, Only for Love (1993)
The Greek Labyrinth (1993)
The Rebel (1993)
Alegre ma non troppo (1994)
Todo es mentira (1994)
Peniscola Comedy Film Festival for Best Actress
Entre rojas (1995)
El Efecto mariposa (1995)
La Celestina (1996)
Brujas (1996)
Mas que amor, frenesi (1996)
Love Can Seriously Damage Your Health (1997)
Open Your Eyes (1997)
Live Flesh (1997)
Et hjørne af paradis (1997)
The Girl of Your Dreams (1998)
La niña de tus ojosFotogramas de Plata Best Movie Actress (Mejor Actriz de Cine)
La niña de tus ojosFotogramas de Plata Best Movie Actress (Mejor Actriz de Cine)
Goya Award for Best Actress
Spanish Actors Union Award for Lead Performance (Protagonista Cine)Nominated—European Film Award for Best Actress
The Hi-Lo Country (1998)
Nominated—ALMA Award for Best Actress
Nominated—ALMA Award for Best Actress
Don Juan (1998)
All About My Mother (1999)
All the Pretty Horses (2000)
Nominated–Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress – Drama/Romance
Nominated–Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress – Drama/Romance
Woman on Top (2000)
Blow (2001)
Nominated–MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Female Performance
Nominated–MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Female Performance
Don't Tempt Me (2001)
Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001)
Nominated—European Film Award – Audience Award for Best Actress
Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001)
Nominated—European Film Award – Audience Award for Best Actress
Vanilla Sky (2001)
Nominated—ALMA Award for Best Actress
Waking Up in Reno (2002)
Nominated—ALMA Award for Best Actress
Waking Up in Reno (2002)
Fanfan la Tulipe (2003)
Nominated—European Film Award – Audience Award for Best Actress
Nominated—European Film Award – Audience Award for Best Actress
Gothika (2003)
Head in the Clouds (2004)
Noel (2004)
Noel (2004)
Sahara (2005)
Chromophobia (2005)
Don't Move (2005)
Non ti muovere
Chromophobia (2005)
Don't Move (2005)
Non ti muovere
David di Donatello Award for Best Actress
European Film Award – Audience Award for Best Actress
Nominated—European Film Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Goya Award for Best Actress
Bandidas (2006)
Volver (2006)
Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress (Prix d'interprétation féminine) shared with Carmen Maura, Lola Dueñas, Blanca Portillo, Yohana Cobo, Chus LampreaveCinema Writers Circle Award for Best Actress
Bandidas (2006)
Volver (2006)
Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress (Prix d'interprétation féminine) shared with Carmen Maura, Lola Dueñas, Blanca Portillo, Yohana Cobo, Chus LampreaveCinema Writers Circle Award for Best Actress
Empire Award for Best Actress
European Film Award for Best Actress
Fotogramas de Plata Best Movie Actress (Mejor Actriz de Cine)
Goya Award for Best Actress
Spanish Actors Union Award for Lead Performance (Protagonista Cine)Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated—Irish Film and Television Audience Award for Best Actress
Nominated—London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Manolete (2007)
The Good Night (2007)
Manolete (2007)
The Good Night (2007)
Elegy (2008)
Santa Barbara International Film Festival Award for Outstanding Performer of the Year Award also for Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Santa Barbara International Film Festival Award for Outstanding Performer of the Year Award also for Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
ALMA Award for Best Actress
Village Voice Film Poll - Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
G-Force (2009)
Broken Embraces (2009)
Los abrazos rotosNominated—European Film Award for Best Actress
G-Force (2009)
Broken Embraces (2009)
Los abrazos rotosNominated—European Film Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama
Nine (2009)
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Nominated—Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Sex and the City 2 (2010)
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
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