Penelope Cruz personal life. Penelope Cruz - biography, career, personal life, interesting facts, news. Personal and public life

Penelope Cruz Sanchez(Penélope Cruz Sánchez) was born on April 28, 1974 in a working-class area of ​​Madrid, the capital of Spain. Her mother Encarna Sanchez(Encarna Sánchez) was a hairdresser and her father Eduardo Cruz(Eduardo Cruz) - a merchant. Penelope, her younger sister Monica (Mónica) and brother Eduardo (Eduardo) were brought up in the traditions of the Catholic Church. Eduardo Cruz became a singer Monica Cruz- Actress and fashion designer.

Penelope admitted that her childhood was simple and happy, but she was capricious if her desires were not fulfilled. She was interested in dancing since childhood, for nine years she studied ballet at the Spanish National Conservatory, then continued her studies at the ballet school in New York. After watching Almodovar's film "Tie Me" (1990), Penelope Cruz got the idea to become an actress. She began looking for an agent, but she was turned down due to her age. Nevertheless, at the age of 15, she passed the competition and, ahead of 300 competitors, signed a contract with the agency. Her first job was filming a video for the synth-pop band Mecano, whose leader she was dating at the time. At the age of 16, she became the host of a teen talk show on Spanish television.

Penelope Cruz about herself as a teenager: “I was a creepy extrovert. When I was in school, I was still doing ballet and went to acting auditions. I found myself an agent, but she refused to work with me three times because I was still young. I still went back to her. And we still work together."

Penelope Cruz / Penelope Cruz. creative path

In 1992, the 17-year-old Penelope Cruz made her debut on the big screen in the comedy " hamon, hamon". One of the roles in this film was played by Javier Bardem. In the film, she had to appear topless, which Cruz was completely unprepared for. However, the audience appreciated her, and after the release of the film, Penelope was recognized as the new sex symbol of Spain. In the same year, she appeared in the Oscar-winning film " graceful era with Gabino Diego. From 1993 to 1996, Cruz was active in Spanish and Italian films. In 1997, she appeared at Amenabar in the sci-fi drama " open your eyes". The film did not do well at the box office, but received good reviews from critics.

A year later, Penelope made her debut in Hollywood, playing a Mexican in " Land of hills and plains". She later admitted that she had difficulty understanding English on set. The film failed, but Cruz received an ALMA nomination. In 1998, she starred in the Hispanic films " Don Juan" and " Girl of my dreams". For her role in the latter, she received the Goya Award and the Union of Actors of Spain.

In 1999, Cruz again starred in Almodovar- in the film "All About My Mother", playing a pregnant nun infected with AIDS. The film grossed $67 million worldwide. In 2000, the actress received the first major role in the American project "Woman from Above" and played the beloved of the hero Matt Damon (Matt Damon) in " Indomitable hearts».

Career turning point Penelope Cruz was 2001. She played in high-profile Hollywood projects - Vanilla Sky (where she repeated her role in the Spanish original), Cocaine and Captain Corelli's Choice. " Vanilla Sky grossed $200 million worldwide, Cocaine"- 80 million," Corelli- 62 million.

However, subsequent projects Waking up in Reno"," Gothic "and" Fanfan Tulip" - received cool reviews from critics and viewers. In 2005, Cruz starred in the adventure film Sahara, where Matthew McConaughey became her partner. The film grossed 110 million but failed to recoup the 160 million budget. But "Chronophobia" in 2005 participated in the competition at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2006, together with girlfriend Salma Hayek (Salma Hayek) Penelope Cruz played in the comedy "Bandidas".

For her role in "Sugar" Penelope received 1.6 million dollars, for "Vanilla Sky" - 2 million dollars.

After another filming with Almodovar in The Return, Cruz's career went uphill again. She received the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival, Goya”, was nominated for the Golden Globe, the Screen Actors Guild of America Award, the British BAFTA Award and received an Oscar nomination in the Best Actress category. She became the first Spaniard nominated in this category.

Penelope Cruz on her career: “The hardest thing in this world is to start a career with looks and then try to become a serious actress. No one takes you seriously if everyone knows you're pretty."

In 2007 Penelope Cruz played two heroines at once in the film " Goodnight". The picture failed at the box office, but critics praised the Spaniard's game. In 2008, she played the female lead in the drama " Elegy”, then introduced by the press in the top 10 best films at the end of the year. At the end of 2008, Cruz received an invitation from Woody Allen to play the nervous and talented ex-wife of the hero Javier Bardem in his new film Vicky Cristina Barcelona. The role of Maria Elena brought Penelope many awards, including Goya, BAFTA and Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

In 2017, the actress starred in the Spanish-Bulgarian crime-biographical drama Escobar", where her husband Javier Bardem became Cruz's partner, and appeared in the film adaptation of the novel of the same name by the writer Agatha Christie - Kenneth Branagh's detective thriller "". In addition, Penelope starred in the third season of the television project American Crime Story (2018) and received a role in the film When your mother is beautiful with Edgar Ramirez.

Penelope Cruz / Penelope Cruz. Awards and achievements

2017, Goya: Nomination - Best Actress ("Queen of Spain").
2016, Goya: Nomination - Best Actress ("Ma Ma")
2013, Goya: nomination - Best Actress ("Born Twice").
2010, Oscar: Nominated - Best Supporting Actress ("Nine").
2010, Golden Globe: Nominated - Best Supporting Actress ("Nine")
2010, Goya: nomination - Best Actress ("Broken Embraces").
2010, Screeners Guild Awards: Nominations - Best Cast and Best Supporting Actress ("Nine").
2009 Oscar: Best Supporting Actress (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
2009 Golden Globe: Nominated - Best Supporting Actress (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
2009, British Academy: Win - Best Supporting Actress ("Vicky Cristina Barcelona").
2009, European Film Academy: Nomination - Best Actress ("Broken Embraces").
2009, Goya: Win - Best Supporting Actress ("Vicky Cristina Barcelona").
2009 Screen Actors Guild Award: Nominated - Best Supporting Actress (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
2007, Oscar: Nominated - Best Actress ("Return").
2007, Golden Globe: Nominated - Best Actress (Drama) ("Return")
2007, British Academy: Nominated - Best Actress ("Return").
2007, Georges: nomination - best foreign actress.
2007, Goya: Win - Best Actress ("Return").
2007, Screen Actors Guild Award: Nominated - Best Actress ("Return").
2006, Cannes Film Festival: Win - Silver Award for Best Actress ("Return").
2006, European Film Academy: Best Actress (Return)
2005, Goya: Nomination - Best Actress ("Don't Go").
2004, European Film Academy: Audience Award for Best Actress ("Don't Go"); nomination - Best Actress ("Don't Go").
2003, European Film Academy: nomination - Audience Award for Best Actress ("Fanfan Tulip").
2002, MTV Channel Award: nomination - Breakthrough of the Year ("Cocaine").
2002, Golden Raspberry: Nomination - Worst Actress ("Cocaine").
2001, European Film Academy: Nominated - Audience Award for Best Actress ("Captain Corelli's Choice").
1999, European Film Academy: Nomination - Best Actress ("The Girl of Your Dreams").
1999, Goya: Win - Best Actress ("The Girl of Your Dreams").
1993, Goya: Nomination - Best Actress ("Ham, Ham").

Penelope Cruz / Penelope Cruz. Personal life

Stability came to Penelope's personal life in 2010: in July, she married compatriot and acting colleague Javier Bardem (“To the Miracle”, “The Sea Within”, “”, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”, “ Eat, pray, love"), which she had known since the filming of her first film" hamon, hamon”, but started dating only in 2007.

Prior to this, Penelope had a long romantic relationship with Tom Cruise (Tom Cruise) - they met on the set of " vanilla sky"and met for three years, as well as with Matthew McConaughey (Matthew McConaughey), a partner in the film" Sahara". Their relationship lasted about six months, in June 2006 they broke up "due to a mismatch in tight filming schedules." In June - December 2000, Penelope had an affair with another colleague - Matt Damon (Matt Damon). Before Hollywood, Penelope dated a famous Spanish musician Nacho Cano(Nacho Cano).

January 25, 2011 Cruz and Bardem had a son Leonardo, and on July 22, 2013 a daughter was born Moon.

With my best friends Penelope Cruz considers actresses Goya Toledo(Goya Toledo) and Salma Hayek (Salma Hayek). She also has a long friendship with Pedro Almodovar. She maintains friendly relations with Tom Cruise: Penelope was among the first to see his newborn daughter Suri.

Penelope Cruz: I treat myself with irony. I used to worry about what people would think of me, then I realized the following: what's the difference if they don't even know me? For self-confidence, I do not need constant confirmation from the outside ... Confidence, really deep, can be given by family and friends. They don't care if you're beautiful, what matters is who you are. If only you would get inside my head and listen to the dialogues that play out there when I walk the red carpet in a haute couture dress or participate in photo shoots!

Penelope Cruz / Penelope Cruz. Interesting Facts

The actress loves Indian films. She once expressed a desire to star with Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan.

Penelope Cruz was included in FHM magazine's 100 Sexiest Women in the World, People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World, Maxim magazine's Hot 100 and Empire magazine's Top 100 Sexiest Movie Stars.

Friends call the actress Pe. She speaks four languages: Spanish, Italian, French, English. Lives in Madrid and Los Angeles. Pe loves animals. After filming the movie Indomitable Hearts(2000) became a vegetarian.

Penelope does charity work. She volunteered in Uganda and India where she met Mother Teresa. After that, together with friends, she founded a foundation to support homeless girls in India. This organization has built a house, a school, a clinic in Calcutta for its wards.

In 2006 year Penelope Cruz became the face of the cosmetic giant L "Oréal, she advertises hair products and mascara, her annual contract fee is $ 2 million. In April 2010, she became the face of Lancôme Trésor perfume. Cruz also starred in commercials for the Spanish brand Mango and fashion house Ralph Lauren .

In 2007, a collection of clothes created by Penelope and her sister Monica appeared on the Mango network. Penelope owns a clothing store in Madrid. Together with Monika, she designs jewelry and handbags for a Japanese company.

Penelope Cruz / Penelope Cruz. Filmography

• Actress
• Layover
• When your mother is beautiful (2018) / Love Child… Immaculada
• Untitled Asghar Farhadi Project (2018) / Untitled Asghar Farhadi Project
• Escobar (2017) / Escobar ... Virginia Vallejo
• Murder on the Orient Express (2017) / Murder on the Orient Express… Pilar Estravados
• ¿Qué fue de Jorge Sanz? Buena racha (TV Movie 2017)…Penelope Cruz
• Queen of Spain (2016) / La reina de España ... Macarena Granada

When Penelope Cruz first appeared in the first films, she was assured of public recognition. Talented, pretty, with amazing eyes, energetic, plastic - she was immediately approved by cinema fans, and since then every film with her participation has been eagerly awaited and still admired.

Penelope Cruz

Path to cinema

Date of birth of Penelope Sanchez - 04/28/1974, place of birth - Spanish Alcobendas.

Penelope was not going to act in films in her youth, although she devoted a lot of time to art: she studied dancing for nine years, visiting the Spanish National Conservatory. After, already in America, for more than four years she mastered a dance course under the guidance of the famous Christina Rota. And although everyone around noticed her acting talent, the girl liked dancing more.

Penelope and Monica Cruz

But everything changed after Penelope watched the comedy "Tie Me Up!". To get on the set, the girl tried to persuade the agents to give her a chance, but being too young scared everyone away. But still, perseverance paid off, and at the age of 15, thanks to the casting, she got on television, participated in television shows and starred in music videos.

The first experience in the cinema - "Greek Labyrinth" - did not bring joy. The girl was then 17 years old, the role was rather erotic, which was more suitable for a wise woman. Penelope had a hard time: nervous exhaustion, depression, treatment.

Penelope Cruz with her husband

But this stage has passed, the time has come for new filming in the films "Trap", "Stand".

The painting "Belle Epoque" made a splash, after which the young actress received several awards and real recognition from the public. And when in 1992 the audience saw the picture "Ham, Ham", their delight knew no bounds. But the critics also did not miss the film, leaving favorable reviews about it.

Works marked by viewers and critics

Then Penelope Cruz starred in many films, earned an Oscar with her work, by the way, the first of the Spanish actresses, the BAFTA award, Goya, was nominated for Oscar and Golden Globe more than once. She has her own star on the prestigious Walk of Fame.

But being only an actress is not enough for the energetic Penelope. Therefore, she manages to work in the modeling business. Many well-known companies, such as Mango, Ralph Lauren, collaborate with the famous actress.

Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz in Vanilla Sky

Some believe that it was the film "Vanilla Sky" that changed a lot in Penelope's life. Her partner was Tom Cruise, the box office exceeded $ 200 million and the film was shown around the world.

The next film - "Cocaine" collected 80 million dollars. But at the beginning of the XXI century, the actress was not very lucky. The films in which she starred met criticism either coolly or with condemnation, and only the only picture called “Don't Go” was finally singled out by harsh critics, and the actress also received an award for her role.

Shot from the film "Bandidas"

But Penelope was not going to give up, and after the release of the comedic action movie Bandidas, she was able to melt the cold hearts of critics.

In 2008, a film by Woody Allen appeared, which brought Penelope an Oscar. It was called "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". Then another successful work took place in the musical "Nine".

Personal and public life

The actress's personal life was very eventful, but all this is in the past. In 2010, she got married, Javier Bardem, also an actor, became her chosen one. They have two children, the elder Leonardo and the younger Luna.

Penelope manages to do charity work, supporting organizations that seek to build shelters and hospitals for the homeless, takes part in activities against tuberculosis, especially in third world countries.

On the set of the film "Ham Ham"

Penelope Cruz Net Worth, Salary, Cars & Houses

Houses

• Photo: house/residence of beautiful talented intelligent 55 million earning Coldwater Canyon, Los Angeles, USA-resident


• Los Angeles house ($3.18 million) (Swimming Pool Jacuzzi Sauna Gym Home Office Ballroom )

Cars

Volkswagen Jetta

Penelope Cruz: Husband, Dating, Family & Friends

She is ready to talk about Pedro Almodovar, her "film father", her inspiration, her "most bosom, most trusted friend." But, in fact, that's all she wants to say about him. She is also ready to talk about director Bigas Luna, with whom she played her first major role at the age of 16, whom she considers the architect of her acting destiny, after whom she and Javier Bardem named their daughter Luna. About the recent death of the director, after which a void formed in her ... But that's all she can say.

“What details can I give here? It's feelings." And in the end, from her sincere closeness towards you, I lose my temper. In the hope that the caustic tone will at least discourage her and such a sweet, well-bred ... locked door will open a little. Strange: my hopes were justified.

psychology:

Listen, Pe (she asks to call herself that - "briefly and in a friendly way"). You have long, multi-part names in Spain. "No details" isn't your middle name?

I just don't have a middle name. I have a double surname - Sanchez Cruz. Sanchez is my mother's last name. I keep her.

I owe a lot to my mother. As everybody.

Again, no details...

Yes, if I start talking about my mother, then this interview will be only about my mother.

On the set of the picture "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" in 2008, the romance of Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem began

Don't limit yourself. Speak up. So why do you keep your mother's last name?

Well, because this is not only my mother's surname, but also my grandmother's surname, because my grandmother was the main person in my life until I was seventeen. Because all this Spanishness in me comes from my grandmother - devotion to what you have chosen in life, obsession with a goal, the inability to imagine that you can fail ... All this Spanish "duende" - according to Lorca, the Spanish spirit: the will to live, so powerful, so desperate that it can lead to the grave.

And mom is the same. Her obsession was us - me, my brother Eduardo and Monica, my sister. She wanted to be a permanent presence in our lives. She was afraid to be distracted even for a minute. And she did it that way - and still does! - that none of us felt pressure, lack of freedom.

It’s just that we were completely protected, all the hardships of childhood and adolescence ... yes, I don’t remember anything like that, although, of course, they were ... The security of her love was so ... You know, I did ballet. Serious, classical ballet. At the age of six. Other girls were somehow stimulated to study, and my parents - my mother, and my father too - begged me to slow down. And I did give hope.

Penelope Cruz with her sister Monica, a famous actress and dancer in Spain

And, by the way, this was important for our family - my parents had modest incomes, my mother's hairdresser did not bring much money, and after all, there were three children ... But no - somehow my parents were not at all interested in the possible benefits from my successes. They were only interested in my well-being.

But I was obsessed ... Not even with ballet - I would say, self-embodiment, in order to bring what I started to perfection, as I understood it then - as ideal 32 fouettes ... That is why I studied ballet for 9 years, graduated from the Madrid Conservatory in the class of classical ballet. Then I studied ballet in New York for a year ... But my mother was against all this, because she thought that I would hurt myself ...

You know, mothers know better what's good for the baby.

Even better than an adult child?

No, but it is important for a child to have just such a mother! And so, when people now ask me what the best advice she gave me, I say: she strongly advised me to have a good relationship with my mother. In the sense that without this rear you will not go far, no matter how far you go - even to Hollywood, even to the Antarctic.

And you as a mother, of course, follow the example of your mother?

Everyone has their own path and experience. My mother lived in other conditions - modest incomes, 12-hour work in the salon. Monica and I spent a lot of time there, came after school, after ballet classes - because my mother was not at home, and there was real life in the salon. And my mother's life. There, in my opinion, I began to try on acting - constantly watching how clients reincarnate, acquiring a new image.

Mom was always a very adult person, she needed to feel like an adult - after all, I was born when she was only 20. And I ... I gave birth to Leo, my first child, when I was already 37 and a lot had already happened in my life - ballet, passions, obsession with work, love, success. And it was important for me to remember what it was like to be a child.

When Leo started crawling on the floor, I wanted to see the world, our home, the way children see it. And I sat down all the time - on the floor, on the lawn

You know, when Leo started crawling on the floor - and he was one of those children who crawl into all the cracks - I wanted to see the world, our home, the way children see it. And I sat down all the time - on the floor, on the lawn - to look with childish eyes. I am close to the role that I played in the film "Frantic Basque" by Julio Medem "Ma Ma", a woman who conquers death in order to be close to her child.

An adult still manages ... And I try to help grow up.

Your family, parents, sister, brother mean a lot to you. You work on the design of bags, clothes, underwear with your sister. You made a promotional film in connection with your lingerie collection - and your sister played in it, your brother wrote the music, and your mother assisted on the set. You star in your brother's videos. In my opinion, the family means more to you than is customary in our civilization in the 21st century ...

Oh right! In that sense, I'm old fashioned. For example, I was terribly upset by the divorce of my parents. I was in my thirties when they divorced. It is clear that dad, as he was, and remained for me one of the closest people. And by and large, the life of my parents no longer concerned me. It didn't even concern Eduardo, my younger brother, who was over twenty.

But for me it was a blow - family ties are falling apart. Almost unbearable. You see, I completely rely on feelings - I understand with my mind that it is unlikely that anything will change for me and the people nearby, but the gap is a trauma for me. In Spain, families generally live. Large family communities. There is even a saying about marriage - that this is the union of not two, but two clans.

And how did these clans meet - yours, which you call proletarian, and the clan of Javier Bardem, a clan of intellectuals and artists? Was there any friction?

It's funny that you ask. Because I fell in love with Javier's mother before I fell in love with Javier himself. She is a great actress, Pilar Bardem. She even has a nickname - La Bardem. This means that in our country she is also a social force - a defender of all the weak, a fighter for social justice.

So, I was 18, and I desperately dreamed of playing in a film by Pedro Almodovar. At 17, I played with Bigas Luna in the film Jamon, Jamon, there were erotic scenes, and I became something of a teenage sex symbol in Spain ... But I dreamed of a role, albeit a tiny one, with the great Almodovar.

All my life, Javier and I were somewhere nearby, met often, watched each other, of course. And the main thing is that we are together in the end

And then one day I was listening to the music of Morricone from his "Tie Me Up!" for the fiftieth time, and I was called to the phone. They said it was Almodovar calling. I prepared for a prank, but it was his voice! He invited me to audition for a small role. He was then preparing for "Living Flesh".

My role is the first 8 minutes of the film. Even to the title caption. A young prostitute gives birth to the hero of the film. In 1970, on a bus, during the state of emergency declared by the Franco regime. And the kind mistress of a brothel helps her. She was played by Pilar.

She became a dream come true for me. 8 minutes we are on the screen. I myself am Pilar Bardem. In Almodovar's film. No, we never had friction.

Listen, how did it happen that you knew Javier from the age of 17 - they starred together in Jamon ..., and united only when you were already over 30, right?

Oh, I definitely don't want to go into details here. All our lives we have been somewhere nearby, we are colleagues, we have achieved a certain fame, we often met, followed each other, of course. And most importantly, we are together in the end.

Penelope Cruz with her husband, actor Javier Bardem

And Monica, your sister? She is a famous actress in Spain, but you are a Hollywood star. Did it hurt your relationship?

Monica is three years younger, but I feel like my twin. When we were doing collections for Mango and Agent Provocateur… I had the same childhood feeling when we locked ourselves in the bathroom - there was no more privacy in our small apartment - and cut out pictures of different outfits from magazines to apply them to the paper silhouettes of models . And argue about what suits whom!

There can be no envy or rivalry between Monica and me - in some ways we are parts of one whole. The hands of one person do not compete with each other

There can be no envy or rivalry between us - in some ways we are parts of one whole. The hands of one person do not compete with each other. I don't really believe in rivalry at all. I am sure that everyone takes their place in life, in the profession.

Banality, of course, but everyone has their own way. I believe in common truths. They haven't let anyone down yet.

But rivalry is a natural part of your profession, and when you came to Hollywood, you had to work your way into a new environment. And there is such an impartial opinion that a romantic relationship with Tom Cruise, the number one star, helped you a lot here ...

When I talk about the correctness of common truths, I also talk about this: not everything in life is as simple as it looks. Yes, a three-year partnership with Tom got me noticed. I turned out to be “Oh, the chosen one of Cruise himself!”. But not the fact that it had a positive effect on my career.

Pedro Almodovar then did educational work with me - he threatened that I would hang in the category of “pinup beauties”, after which I would naturally disappear. And it's true - because I became "the one that Cruz chose," it limited me, locked me in the one-dimensional role of the hero's romantic interest. But now…

Now I think we are all one of many.

And I do not believe in any uniqueness. Except in one situation - everyone has only one mother. Now I want to be the only one for Leo and Luna.

Queen move

The plot of Fernando Trueba's tape is based on shooting in Spain in the late 50s, under Franco, an American film about Isabella of Castile, the queen-lover, the queen-adventurer. The main role in it should be played by a Hollywood star of Spanish origin. Here's a rhyme for you: Cruz plays an actress who came from America to play the role of Isabella. That is, everything, consider as in life. And even more - "Queen of Spain" continues the story that Trueba began 20 years ago with the film "The Girl of Your Dreams", when Cruz had not yet dreamed of Hollywood success. However, she says that she never dreamed of him. And yet she became a queen - whatever you mean by this word.

Penelope Cruz is a real mystery woman. There are a lot of rumors about how she, a native of Spain, conquered Hollywood. Someone believes that the secret of her success is in hot Spanish blood, amazing attractiveness and charm. Others are sure that Penelope is one of those actresses who made a career, as they say, through the bed: after all, during almost every film work she had an affair with a filming partner (certainly already a well-known Hollywood star). And the juicy details about these relationships only fueled interest in the film.

Who is right, everyone decides for himself. And "TS" is sure of one thing: it is impossible not to love a woman like Penelope, who in her native Spain is called the queen of Madrid...

"It all started with dancing"

- I was born in Madrid in a poor family, my mother was a hairdresser, and my father and uncle worked in a store. I was a very mobile and restless child, and my parents decided to keep me busy with something useful. So ballet came into my life.

In fact, any Spaniard knows how to dance and controls her body quite well from an early age, for this you don’t have to go anywhere. You just go out into the street, and there the neighbors, elderly grandmothers are already dancing with might and main ... You see, this is Spanish blood! So my street dance passion soon grew into daily classes at the ballet school. I only remember that it always seemed fabulous and beautiful to me when the girls worked at the barre in black tights, and at premieres they put on white tutus, beautifully styled their hair ... It was such a childhood! When I came to America, I realized that it was very difficult to practice ballet professionally. There is a lot of intrigue in this area, a lot of trauma and too little time to really become a person.

And then the idea came to become an actress. Instead of dancing, I decided to prove myself in something that would give results faster. All Spaniards are impatient. This is another feature of ours. They say that when a Spanish woman goes through customs, the temperature at the airport rises by 20 degrees - from her impatience. (Laughs.)

So I went to acting auditions. And on those where it was necessary to sing and dance a lot. That's all I could do at that moment. Of course, my expressive and bright appearance played an important role. At first there were some episodes in serials, in advertising, I hosted television programs. She got her first role at the age of 16 - in the film "Greek Labyrinth". Then immediately came the film "Love, sex and ham." This picture brought me first glory. Although the parents, when they went to the premiere, were terribly afraid. The name alone made them blush. They thought that their little Pe starred in some kind of youth porn. But everything went nice and harmless. I was invited to the cinema. I became a local star and, probably, would have remained one and would have been absolutely happy if it were not for the plump Almodovar, thanks to which the door to Hollywood opened for me: after all, it was after he shot me in his film "Living Flesh" that I became invite not only Spanish directors to work.

Did he conquer you?

Best of the day

- Oh yeah! Pedro is one of the most important people in my life. Like a father, brother or sister. I'm not talking about what kind of director it is. About how once we spent three months with him to analyze every word of the script. About how I adore his exactingness and sometimes aggressiveness in his work! If Pedro asks me to jump from a skyscraper, I will do it without a doubt, because I am sure: on the ground he pulled a net for me. We had very difficult work shifts, we were exhausted from our feet. But after work, he called me to tell me how happy he was to work with me. It's so touching that my eyes filled with tears.

"I'm very insecure"

- I have a lot of complexes. A lot of things invented or acquired during a lifetime. For example, I'm still surprised by how I look, I'm surprised by my abilities, my place in the world and how I even manage to get a job.

And I always feel like I don't know a lot, so I'm constantly learning.

Or here's another: I'm embarrassed by my freckles on my face and hands. This, of course, may seem surprising: after all, I often wear open dresses for various ceremonies. But everything is actually explained by the fact that when I carry some kind of image, for example, in a movie, I overcome all my complexes and forget about it completely! But in life you can only see me with bare shoulders on the beach! And also, thanks to the fact that everyone looks at my chest and into my eyes, no one notices my ugly legs ... (Laughs.)

“Learning to part with men easily”

- After my novels and serious relationships (and by nature I am very passionate and emotional, so I had a lot of them), which could end in a real marriage, I concluded that a man can adore, idolize, passionately love a woman, but there is something which he can never stop himself from doing. Firstly, to have sex with her, secondly, at every opportunity to show that she is lower than him, and, thirdly, to prove that, if not for men, women would have died long ago from depression, longing and their own uselessness. But the most important thing is that they have some reason to think so...

I'm not a feminist - oh no! There were simply too many moments in my life when I was ready for anything for the sake of a man. There was a time when I was ready even to become a recluse, I did not need anyone or anything if my beloved man was nearby. Since it is now in the past, I can safely admit that Matthew McConaughey was such a man for me.

Parting with men has always been difficult for me, too. But I think it's okay. After all, when you part with a person, an incredible psychological attack on the brain begins. It still hurts, it still hurts too much. After all, everything is common around, everything that reminds you of your love: music, smells, cities, films, notes with reminders that are still hanging in the apartment. But it is experienced and passes into another state: into another form. Although it should be noted that with age, women develop immunity. I began to notice myself that now I am recovering faster after a break. I hope that by the age of 60 I will have learned to send them all to hell. (Laughs.)

Although actually in my life there was a case when a man was able to resist my charms ... His name was Diego. We were 10 years old. He sold lemonade on the next street, not far from my house. Every day I bought lemonade from him, although it was impossible to do this. I then studied at a ballet school and recovered from everything at once. And despite this, I went to him and bought lemonade to talk to him, to see him. And he, an idiot, did not understand anything. Everyone was waiting, apparently, when I kiss him. I fantasized about God knows what. When they began to scold me for my weight, I stopped buying lemonade and just walked past the shop. One day, Diego said that I was distracting him with my walks, and demanded that I walk along this street only on business or bypass it altogether. Moron!

You will laugh, but he still sells lemonade. His belly has grown, and he is no longer as beautiful as he was at 10 years old. But when I am in Madrid, I specifically go to him to drink lemonade. I just feel a lot more confident. I can drink as much lemonade as I want, and walk along any street I want. (Smiling.)

The men who were conquered by Cruz

Matt Damon. Penelope met him on the set of Billy Bob Thornton's Untamed Hearts in early 2000. For the sake of Penelope, Matt broke up with his girlfriend, actress Winona Ryder (she found out about the relationship between Damon and Cruz and forbade him to appear in front of her). But this romance did not last long: Nicolas Cage took Matt's place.

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage. Their relationship began on the set of Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Nicholas repeated Damon's act and left his wife, actress Patricia Arquette, whose love he had once so desperately sought for Peh. Cage and Cruz did not hide their passion, but in the end, Nicholas was left with a nose: Penelope came to the premiere of the film with Tom Cruise.

Tom Cruise. Director Cameron Crowe, who directed Cruz in Vanilla Sky (2001), once said: "She can ignite passion in everything that moves!" The romance with Tom Cruise that broke out on the set of this film is the best example of this. Their relationship began shortly before Cruise's divorce from Nicole Kidman. And they were the longest - almost 3 years. In 2004, there were rumors that the wedding was just around the corner and Cruise had already spent $ 2 million on preparations for it. But the couple broke up. Allegedly, Cruz forced Penelope to accept Scientology, but she, a Buddhist by conviction, refused. Now Cruz and Tom, according to the actress, are good friends and she admires his kind heart.

Matthew McConaughey. The romance of Penelope and Matthew is the result of 5 months of filming the adventure film "Sahara". Here is what McConaughey said about Cruz after the premiere: “She is very beautiful, she has amazing eyes. In addition, I have great respect for her, her personality, her family. I speak some Spanish, Penelope speaks English with errors, so we talk to each other in some third language, it's very funny. She is an amazing woman! I love her!" Six months after that, their romance ended.

Javier Bardem. Penelope met Javier back in 1992 on the set of Love, Sex and Ham. But then she was more interested in the director of the picture Bigas Luna. And now, 15 years later, the actors met again on the set. This time with Woody Allen in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Now Javier and Penelope carefully hide the details of their relationship. True, according to rumors, everything is fine with them and Bardem even made Cruz an offer, to which she agreed.

Films with Penelope Cruz

"All About My Mother" (1999)

"Cocaine" (2001)

"Gothic" (2003)

"Fanfan Tulip" (2003)

"Head in the Clouds" (2004)

"Don't Leave" (2004)

"Broken Embraces" (2009)