Penelope Cruz biography, age, Oscar, height, net worth, ethnicity, husband, kids 2025

Biography of Penelope Cruz

In 2011, Penelope Cruz's star shone on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Spanish actress is considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. However, Penelope has earned love and recognition not just for her looks, but also for her unique dramatic talent and ability to portray a wide array of characters on screen.

Childhood

Penélope Cruz was born on April 28, 1974. She spent her childhood in a suburb of Madrid. Her father Eduardo was an entrepreneur, and her mother Encarna owned a small hair salon. Penélope is the eldest of three children.

From a young age, she was known for her stubborn and restless nature. At the age of four, she started ballet and even then dreamed of becoming an actress. As a child, Penélope entertained her family by imitating commercials that were broadcast on television.

At the age of 12, she saw an advertisement for the perfume Trésor by Lancôme featuring the stunningly beautiful Isabella Rossellini, which was created by Peter Lindbergh. She asked her father to buy her the perfume and was thrilled to receive the coveted bottle. In time, she would become a famous actress, and Lancôme would ask her to be the face of the brand.

Penélope Cruz in childhood with her sister

Beginning

When Penelope was 14, she was deeply impressed by Pedro Almodóvar's film "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!" The emotions were so strong that she looked up the director's address in the phone book and went to his house. The director listened to her and said that he would be happy to offer her a role in his film once she became an actress. That's when Penelope started looking for agents and attending auditions. Soon she appeared in a music video for the band Mecano, and in the early '90s, she became a host of a teen show, working there until 1996.

Penelope Cruz in the Mecano music video - La Fuerza del Destino

In 1991, the actress appeared in an episode of the series "Série Rose" and angered her parents who saw their seventeen-year-old daughter fully nude. Penelope's parents were devout Catholics. The actress long remembered the scandal caused by her family; her mother even slapped her. But this did not break Penelope's determination and will.

In 1992, she played the role of Silvia in the film "Jamon Jamon," which was also one of the first films featuring Javier Bardem. In several scenes, Penelope appeared nude again, and after the film's release, the young actress was dubbed a sex symbol.

Penelope Cruz in the movie 'Jamon Jamon'

The following year, after starring in the melodrama "Belle Epoque," Penelope was nominated for the prestigious Spanish "Goya" award.

In 1995, the Spanish actress set out to conquer America. She didn't speak English at all, but she was full of determination.

Early Success in Hollywood

After settling in the famous Greenwich Village, a neighborhood favored by artists and other bohemians, the young woman quickly made friends. She enrolled in Christina Roth's dance studio and also studied English and acting.

In 1997, she landed a role in a film by her idol Almodovar. Penelope once again took the initiative and told him she had become an actress. The director laughed at the eccentric young woman but invited her to audition. The thriller "Live Flesh," as all of the master's works, is complex and highly sensual, adapted from a novel by the English author Ruth Rendell. The film earned rave reviews, the Goya Award, and numerous nominations, including for the BAFTAs.

The next film featuring Penelope was the poignant masterpiece "Open Your Eyes." In Alejandro Amenabar's film, she was joined by Fele Martinez and the romantic Eduardo Noriega, who played Cesar.

By the early 2000s, she had acted in several films but only gained recognition as a profound dramatic actress after the release of the 1999 film "All About My Mother." The Pedro Almodovar film also featured Marisa Paredes and Cecilia Roth. The movie won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film of the 1999 season. It was from this point that the beautiful Spaniard's star career began to take off.

A still from the film 'All About My Mother'

Penélope Cruz's Best Roles

In 2001, two films featuring the brilliant Penélope Cruz were released, instantly becoming hits and earning the actress recognition in Hollywood. The film "Vanilla Sky," directed by Cameron Crowe, was successful commercially, even though movie fans prefer the Spanish original "Open Your Eyes." In the beautiful allegorical drama, Penélope played the role of Sofia, with Tom Cruise as her co-star.

Penélope Cruz and Tom Cruise in 'Vanilla Sky'

In the crime drama "Blow," which tells the story of a famous smuggler and drug dealer, the Spanish actress shone alongside Johnny Depp and Ray Liotta.

From 2001 to 2007, Penélope, a star of both European and world cinema, appeared in more than 10 films. Among them: the comedy thriller "Don't Tempt Me," where she starred alongside Victoria Abril, the horror drama "Gothika," the romantic drama "Head in the Clouds," the drama "Noel," and the adventure action movie "Sahara" with Matthew McConaughey.

Penelope Cruz dance from movie Noel, 2004

Although the actress cherishes all her works from this period, she speaks most fondly of Sergio Castellitto's film "Don't Move," which holds a special place in her heart.

The dramatic film "Don't Move" was released in 2004. Audiences accustomed to seeing the actress impress with her acting talent and stunning beauty were in for a surprise.

Penélope transformed into the role of Italia, a not very young, unattractive, and poor woman. She falls in love with a successful married man, played by the incredible Sergio Castellitto. After a tragic accident, indirectly caused by her lover, Italia dies, and only then does the main character realize he has lost the most important thing in his life.

Penélope Cruz breaks down her emotional performance in Don't Move

At the premiere, the audience cried, moved by the tragic character that Penélope Cruz portrayed. Renowned film critic Roger Ebert said he would never watch the film again because he could not bear to relive what he saw.

Penélope Cruz and Sergio Castellitto in 'Don't Move'

The film won two Italian "David di Donatello" awards for best actress and actor, four "Silver Ribbons," and two "Goya" nominations.

In 2012, Penélope once again starred in a film by the brilliant Italian Sergio Castellitto. In the drama "Twice Born," she played Gemma, who recounts the story of her life and extraordinary love. She relives the events of the civil war in Serbia. Emilie Hirsch and the legendary Jane Birkin also starred in the film.

Oscar

Having been the muse for directors Pedro Almodóvar and Sergio Castellitto, the stunning Penélope Cruz dreamed of acting in a Woody Allen film. In interviews, the actress often mentioned that she knows how to dream big, and she "dreamed up" her role in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." The director himself said he couldn't imagine any other actress playing the capricious María Elena.

A scene from 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'

The Spanish actress's temperament, her unique ability to immerse herself in a character and convey emotions to the audience, earned her the highest honor from the Academy. The film also featured Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall, as well as Javier Bardem, who would soon become the illustrious Penélope's husband.

Penelope Cruz Wins Best Supporting Actress for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2009)

The Beautiful Pirate and Other Roles

In 2011, the actress graced the screen in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" as Angelica, the beloved of the rogue Jack Sparrow.

Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides'

In 2012, she appeared in Woody Allen's "To Rome with Love," playing the role of a prostitute. Two years later, she portrayed a woman struggling with a serious illness in the drama "Ma Ma," directed by Julio Medem.

Ma Ma - trailer

In 2016, Penelope starred in a small but very vivid role in the sequel "Zoolander 2" with the unexpected duo of Ben Stiller and Benedict Cumberbatch. The actress played the role of agent Valentina, investigating murders in the fashion industry.

2017 was a fruitful year for the actress; she starred in the biopic "Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar," about the legendary smuggler and drug trafficker, and in the detective film "Murder on the Orient Express."

Penelope Cruz Never Wants to See Javier Bardem's Pablo Escobar Look Again

In 2018, the "Madrid Madonna," as Penelope was nicknamed in Hollywood, continued to work on the project dedicated to Gianni Versace. In the series, she played Donatella. In 2019, the film "Everybody Knows" premiered, in which the actress starred alongside her husband Javier Bardem.

American Crime Story, Versace 2x05 Gianni tells Donatella he is coming out

That same year, audiences saw her team up with Antonio Banderas in Pedro Almodóvar's drama "Pain and Glory," nominated for an Oscar for Best International Feature Film. In 2021, they once again shone together in the dramedy about the world of acting, "Official Competition." On playing the role of director Lola, whose film is financed by an eccentric billionaire, Penelope said:

...I found this role incredibly funny because I played a complete wild psychopath. She suffers a lot from loneliness because she is absolutely unbearable. But it was fun to play her, as I had carte blanche from our directors for my own interpretation of the character.

That same year, Penelope Cruz played the lead role in Pedro Almodóvar's drama "Parallel Mothers" alongside Milena Smit. It's the story of two mothers who gave birth on the same day, but that's all they have in common: Cruz's character is an established woman photographer, while Smit's character is an underage girl who has been raped. However, the two new mothers grow close, forever changing their lives. For this work, Penelope was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress, but the statuette went to Jessica Chastain for her role in "The Eyes of Tammy Faye."

A still from the film 'Parallel Mothers'

Penélope Cruz's Personal Life

Over the years, the star dated both Tom Cruise and Nicolas Cage, as well as Matthew McConaughey and Josh Hartnett. However, these work-related romances ended as quickly as they began.

From the actress's interviews, it is clear that she found true happiness with Javier Bardem, who was her destiny. They first met on the set of "Jamón Jamón," where they played lovers. Javier was seriously smitten with the young beauty, but at that time, Penélope was only focused on her career and set off to conquer Hollywood.

Fifteen years later, fate brought them together again, and shortly after the premiere of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," the Spanish stars married. Their wedding took place in the Bahamas, and the couple has two children: a son, Leo, and a daughter, Luna, who is three years younger.

Penélope Cruz with her husband and children

Penélope, who has never been known for fretfulness or superstition, forbids reporters from asking about the details of her life with Javier and their children. However, she readily shares the secrets that help her stay in shape and look great. Her main weapon against wrinkles and dark circles under her eyes is sleep, and she claims she can sleep for more than 18 hours! The star's second secret weapon is delicious food and a good mood. It is known that the actress loves to eat and is not a vegetarian, unlike many stars.

Penelope Cruz & Javier Bardem Discuss Working Together in 'Everybody Knows'

In addition to her creative achievements and beauty, Penélope is also loved for her kind heart. She is actively involved in charity work and participates in various funds to help those in need.

Penélope Cruz Now

The actress continues to star in both Spanish films, such as the 2022 drama "On the Fringe," nominated for the top prize at the Venice Film Festival, and Hollywood movies, like the action film "The 355," which earned her a Golden Raspberry Award nomination, or the biographical drama with Adam Driver "Ferrari," released in 2023 and also nominated for the Golden Lion.

Penelope Cruz: latest news and articles

Tracy Gomez

I like the work of Almodovar, and Penelope is just one of his favorite actresses and girlfriend. And from their joint work I liked the film “Todo Sobre Mi Madre”.

2021-04-17 17:03:34
Jeremiah Chase Baker

There`s a cool movie with Penélope, Vanilla Sky. She is starring with Tom Cruise there, a very beautiful pair of them would turn out

2021-04-02 14:12:04
Glenda Horton

Why everybody so admire her? In my opinion, she achieved nothing special

2021-03-11 20:48:51
Victoria Hernandez

I love the beauty Penelope since my youth. There is so much expression and Spanish passion in it that it takes your breath away. I really liked the film «Bandidas», where Cruz, by the way, is filming with his friend, actress Salma Hayek.

2021-02-21 18:37:29
Connor Julian Smith

Hot, femme fatale Penelope Cruz attracts the attention of not only men but also women of her charisma and charm. Always glad to see her in any movie!

2021-02-19 22:56:52

Photos: Penelope Cruz