Profile
Penelope Cruz is a Spanish actress who is a nominated Golden Globe and Academy Award. She started her career first by being a dancer and later into the Spanish television. She speaks fluent Spanish, French, English and Italian. Also she claims that she is a vegetarian since 2000.
Early Life
She was born in April 28, 1974 in San Sebastian de los Reyes, Madrid, Spain to parents; Eduardo Cruz who is a retailer and Encarna Sanchez who is a hairdresser. She has a younger sister called Monica Cruz who is also a dancer and a brother Eduardo who is a singer. Her dream of becoming an actress started when she was young, she used to mimic television advertisements but later concentrated in dancing. When she was nine years old she studied classical ballet at Spain’s National Conservatory and practiced with famous dancers. She was a great dancer by the age of 15 when she outdid 300 dancers in a talent agency audition. Angela Garrido trained her for three years on Spanish Ballet. Raul Caballero trained her on jazz dance at Cristina Rota School in Madrid.
Career
In the Spanish synthpop group Mecano she appeared in a video La fuerza Del destino which was her first acting role. She then became a presenter in a teen oriented program called la Quinta Marcha. She was also an actor in a French TV serial, Serie Rose, with her role being a blind prostitute. In 1994, she directed El waltz de los locos which was Nacho Cano’s video.
She had a role in an Academy Award winner for foreign Language Film Belle Epoque and Jamon. In 1997, under the name Sofia Pangia with actor Eduardo Noriega, she had a role in Abre los ojos film which was directed by Alejandro Amenabar. This film was remade to Hollywood film, Vanilla Sky, where she did the same role in 2001. Also, in 1999 she was in a film that won an Academy Award for Foreign Language Film called Todo sobre mi madre, directed by Pedro Almodovar. All the Pretty Horses was a film in 2000 which she appeared with Matt Damon. ( www.penelope-cruz.com/>)
In 2006 with her friend Salma Hayek she co-starred in a film called Bandidas. With her sister Monica, they could design a 25 piece collection for Mango, a Barcelona based fashion chain. July 7, 2007 she presented at Live Earth. In late 2007, she starred in a brothers’ film Cosas que contar and a sister Monica.
Personal Life
Her philanthropist nature makes her spend most of her time in charity and bank roles sometimes. For example in 1997 she spent two months volunteering in Uganda. During the synthpop group she started a relationship with a member of this group. After the film Vanilla Sky with Tom Cruise they had three year relationship but split up in 2004. She dated Matthew McConaughey in 2005 after filming Sahara. But, they separated the same year. She is also a best friend to Colombian singer Shakira. Currently, she is dating a Spanish actor Javier Bardem and both are looking forward to acting together in a film Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Filmography
Awards and Nominations
Academy Awards
- 2007 Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for: Volver (2006).
BAFTA Awards
- 2007 Nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for: Volver (2006).
ALMA Awards
- 1999 Nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film for: The Hi-lo Country (1998).
- 2002 Nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for: Vanilla Sky (2001).
Cannes Film Festival
- To the female ensemble cast.
- 2006 Won Best Actress for: Volver (2006)
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
- 2001 Nominated for Favorite Actress – Drama/Romance for: All the pretty Horses (2000).
David di Donatello Awards
- 2004 Won David Best Actress for: Non ti muovere (2004).
European Film Awards
- 1999 Nominated for Best Actress for: La Niña de tus ojos (1998).
- 2004 Nominated for Best Actress for: Non ti muovere (2004).
- 2006 Won for Best Actress for: Volver (2006).
Audience Award
- 2001 Nominated for Best Actress for: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001).
- 2003 Nominated for Best Actress for: Fanfan la tulipe (2003).
- 2004 Won for Best Actress for: Non ti muovere (2004).
Fotogramas de Plata
- 1999 Won for Best Movie Actress for: La Niña de tus ojos (1998).
- 2007 Won for Best Movie Actress for: Volver (2006).
Golden Globe Awards
- 2007 Nominated for Best Actress in a Dramatic Role for: Volver (2006).
Goya Awards
- 1993 Nominated for Best Lead Actress for: Jamón, jamón (1992).
- 1999 Won for Best Lead Actress for: La Niña de tus ojos (1998).
- 2005 Nominated for Best Lead Actress for: Non ti muovere (2004).
- 2007 Won for Best Lead Actress for: Volver (2006).
Imagen Foundation Awards
- 2003 – She won Creative Achievement Award
MTV Movie Awards
- 2002 Nominated for Breakthrough Female Performance for: Blow (2001)
Ondas Awards
- 1993 Won Film Award Best Acting (Mejor Interpretación).
Peñíscola Comedy Film Festival
- 1995 Won Best Actress for: Todo es mentira (1994).
Razzie Awards
- 2002 Nominated for Worst Actress for: Blow, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and Vanilla Sky all for (2001).
Spanish Actors Union
- 1993 Nominated Newcomer Award for: Jamón, jamón (1992).
- 1993 Won Award for Union Film: Supporting Performance for: Belle epoque (1992).
- 1998 Nominated for Performance in a Minor Role for: Carne trémula (1997).
- 1999 Won Award for Lead Performance for: La Niña de tus ojos (1998).
- 2007 Won Award for Lead Performance for: Volver (2007).
Reference
Penelope careers. 2007. Web.
Penelope early life. 2007. Web.
Penelope filmography. 2007. Web.
Penelope lifestyle. 2007. Web.
Penelope lifestyle. 2007. Web.