Penelope Cruz is an award-winning Spanish actress who has appeared in more than 60 films over the course of three decades. Regarded as a “screen goddess” by critics, she has received acclaim for her ability to perform in a wide range of genres. This broad skill set landed her roles in comedy (“Waking up in Reno,” “Zoolander 2”), thriller (“Gothika,” “Vanilla Sky”), action-adventure (“Sahara”), and drama films ranging from biographical crime (“Blow”) to wartime period pieces (“Captain Corelli’s Mandolin”). Cruz is the first and only Spanish woman to win, or even be nominated for, an Academy Award in an acting category.
Cruz grew up outside of Madrid and was initially focused on studying classical ballet. She spent
nine years at Spain's National Conservatory, as well as three years of ballet training and four years of theatre at the school of noted acting coach, Cristina Rota. As a teenager, Cruz became interested in acting, and at age 15, she won a modeling agency competition, which led to roles in music videos and Spanish television.
Her 1992 role in “Jamón, Jamón” brought her international attention. She followed up with a part in “Belle Epoque,” which won the Academy Award for best foreign film propelled her onto Hollywood’s radar. She crossed the Atlantic for several film roles over the next few years, landing her first English-speaking part in “Talk of Angels” in 1998.
Cruz has continued to make English and Spanish movies, filming lately in Madrid. She teamed up last year for her seventh project with Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, who has called Cruz his muse. “Madres Paralelas” (“Parallel Mothers”) has already garnered her an Oscar nomination and the best actress award at the Venice Film Festival.
Cruz is also a passionate philanthropist and has volunteered in Uganda, Nepal, and India, where she spent a week with Mother Teresa helping in a leprosy clinic and establishing a foundation to support homeless girls. She fights for AIDS awareness and has also done work with children and men who are former gang members.