Penélope Cruz Sánchez, nicknamed simply Pe. Her parents, Eduardo (a retailer) and Encarna (a hairdresser), named her after a song by Joan Manuel Serrat, was born April 28, 1974) in Madrid, Spain. She is a Spanish actress, Cruz was a dancer as a child and young teen. Academic curriculum: Finished 2º B.U.P. (2nd. year of secondary school). At 15, however, she dropped school after she bested more than 300 other girls at a talent agency audition. Had 9 years of classic ballet at the Conservatorio Nacional (aka - National Conservatory of Madrid ) 4 years of dance performance with several dance courses in Cristina Rota School in New York, (Cristina Rota also has a school in Madrid), and 3 years of Spanish Ballet with Ángela Garrido . She also had Jazz Dance course with Raúl Caballero .
She first achieved fame when she appeared in the video clip La fuerza del destino for the Spanish synth-pop group Mecano.
She then started a relationship with Nacho Cano , a member of the group, which lasted for several years.
She was a TV presenter for the teen-oriented program La Quinta Marcha , in collaboration with Jesús Vázquez .
Cruz's first major films were Jamón, Jamón and the more widely known (in the US) La Belle Époque (film) , a film which won an Academy Award for Foreign Language Film.
She also appeared with Matt Damon in All The Pretty Horses .
In 1999 she appeared in Pedro Almodóvar's Todo sobre mi madre which won an Academy Award for Foreign Language Film.
In early 2001 she began a three-year relationship with Tom Cruise. The relationship started on the set of the film Vanilla Sky in which they appeared together. She is now regarded as one of the most beautiful women in the world.
Her younger sister Mónica Cruz resembles her a lot.
This similarity has been used in Spanish TV ads.
In the 2000s, Mónica has left her dancing career and achieved fame on her own in the youth-oriented TV series Un Paso Adelante .
Partial filmography
Herself - filmography
- In Search of Ted Demme (2005) (pre-production) .... Herself
- The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005) (TV) .... Herself - Co-presenter: Best Sound, Best Sound Editing
- The 47th Annual Grammy Awards (2005) (TV) .... Herself
- XIX premios Goya (2005) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter: Best Picture & Nominee: Best Lead Actress
- The 2004 European Film Awards (2004) (TV) .... Herself
- Women on Top: Hollywood and Power (2003) (TV) .... Herself
- XVII premios Goya (2003) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter: Best Film
- 'Masked & Anonymous' Exposed (2003) (V) .... Herself
- Hitting It Hard (2002) (V) .... Herself
- Prelude to a Dream (2002) (V) .... Herself
- Paul McCartney Back in the U.S. (2002) (TV) .... Herself (thanks)
- All About Desire: The Passionate Cinema of Pedro Almodovar (2001) (TV) (aka All About Desire) (UK: short title)
- America: A Tribute to Heroes (2001) (TV) .... Herself
- The 73rd Annual Academy Awards (2001) (TV) (uncredited) .... Herself - Presenter: Best Costume Design
- Italian Soldiers (2001) .... Herself (aka Spaghetti Requiem)) (USA)
- 2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (2000) (TV) .... Herself
- The 72nd Annual Academy Awards (2000) (TV) .... Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Foreign Language Film
accolades
ALMA Awards
- 2002 Nominated ALMA Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for: Vanilla Sky (2001)
- 1999 Nominated ALMA Award Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film for: The Hi-Lo Country (1998)
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
David di Donatello Awards
European Film Awards
- 2004 Won Audience Award Best Actress for: Non ti muovere (2004)
- 2004 Nominated European Film Award Best Actress for: Non ti muovere (2004)
- 2003 Nominated Audience Award Best Actress
for: Fanfan la tulipe (2003)
- 2001 Nominated Audience Award Best Actress for: Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001)
- 1999 Nominated European Film Award Best Actress for: Niña de tus ojos, La (1998)
Fotogramas de Plata
- 1999 Won Fotogramas de Plata Best Movie Actress (Mejor Actriz de Cine)
Goya Awards
- 2005 Nominated Goya Best Lead Actress (Mejor Actriz Principal) for: Non ti muovere (2004)
- 1999 Won Goya Best Lead Actress (Mejor Actriz Principal) for: Niña de tus ojos, La (1998)
- 1993 Nominated Goya Best Lead Actress (Mejor Actriz Principal) for: Jamón, jamón (1992)
Imagen Foundation Awards
- 2003 - Creative Achievement Award
MTV Movie Awards
- 2002 Nominated MTV Movie Award Breakthrough Female Performance for: Blow (2001)
Ondas Awards
- 1993 Won Film Award Best Acting (Mejor Interpretación) Tied with Javier Bardem (No award category given officially).
Peñíscola Comedy Film Festival
Razzie Awards
- 2002 Nominated Razzie Award Worst Actress for: Blow (2001)
- Also for Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001)
- and Vanilla Sky (2001).
Spanish Actors Union
- 1999 Won Award of the Spanish Actors Union Film : Lead Performance (Protagonista Cine) for: Niña de tus ojos, La (1998)
- 1998 Nominated Award of the Spanish Actors Union Film : Performance in a Minor Role (Reparto Cine) for: Carne trémula (1997)
- 1993 Won Award of the Spanish Actors Union Film : Supporting Performance (Secundario Cine) for: Belle epoque (1992)
- 1993 Nominated Newcomer Award for: Jamón, jamón (1992)
External links
