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Penelope Cruz Information

Penelope Cruz
Celebarazzi Rank: 143
Last Updated: February 06, 2012
Biography, Filmogrpahy, Trivia
All Pictures: 4271  (2,155.46 MB)
Nude/See Thru Pictures: 281  (52.28 MB)
Movies: 252  (3,694.89 MB)
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Rating: 6.46 (vote)
Penelope Cruz Featured Articles

Penelope Cruz Biography, Filmography, Trivia

Personal Information

Real Name : Cruz Sánchez, Penélope
Nick Name : Pen
Birth : 28 April 1974, Madrid, Spain
Height : 5' 5 1/2"

Penelope Cruz Biography

 Known outside her native country as the "Spanish enchantress", Penélope Cruz Sánchez was born in Madrid to Eduardo (a retailer) and Encarna (a hairdresser). As a toddler, she was already a compulsive performer, re-enacting TV commercials for her family's amusement, but she decided to focus her energies on dance. After studying classical ballet for nine years at Spain's National Conservatory, she continued her training under a series of prominent dancers. At 15, however, she heeded her true calling when she bested more than 300 other girls at a talent agency audition. The resulting contract landed her several roles in Spanish TV shows and music videos, which in turn paved the way for a career on the big screen. Cruz made her movie debut in _Laberinto griego, El (1993)_ (qv) (The Greek Labyrinth), then appeared briefly in the 'Timothy Dalton' (qv) thriller _Framed (1992) (TV)_ (qv). Her third film was the Oscar-winning _Belle epoque (1992)_ (qv), in which she played one of four sisters vying for the love of a handsome army deserter. The film also garnered several Goyas, the Spanish equivalent of the Academy Awards. Her resume continued to grow by three or four films each year, and soon Cruz was a leading lady of Spanish cinema. _Carne trémula (1997)_ (qv) (Live Flesh) offered her the chance to work with renowned Spanish director 'Pedro Almodóvar' (qv) (who would later be her ticket to international fame), and the same year she was the lead actress in the thriller/drama/mystery/sci-fi film _Abre los ojos (1997)_ (qv), a huge hit in Spain that earned eight Goyas (though none for Cruz). Her luck finally changed in 1998, when the movie-industry comedy _Nińa de tus ojos, La (1998)_ (qv) won her a Best Actress Goya. Cruz made a few more forays into English-language film, but her first big international hit was Almodóvar's _Todo sobre mi madre (1999)_ (qv) (All About My Mother), in which she played an unchaste but well-meaning nun. As the film was showered with awards and accolades, Cruz suddenly found herself in demand on both sides of the Atlantic. Her next big project was _Woman on Top (2000)_ (qv), an American comedy about a chef with bewitching culinary skills and a severe case of motion sickness. While in the US, she also signed up to star opposite 'Johnny Depp' (qv) in the drug-trafficking drama _Blow (2001)_ (qv) and opposite 'Matt Damon' (qv) (her rumored paramour) in 'Billy Bob Thornton' (qv)'s _All the Pretty Horses (2000)_ (qv). Cruz says she's wary of being typecast as a beautiful young damsel, but it's hard to imagine disguising her wide-eyed charms and generous nature (she once donated an entire paycheck to Mother Teresa's children's sanctuary). Fortunately, with 'Cameron Crowe' (qv)'s _Vanilla Sky (2001)_ (qv) (a remake of _Abre los ojos (1997)_ (qv)) and a 'John Madden (I)' (qv) collaboration looming in her future, Damsel Penelope isn't likely to disappear just yet.
Biography written by: IMDb Editors

Penelope Cruz Guest Apperances
  • _"View, The" (1997)_ (qv), as Herself (11/10/2004)
  • _"Mirada crítica, La" (1997)_ (qv), as Herself (9/17/2004)
  • _"Lo más plus" (1995)_ (qv), as Herself (9/14/2004)
  • _"Celebrities Uncensored" (2003)_ (qv), as Herself (archive footage) (episode 2.5 (3/10/2004)_)
  • _"Punk'd" (2003)_ (qv), as Herself (episode 2.5 (11/23/2003)_)
  • _"Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The" (1992)_ (qv), as Herself (11/12/2003)
  • _"On ne peut pas plaire à tout le monde" (2000)_ (qv), as Herself (5/16/2003)
  • _"Love Chain" (2003)_ (qv), as Herself (archive footage) (episode 1.4 _Tom Cruise (2003)_)
  • _"Rosie O'Donnell Show, The" (1996)_ (qv), as Herself (12/10/2001)
  • _"Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The" (1992)_ (qv), as Herself (12/7/2001)
  • _"Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The" (1992)_ (qv), as Herself (8/13/2001)
  • _"Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The" (1992)_ (qv), as Herself (3/28/2001)
  • _"Lo más plus" (1995)_ (qv), as Herself (11/11/1998)
  • _"Lo más plus" (1995)_ (qv), as Herself (1/10/1997)
  • _"Lo más plus" (1995)_ (qv), as Herself (12/14/1995)
  • _"De tú a tú" (1990)_ (qv), as Herself (12/3/1992)
  • _"Série rose" (1986)_ (qv), as Daphné/Javotte/Juliette (episode _Elle et lui (1990)_)

Penelope Cruz Salary
  • _Vanilla Sky (2001)_ (qv) -> $2,000,000

Penelope Cruz Interviews
  • "Hello!" (UK), 30 April 2002, Iss. 711, pg. 66-72, by: Ja Olivar, "As She Makes a Glamorous Return to the Spotlight Penelope Cruz Sets the Record Straight on Her Relationship With Tom Cruise And Expalins Why She's Been Keeping a Low Profile "
  • "DreamWatch" (UK), February 2002, Iss. 89, pg. 31, by: J. Rentilly, "Mystery Cruz"
  • "Cosmopolitan" (Hungary), October 2001, pg. 122-125, by: Lolita Petitfleur, "A szemérmes szenyorita"
  • "Gente" (Italy), 27 September 2001, Iss. 39, pg. 100-103, by: Renzo Magosso, "Sono Penelope, in arte Rovino le famiglie"
  • "Red" (UK), June 2001
  • "Beau Monde" (Hungary), December 2000, Vol. 1, Iss. 3, pg. 21-23, by: Anikó Návai, "Szállodaszobákban él, bõröndökbõl öltözködik"
  • "Viasat magazine" (Sweden), August 2000, Iss. 8, pg. 10-14, "CRUZ"
  • "Vogue" (Spain), November 1998, pg. 148-151, by: David Trueba, "La niña de nuestros ojos"

Penelope Cruz Articles
  • "The Los Angeles Times" (USA), 14 November 2004, by: Lisa Rosen, "A Brutal Beauty"
  • "Télépro" (Belgium), 6 May 2004, Iss. 2618, pg. 11, "A la reconquête de Tom?"
  • "Quién" (Mexico), 16 April 2004, Vol. 4, Iss. 6, pg. 58-63, by: Juan Luis Rodriguez Pons, "Cruise deja a su Cruz"
  • "Heart" (Greece), 18 May 2003, Iss. 25, pg. 9, by: Kostas Zaligas, "I moussa tou Almodovar"
  • "Vimagazino" (Greece), 10 March 2002, Iss. 74, pg. 51, by: Katerina Liberopoulou, "To amartolo parelthon tis stin megali othoni"
  • "Heat" (UK), 2 February 2002, pg. 20-21, "Tom wows fans.... while Pen watches"
  • "Hello!" (UK), 29 January 2002, Iss. 698, pg. 56-62, "As Her Romance With Tom Cruise Goes From Strength To Strength Hollywood's Fastest-Rising Star Tells Why She's Putting Her Movie Career On Hold"
  • "In Style" (USA), January 2002, Vol. 9, Iss. 1, pg. 126-131, by: Josh Rottenberg, "Lady of Spain"
  • "Beau Monde" (Hungary), December 2001, Vol. 2, Iss. 12, pg. 18-19, by: Judit Csiki, "Penélope Cruz, hírnév és szerelem"
  • "Hello@" (UK), 13 November 2001, Iss. 688, pg. 60-62, "Amid rumours of her impending marriage to Tom Cruise, Penelpe Cruz's family flies to their daughter's side in L.A."
  • "Vox" (Hungary), September 2001, Iss. 3, pg. 48-52, by: Richard Mowe
  • "Cinema" (Hungary), August 2001, Iss. 117, pg. 38-41, by: Pedro Almodóvar, "Hogy ti mekkorát nõttetek!"
  • "Current Biography" (USA), July 2001, Vol. 62, Iss. 7, pg. 17-20, by: Patrick Kelly, "Cruz, Penelope"
  • "Premiere" (USA), March 2001, Vol. 14, Iss. 7, pg. 70-76+118, by: Sean M. Smith, "Is Penelope Cruz Too Beautiful For Words?"
  • "US Weekly" (USA), 2 October 2000, Iss. 294, pg. 13, "Penelope Cruz' Breakup Blues"
  • "In Style" (USA), July 2000, Vol. 7, Iss. 7, pg. 168-173, by: Laura Winters, "Woman on Top"
  • "Vanity Fair" (UK), April 2000, Vol. 1, Iss. 476, pg. 30, by: Marc Goodman

Penelope Cruz Pictorials
  • "Celebrity Skin" (USA), September 2004, Vol. 28, Iss. 132, pg. 7, by: staff, "Top 100 Sexiest Stars: #97 Penelope Cruz"
  • "Playboy" (USA), May 2004, Vol. 51, Iss. 5, pg. 161, by: Ferdaus Shamim, "Grapevine: Pop Cruz"
  • "Celebrity Skin" (USA), November 2003, Vol. 27, Iss. 122, pg. 26-27, by: staff, "Top Requests: Penelope Cruz"
  • "Stuff" (USA), September 2003, Iss. 46, pg. 106, by: staff, "Latin American Beauty: Penelope Cruz"
  • "Playboy" (USA), November 2002, Vol. 49, Iss. 11, pg. 81, by: Jamie Malanowski, "Sex In Cinema 2002"
  • "Celebrity Sleuth" (USA), 2002, Vol. 15, Iss. 3, pg. 64-67, by: staff, "The 25 Sexiest Women of 2002 - # 8"
  • "Playboy" (USA), November 2001, Vol. 48, Iss. 11, pg. 83, by: Jamie Malanowski, "Sex In Cinema 2001"
  • "Red" (UK), June 2001
  • "Premiere" (Czech Republic), March 2001, Vol. 2, Iss. 3, pg. 9
  • "Playboy" (USA), January 2001, Vol. 48, Iss. 1, pg. 90, by: staff, "Penelope Cruz"
  • "Cosmopolitan" (Hungary), November 2000, pg. 24
  • "Vox" (Hungary), September 2000, Vol. 4, Iss. 9 (41), pg. 74, "A tüzes"
  • "Entertainment Weekly" (USA), 30 June 2000, Vol. 1, Iss. 547, pg. 44-45, by: Brigitte Lacombe, "It Lady Of Spain"
  • "Celebrity Skin" (USA), December 1999, Vol. 21, Iss. 82, pg. 37, by: staff, "Film Buffs: Eyes Wide Open"
  • "Esquire" (USA), August 1999, Vol. 132, Iss. 2, pg. 77, "The New Women We Love"
  • "Movieline" (USA), July 1999, Vol. X, Iss. 10, pg. 60, by: Charles Oakley, "Revenge Of The Starlets"
  • "Esquire" (USA), February 1994, Vol. 121, Iss. 2, pg. 21, "Getting Down on the Farm"
  • "Playboy" (USA), November 1993, Vol. 40, Iss. 11, pg. 136, by: Bruce Williamson, "Sex In Cinema 1993"

Penelope Cruz Cover Photos
  • "Gong" (Germany), August 2004, Iss. 33
  • "Premiere" (Germany), February 2003
  • "TV Movie" (Germany), 3 Mai 2003, Iss. 10
  • "Hello" (UK), 30 April 2002, Iss. 711
  • "Vogue" (UK), February 2002
  • "Hello!" (UK), 29 January 2002, Iss. 698
  • "TV Hören und Sehen" (Germany), January 2002, Iss. 03
  • "In Style" (USA), January 2002, Vol. 9, Iss. 1
  • "Amica" (Italy), 5 December 2001
  • "TV Hören und Sehen" (Germany), November 2001, Iss. 44
  • "Cosmopolitan" (Hungary), October 2001
  • "Vanity Fair" (USA), September 2001
  • "Vanity Fair" (UK), September 2001
  • "Entertainment Weekly" (USA), 24 August 2001, Iss. 610/611
  • "Entertainment Weekly" (USA), 24 August 2001, Vol. 1, Iss. 610
  • "Hör Zu" (Germany), 7 July 2001
  • "Current Biography" (USA), July 2001, Vol. 62, Iss. 7
  • "Vogue" (Spain), May 2001
  • "Total Film" (UK), May 2001, Iss. 52
  • "Esquire" (UK), May 2001
  • "Vanity Fair" (USA), April 2001
  • "American Cinematographer" (USA), April 2001
  • "¡Hola!" (Spain), 15 March 2001, Iss. 2953
  • "Home Theater Interiors" (USA), March 2001, Vol. 3, Iss. 2
  • "GQ" (Spain), March 2001
  • "Premiere" (USA), March 2001
  • "Vogue" (USA), March 2001
  • "Io Donna" (Italy), February 2001
  • "TV Hören und Sehen", Germany, June 2001, Iss. 26
  • "Beau Monde" (Hungary), December 2000, Vol. 1, Iss. 3
  • "Interview" (USA), December 2000
  • "Harper's Bazaar" (USA), December 2000
  • "Sunday Times, The (UK)", 27 August 2000
  • "Elle" (USA), July 2000
  • "Detour" (USA), Summer 2000
  • "Vanity Fair" (USA), April 2000
  • "Vanity Fair" (UK), April 2000, Vol. 1, Iss. 476
  • "Vogue" (Spain), February 2000
  • "GQ" (USA), February 2000
  • "Marie Claire" (Italy), January 2000, Vol. 17, Iss. 1
  • "Gear" (USA), September 1999
  • "Evening Standard Hot Tickets" (UK), 19 August 1999
  • "Vogue" (Spain), November 1998

Penelope Cruz Other Works
  • Presenter of TV programs aimed to young people in Spanish channel Tele 5
  • TV commercial for Ralph Lauren Glamourous (2001 & 2002)
  • TV commercials in Japan for Lux Super Rich (2002)
  • TV Commercial for Coca Cola (2003)
  • TV commercial for Pepsi Cola (2003)

Penelope Cruz Personal Quotes
  • "The most difficult thing in the world is to start a career known only for your looks, and then to try to become a serious actress. No one will take you seriously once you are known as the pretty woman."

Penelope Cruz Trivia
  • After filming _All the Pretty Horses (2000)_ (qv), she became a vegetarian.
  • She donated her entire _Hi-Lo Country, The (1998)_ (qv) salary to the 'Mother Teresa' (qv)'s children's sanctuary in Calcutta after spending a week there volunteering.
  • Daughter of Eduardo (merchant) and Encarna (hairdresser).
  • Brother, Eduardo.
  • Academic curriculum: Finished 2º B.U.P. (2nd. year of secondary school). Had 4 years of dance performance with Cristina Rota, several dance courses at New York, 9 years of classic ballet at the Conservatorio Nacional and 3 years of Spanish ballet with Ángela Garrido. Also had Jazz Dance course with Raúl Caballero.
  • Volunteered in Uganda for 2 months in 1997 with then boyfriend Faiz Ahmad.
  • She founded a non-government organisation (NGO) called Sabera Foundation. Together with 'Nacho Cano' (qv) and other Spanish entertainers, they have set up a home, a school and a clinic for homeless girls and people suffering from tuberculosis in Calcutta. Two documentary programs were made for Spanish TV on this project. Unfortunately differences of opinion caused a collapse in the project and Sabera Foundation tragically no longer exists.
  • (2001-January 2004) Dated 'Tom Cruise' (qv).
  • She was named after the song "Penélope" by 'Joan Manuel Serrat' (qv).
  • Her sister 'Monica Cruz' (qv) is now a TV star in Spain. She starred in _"Paso adelante, Un" (2002)_ (qv) as a young dancer with a famous aunt.
  • Voted the 7th Sexiest Female Movie Star in the Australian Empire Magazine September 2002.
  • Lived with Spanish musician 'Nacho Cano' (qv).
  • Best friends with actress 'Goya Toledo' (qv) and 'Salma Hayek' (qv).
  • Ranked #23 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World" (2002).
  • Likes to keep stray cats.
Source: IMDB.com // Buy Penelope Cruz Movies
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