Penelope Cruz is the first and only Spanish actress to be nominated for and to win an Academy Award, as well as the first to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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89 Facts About Penélope Cruz
2.
Penelope Cruz achieved international recognition for her lead roles in the films All the Pretty Horses, Vanilla Sky, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, and Blow.
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3.
Penelope Cruz has since appeared in a variety of films from a wide range of genres, including the comedy Waking Up in Reno, the thriller Gothika, the Christmas film Noel, the romantic drama Elegy, the action-adventure films Sahara and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the crime drama The Counselor, and the mystery film Murder on the Orient Express.
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4.
Penelope Cruz received critical acclaim for her roles in Volver and Nine, earning Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for each.
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5.
Penelope Cruz won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2008 for her performance in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
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6.
In 2018, Penelope Cruz made her American television debut as Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace in the FX series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, for which she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.
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8.
Penelope Cruz has modeled for Mango, Ralph Lauren, and L'Oreal, and along with her younger sister Monica Cruz, designed clothing for Mango.
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9.
Penelope Cruz was born on 28 April 1974 in the town of Alcobendas, province of Madrid, Spain, to Encarna Sanchez, an Andalusian hairdresser and personal manager, and Eduardo Penelope Cruz, an Extremaduran retailer and car mechanic.
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10.
Penelope Cruz has two siblings, Monica, an actress, and Eduardo, a singer.
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11.
Penelope Cruz grew up in Alcobendas, and spent long hours at her grandmother's apartment.
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12.
Penelope Cruz took three years of Spanish ballet training and four years of theatre at Cristina Rota's school.
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13.
Penelope Cruz said that ballet instilled in her discipline that would be important in her future acting career.
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14.
Penelope Cruz did casting calls for an agent but was rejected multiple times because the agent felt that she was too young.
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16.
In 1989,15-year-old Penelope Cruz made her acting debut in a music video for the Spanish pop group Mecano's song "La Fuerza del Destino".
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17.
Penelope Cruz played in the "Elle et lui" episode of an erotic French TV series called Serie rose in 1991, where she appeared nude.
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18.
In 1991, Penelope Cruz made her feature film debut as the lead female role in the comedy drama art house film Jamon, jamon.
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19.
In 1997, Penelope Cruz appeared in the Spanish comedy film Love Can Seriously Damage Your Health.
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20.
Penelope Cruz portrays Diana, a fan of the Beatles band member John Lennon; she tries unsuccessfully to meet him.
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21.
Penelope Cruz plays Sofia, the love interest of Eduardo Noriega's lead character.
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22.
In 1998, Penelope Cruz appeared in her first American film as Billy Crudup's consolation-prize Mexican girlfriend in Stephen Frears' western film The Hi-Lo Country.
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23.
Penelope Cruz stated that she had difficulties understanding people speaking English while she was filming The Hi-Lo Country.
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24.
Also in 1998, Penelope Cruz appeared in Don Juan and the Spanish period drama The Girl of Your Dreams.
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25.
Penelope Cruz's performance in the film was praised by film critics, with Jonathan Holloland of Variety magazine writing "if confirmation is still needed that Penelope Cruz is an actress first and a pretty face second, then here it is".
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26.
In 1999, Penelope Cruz worked with Almodovar again in All About My Mother, playing Sister Maria Rosa Sanz, a pregnant nun with AIDS.
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27.
BBC News film critic Jane Crowther said that "Penelope Cruz is wonderfully ditzy as the innocent abroad" but remarked that "it's Harold Perrineau Jr as Monica who pockets the movie".
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28.
Penelope Cruz's performance was well received by critics, with BBC film critic Brandon Graydon saying that Cruz "is an enchanting screen presence", and Ethan Alter of the Film Journal International noting that Cruz and her co-star Cruise were "able to generate some actual chemistry".
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29.
Penelope Cruz had a supporting role as Mirtha Jung, the wife of Johnny Depp's character.
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30.
Jeff Vice of the Deseret News commented that "unfortunately, casting Cruz as a tough girl is a hilariously bad [idea]" and Michael Miller of the Village Voice writing that "as Satan's helper Carmen, Penelope Cruz doesn't hold a candle to her cocaine-huffing enabler in Blow".
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31.
Penelope Cruz played Pelagia, who falls in love with another man while her fiance is in battle during the Second World War.
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32.
The following year, Penelope Cruz had a supporting role in the horror film Gothika as Chloe Sava, a patient at a mental hospital.
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33.
David Rooney of Variety wrote that Penelope Cruz "adds a serviceably malevolent edge to Chloe's apparent madness".
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34.
In 2004, Penelope Cruz appeared in the Christmas film Noel as Nina, the girlfriend of Paul Walker's character and as Mia in the romantic drama Head in the Clouds, set in the 1930s.
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35.
Penelope Cruz, who learned Italian for the role, won the David di Donatello for her performance.
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36.
Penelope Cruz won the European Film Award for Best Actress for the film in 2004.
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37.
In 2005, Penelope Cruz appeared as Dr Eva Rojas in the action adventure Sahara.
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38.
Also in 2005, Penelope Cruz appeared in Chromophobia, screened at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival and released the following year.
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39.
Eric Harrison of the Houston Chronicle noted that Penelope Cruz "goes all out" with her appearance and Patrick Peters of Empire magazine commented that the film's director, who appears in the film, was able to draw a "sensitive performance" from Penelope Cruz.
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40.
Penelope Cruz appeared alongside her good friend Salma Hayek in the 2006 Western comedy film Bandidas.
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41.
Also in 2006, Penelope Cruz received favourable reviews for her performance as Raimunda, a working-class woman forced to go to great lengths to protect her 14-year-old daughter Paula, in Pedro Almodovar's Volver.
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42.
Penelope Cruz became the first and only Spanish actress ever nominated for an Academy Award.
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43.
In 2007, Penelope Cruz appeared in the lead female role in Manolete, a biopic of bullfighter Manuel Laureano Rodriguez Sanchez, playing Antonita "Lupe" Sino.
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44.
Penelope Cruz appeared in The Good Night, playing two characters, Anna and Melody.
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45.
In 2008, Penelope Cruz starred alongside Ben Kingsley in Isabel Coixet's film Elegy, which was based on the Philip Roth story The Dying Animal, as the lead female role, Consuela Castillo.
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46.
Penelope Cruz received a Goya Award and her first Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress.
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47.
Penelope Cruz became the only Spanish actress ever to be awarded an Academy Award and the sixth Hispanic person to ever receive the award.
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48.
Penelope Cruz received nominations from the Satellite Awards and European Film Awards for her performance in Broken Embraces.
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49.
Variety reported that Penelope Cruz originally auditioned for the role of the film within a film's star, Claudia, which eventually went to Nicole Kidman.
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50.
Penelope Cruz said that she trained for three months for the dance routine in the film.
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51.
Penelope Cruz appeared in her biggest Hollywood turn to date in Rob Marshall's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the fourth installment of the film series, opposite Johnny Depp.
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52.
Penelope Cruz was the only actress considered for the role, as she fit Marshall's description.
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53.
Penelope Cruz invited her for the role as they wrapped the production of Nine.
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54.
On 1 April 2011, prior to the film's release, Penelope Cruz received the 2,436th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of the El Capitan Theatre.
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56.
In 2012, Penelope Cruz appeared in the first ever Nintendo commercial to promote New Super Mario Bros.
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57.
Penelope Cruz spoke Italian again, this time in Woody Allen's romantic ensemble comedy film To Rome with Love, in which she portrayed a street-smart prostitute who agrees to pretend to be the wife of a newlywed.
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58.
An adaptation of Castellitto's wife Margaret Mazzantini's same-titled bestseller, Penelope Cruz portrayed the transitional character at different phases in her life, ranging from her early twenties to her late forties.
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59.
In 2013, Penelope Cruz appeared in Ridley Scott's The Counselor, featuring an ensemble cast consisting of Michael Fassbender, Cameron Diaz, Brad Pitt, and husband Javier Bardem.
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60.
Penelope Cruz plays his girlfriend, Laura, the only innocent character in the story.
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61.
In 2015, Penelope Cruz co-produced and starred in the Spanish drama film Ma Ma, directed by Julio Medem.
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62.
However, Penelope Cruz was praised for her "aces performance, " which earned her an eighth Goya nomination at the 30th awards ceremony.
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63.
Also in 2016, Penelope Cruz reteamed with Fernando Trueba on his Spanish-language period pic The Queen of Spain, a sequel to Trueba's 1998 drama The Girl of Your Dreams.
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64.
Penelope Cruz had a supporting role in Kenneth Branagh's Murder on the Orient Express, the fourth adaptation of Agatha Christie's 1934 novel of the same name.
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65.
Penelope Cruz plays missionary and passenger Pilar Estravados, a Hispanic version of the novel's Swedish Greta Ohlsson.
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66.
In 2018, Penelope Cruz made her television debut by co-starring in the role of Donatella Versace in the second season of the FX anthology series American Crime Story entitled The Assassination of Gianni Versace.
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67.
Penelope Cruz's performance was highly praised by critics and she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.
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68.
Penelope Cruz is set to appear and serve as producer in the thriller film On the Fringe, the directorial feature debut of Juan Diego Botto.
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69.
Penelope Cruz is attached to star alongside Adam Driver and Shailene Woodley in the biopic Ferrari, directed by Michael Mann.
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70.
In 2006, Penelope Cruz became a spokesmodel for French cosmetics company L'Oreal to promote products such as the L'Oreal Paris hair dye Natural Match and L'Oreal mascara products.
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71.
Penelope Cruz receives $2 million a year for her work for the company.
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72.
Penelope Cruz has appeared in print ads for Mango and had a contract with Ralph Lauren in 2001.
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73.
In 2010, Penelope Cruz was a guest editor for the French Vogue magazine, focusing on larger-size models in a provocative photo shoot.
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74.
Under the category of the most sought after body shape, Penelope Cruz, known for her voluptuous figure, was voted as having the top body.
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75.
That trip inspired Penelope Cruz to help start a foundation to support homeless girls in India, where she sponsors two young women.
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76.
Penelope Cruz donated her salary from her first Hollywood film, The Hi-Lo Country, to Mother Teresa's mission.
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77.
Penelope Cruz photographed residents at the Pacific Lodge Boys' Home, most of whom are former gang members and recovering substance abusers.
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78.
Penelope Cruz began dating Bardem in 2007 and they married in early July 2010 in a private ceremony at a friend's home in the Bahamas.
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79.
Penelope Cruz became an advocate of breastfeeding in public following the birth of her children.
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80.
Penelope Cruz had a three-year relationship with Tom Cruise after they appeared together in Vanilla Sky.
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81.
In June 2003, Penelope Cruz settled a defamation lawsuit against Australian magazine New Idea over an article it published about her relationship with Cruise; the publication had to apologize, pay her legal costs, and donate AU$5,000 to her nominated charity.
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82.
Penelope Cruz owns a clothing store in Madrid, and designed jewelry and handbags with her younger sister for a company in Japan.
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83.
In 2009, Penelope Cruz signed a petition that called for the release of filmmaker Roman Polanski during his arrest in Switzerland for his 1977 charge for drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl.
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84.
Penelope Cruz's agent is Hylda Queally, shared with Cate Blanchett and Kate Winslet.
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85.
Penelope Cruz starred in a variety films often crossing genres in both independent films and Hollywood movies such as Ted Demme's Blow, Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky, Isabel Coixet's romantic drama Elegy, Rob Marshall's musical Nine, and the adventure film Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Kenneth Branagh's mystery Murder on the Orient Express, Asghar Farhadi's drama Everybody Knows.
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86.
Penelope Cruz won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
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87.
Penelope Cruz worked with Allen again in To Rome with Love Penelope Cruz is the first and only Spanish actress to both win and be nominated for an Academy Award.
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88.
Penelope Cruz has been recognised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the following performances:.
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89.
Penelope Cruz has received two British Academy Film Award nominations, four Golden Globe Award nominations, a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, five Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, and fourteen Goya Award nominations.
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