Penélope Cruz Bio - Penélope Cruz Biography

Penélope Cruz: Biography

Known outside her native country as the "Spanish enchantress". She studied classical ballet for nine years at Spain's National Conservatory, however at the age of 15 she heeded for her true calling when she bested more than 300 other girls at a talent agency audition. This gave her the chance take roles in Spanish TV shows and music videos, which in turn paved the way for a successful career on the big screen. Cruz made her movie debut in Laberinto griego, El (1993). Today she has become a successful rich film-star and a worldwide know celebrity.

Penélope was named People en Espanol's Best-Dressed Woman of 2008. Her boyfriend, actor Javier Bardem, placed No.2 in the Best-Dressed Men of 2008 list.(edit)
Penélope has a the number 883 tattooed above her right ankle.(edit)
Penélope's favorite director is Baz Luhrmann.(edit)
Penelope aspired to be a dancer and spent nine years training in classical ballet at the Conservatorio Nacional and another three years with a private trainer before switching to acting.(edit)
Penélope has worked on three films with director Pedro Almodovar: All About My Mother, Live Flesh and Volver.(edit)
Penélope acted in various comercials for Spanish TV in her early years. In more recent years she has appeared in comercials for the Motorola Mobile phone comapany.(edit)
Penélope is afriad of mice and worms, and is against any type of hunting.(edit)
When she was a little girl. Penélope wanted to become a teacher.(edit)
Penélope shares her birthday with Jessica Alba & Jay Leno.(edit)
Penélope's appearances on various lists include:
Maxim
2008 - #82 position 'Hot 100 Women 2008'

FHM
2005 - #51 position '100 Sexiest Women in the World'

Stuff Magazine
2002 - #23 position '102 Sexiest Women in the World'

Australian Empire Magazine
2002 - #7 position 'Sexiest Female Movie Star'(edit)
Penélope had 4 years of dance performance with Cristina Rota and also had a Jazz Dance course with Raúl Caballero.(edit)
Penélope is nicknamed Madonna of Madrid Pen.(edit)
Penélope's height is 5' 5˝" (1.66 m).(edit)
Penélope was paid $2,000,000 for Vanilla Sky (2001.)(edit)
Penélope enjoys soccer, with her favorite team being Real Madrid.(edit)
Penélope's aunt was a flamenco dancer.(edit)
Penélope's food tastes:
Apples, toast and orange juice for breakfast;
food with spices in it;
allergic to strawberries,
salads without tomatoes.(edit)
Penélope loves dogs. (edit)
In 2003, Penélope sued an Australian women's magazine for substantial damages over an article regarding her relationship with Tom Cruise.(edit)
After spending a week volunteering at Mother Teresa's children's sanctuary in Calcutta, Penelope donated her entire Hi-Lo Country salary.(edit)
In 2002, Penélope was nominated for Breakthrough Female Performance at the MTV Movie Awards for her role in Blow. (edit)
Penélope has stated she enjoys the following things:
- jogging;
- watching sunsets;
- doing card tricks;
- swimming;
- collecting ancient plates;
- watching soap operas;
- collecting ancient plates;
- going to the gym;
- watching American comedy shows(edit)
Penelope speaks four languages: Spanish, Italian, French and English.(edit)
Penélope is good friends with Salma Hayek and Goya Toledo. (edit)

Penélope: I have a little bit of an addiction to work. So I'm always hiding in the bathroom with my BlackBerry to work when I'm on holiday.(edit)
Penélope: (defending herself after her and Salma Hayek posed together for a provocative shot showing Pené grabbing Salma's bum) You know what they've been saying because of that picture? We are like sisters and we have some sense of humour ... We did that in front of 100 photographers and the story now is that apparently we are lovers. I'm sorry to say, that is not the case!(edit)
Penelope: If one day I have a family, maybe I would want to raise my family in Europe but I am not thinking about that now. I want to keep working as much as I do now. Now I am working a lot, it is very intense. So in the future I will work but maybe have more time for other things, three quarters or half of what I do now.(edit)
Penelope: I want to be remembered as somebody that tried to respect her integrity as an artist and as a person. And I don't want to be in any box. I don't want to be one thing.(edit)
Penelope: (her own mother provided inspiration for her role as Raimunda in Volver) My mum came to mind many times when I was preparing the character, her strength. She worked six days a week and still did everything for us, like lunch, dinner and of course the clothing. She was like a superwoman.(edit)
Penelope: (on her role in Volver) I can play a real woman finally. It was like a dream come true. It is a very difficult character, very demanding and that is what I like. I want things that are different from myself so I can act. The six months that I spent working on this movie I felt like everything stopped, I was just doing this. It was so intense, I felt so alive. It is not like I don't feel like that now, it is just that the creative process was like a good drug.(edit)
Penelope: There's so much more I want to do. I refuse to get to 50 and wait at home for the phone to ring. In Spain, actresses work until they are old. That's my plan.(edit)
Penelope: 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.(edit)