Penelope Cruz

It is possible that many have not yet heard of this Spanish beauty since it has not appeared in any blockbuster films and has not broken into the mainstream film industry ... that is, until now. Although Penelope Cruz has appeared in numerous films, if you do not like subtitles, chances are that you have not seen one of them. 

One thing is certain: the subtitles are not necessary to translate its splendor. With his film, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, co-starring Nicolas Cage, you're sure to see what we mean. 

Penélope Cruz Sanchez was born in Madrid, Spain on 28 April 1974. Raised in Madrid with his brother and sister Monica Eduardo, Penelope has always been lovers of art, especially ballet and jazz. His passion for dance led to her decision not to graduate high school and instead focus his time and energy on the dance gracefully. 

Pe, as it is nicknamed, may not have graduated from high school, but 4 years of training Cristina Rota Theater School in New York. After studying theater, and with 10 years of ballet training and 3 years of Spanish ballet, Penelope was ready to take responsibility for implementing the camera. 

His chance came at age 17, when she was cast in Jamon, Jamon (Ham, Ham in English) and the Belle Epoque. Set in pre-Franco Spain, Penelope represented one of four daughters of a wealthy man. Thank you to the Belle Epoque of the enormous success - it has received nine Goya Awards (Spanish Oscars) and the Oscar for best foreign film - Penelope star power is spreading throughout the world. 

After starring in several films such as La Celestina and Alegre ma non troppo, Penelope has a role in the film Abre Los Ojos. The film is the 1997 Sundance Film Festival and in the same year she appeared in Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar Carne tremula (Live Flesh). Although it does not appear on the screen for a long time, it made a lasting impression as a pregnant woman. 

And finally, North America has learned with the Spanish star after his role in the English film, The Hi-Lo Country in 1998. If the public did not take french Penelope in The Hi-Lo Country, they have another opportunity to catch a barmaid in the Spanish-British film, Twice Upon A Yesterday. 

In 1999, Penelope was cast in a new Almodóvar film, this time, the critically acclaimed Todo Sobre Mi Madre (All About My Mother). First time at Cannes, the film has generated rave reviews and took the Oscar for best foreign film. 

No stranger to awards ceremonies, Penelope charmed the audience at this year's Oscar Awards, and if they do not know who she was until then, they were sure to ask questions about its present. 

Very active in social causes, Penelope donated all his earnings from the Hi-Lo Country to Mother Teresa charity. 

Be sure to catch Penelope in the film, Women on High, All The Pretty Horses, co-starring Matt Damon (she became a vegetarian since the filming of this film), Captain Corelli's Mandolin, forthcoming in 2001. 

After being linked to the co-stars Matt Damon and Nicolas Cage, Penelope is now involved with his Vanilla Sky co-star, post-Tom Cruise Nicole Kidman.