Trivia
Main
Biography
Trivia
Filmography
News
Photos
Videos
Snapshot
DOB
28 April 1974, Madrid, Spain
Height
5' 5 1/2"
Links
Penélope Cruz on MyHollywood.com
DVD's/CD's
Posters
On Itunes
Advertisement
Penélope Cruz
Trivia
  • After filming All the Pretty Horses (2000), she became a vegetarian.
  • It was rumored that she donated her entire Hi-Lo Country, The (1998) salary to the Mother Teresas children's sanctuary in Calcutta after spending a week there volunteering. This was later denounced by Cruz, according to a Reuters news article in 2001.
  • Daughter of Eduardo (merchant) and Encarna (hairdresser).
  • Brother, Eduardo.
  • Academic curriculum: Finished 2ş 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 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.
  • She was named after the song "Penélope" by Joan Manuel Serrat.
  • Her sister Mónica Cruz is now a TV star in Spain. She starred in "Paso adelante, Un" (2002) as a young dancer with a famous aunt.
  • Voted the 7th Sexiest Female Movie Star in the Australian Empire Magazine September 2002.
  • Lived with Nacho Cano, Spanish musician, part of the trio (famous in Spain) called "Mecano", a pop music group. Penelope appeared in one of the band's video-clips "la Fuerza del Destino" and that's where her romance with one of the two Cano brothers that form part of the group along with the singer Ana Torroja begun.
  • Best friends with actresses Goya Toledo and Salma Hayek.
  • Ranked #23 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World" (2002).
  • Likes to keep stray cats.
  • Learned Italian because she wanted her part in the movie Non ti muovere (2004) really badly. It paid off and she went on to win the Italian equivalent of the Oscars for Best Actress.
  • Speaks four languages: Spanish, Italian, French and English.
  • Was accompanied by Matthew McConaughey to the Grammy Awards in 2005. The couple met on the set of Sahara (2005).
  • Shares her birthday with Jessica Alba & Jay Leno
  • Spanish citizen.
  • Two of her boyfriends have been named "Sexiest Man Alive" by People Magazine: Tom Cruise (in 1990) and Matthew McConaughey (in 2005).
  • Sister of Mónica Cruz
  • Bigas Luna was determined to have her starring as the lead character in the torrid Edades de Lulú, Las (1990), but Penélope was only 14. They agreed that she was too young for the role and Francesca Neri was cast instead. Two years later, Luna's fixation with Cruz resulted in her breakthrough performance in Jamón, jamón (1992), her first film, famous for her somewhat erotic scenes. They eventually collaborated again in Volavérunt (1999).
  • Claims that Victoria Abrils powerful performance in Pedro Almodóvars ˇÁtame! (1990) ("Tie me up, tie me down!") determined her to become an actress.
  • Ranked as #51 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. (2005)
  • She claims her role in Bigas Lunas Jamón, jamón (1992) psychologically scarred her for life. She was a teenager when she was cast in the film which required her to do nudity and sex scenes.
  • Named #72 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement. (2006).
  • Good friends with ex-boyfriend Tom Cruise. She was one of the first people to visit his new-born baby daughter Suri.
  • One of People magazines 50 Most Beautiful People in the world 2005.
  • Sister of singer Eduardo Cruz and actress Mónica Cruz.
  • Second Spanish performer to be Oscar-nominated. The first one was Javier Bardem.
  • Is a fan of Indian cinema and has expressed interest in working with Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan someday.
  • Ranked #58 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list.
 
Advertisement
Related News
Stunning
Source: X17 Online | Date: Jan. 7, 2009
Simple, yet elegant. Sexy, yet classy. Penelope Cruz outshone all at the New York Film Critics...
Dakota Fanning is the New Black [Awards]
Source: Defamer | Date: Jan. 7, 2009
Among perennial nominees Tyler Perry, Will Smith and Queen Latifah, a flaxen-haired young star has...
HALL'S HALLWAY MEETING WITH ALLEN
Source: HollywoodUpClose | Date: Jan. 6, 2009
Actress REBECCA HALL was convinced she'd missed an opportunity to work with WOODY ALLEN - because...
2008 MOVIE QUIZ
Source: HollywoodUpClose | Date: Dec. 29, 2008
That was the year that was! A year of babies, blockbusters, Bond and Batman - but were you paying...
Featured Movie Stars