Penelope Cruz Sanchez

Penelope Cruz Sanchez is the daughter of Eduardo Cruz, a Madrid hairdresser, as well as Encarna Sanchez. She was a performer with a passion as a young girl and would reenact TV commercials to keep the family entertained. However, she decided to concentrate on dancing. After studying ballet for 9 years in Spain's National Conservatory, she continued her education under a number of famous dancers. At 15, however she realized her real destiny when she outclassed over 300 girls at a talent agency audition. The resulting contract landed her several roles in Spanish television shows and music videos. This in turn opened the door to an acting career on the big screen. Cruz made her movie debut in The Greek Labyrinth (1993). (The Greek Labyrinth). After that she appeared briefly in Framed (1992) by Timothy Dalton. The Oscar-winning Belle Epoque (1992) was her third film. In the film, she played one of the four sisters that were seeking the affection of a handsome Army deserter. This film won many Goyas, Spanish equivalent of Academy Awards. The actress continued to add more films to her list of credits, growing by three or four each year. Soon Cruz was the leading lady in Spanish cinema. Live Flesh (1997) (Live Flesh) offered her the chance to work with renowned Spanish director Pedro Almodovar (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 Open Your Eyes (1997), a huge hit in Spain that earned eight Goyas (though none for Cruz). In 1998, her luck changed when she received an award for the best Actress Goya for the movie-industry comedy La Nina De Tus Ojos (1998). Cruz has made several trips to English-language films, however All About My Mother (1999) was her first big international success. She played an unchaste, but well meaning nun. When the film was lavishly adorned with accolades and awards, Cruz became sought-after on both sides of the Atlantic. The American comedy Woman on Top (2001), which was her next big project, is about Chefs who have amazing culinary skills and extremely motion sickness. While she was in America,