Penélope Cruz

Known outside her native country as the "Spanish enchantress", 'Penélope Cruz' (qv) Sánchez was born in Madrid to 'Eduardo Cruz' (qv), a retailer, and Encarna Sánchez, a hairdresser. As a toddler, she was already a compulsive performer, re-enacting TV commercials for her family's amusement, but she decided to focus her energies on dance. After studying classical ballet for nine years at Spain's National Conservatory, she continued her training under a series of prominent dancers. At 15, however, she heeded her true calling when she bested more than 300 other girls at a talent agency audition. The resulting contract landed her several roles in Spanish TV shows and music videos, which in turn paved the way for a career on the big screen. Cruz made her movie debut in _The Greek Labyrinth (1993)_ (qv) (The Greek Labyrinth), then appeared briefly in the 'Timothy Dalton' (qv) thriller _Framed (1992)_ (qv). Her third film was the Oscar-winning _Belle Epoque (1992)_ (qv), in which she played one of four sisters vying for the love of a handsome army deserter. The film also garnered several Goyas, the Spanish equivalent of the Academy 'Awards' (qv). Her resume continued to grow by three or four films each year, and soon Cruz was a leading lady of Spanish cinema. _Live Flesh (1997)_ (qv) (Live Flesh) offered her the chance to work with renowned Spanish director 'Pedro Almodóvar' (qv) (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)_ (qv), a huge hit in Spain that earned eight Goyas (though none for Cruz). Her luck finally changed in 1998, when the movie-industry comedy _The Girl of Your Dreams (1998)_ (qv) won her a Best Actress Goya. Cruz made a few more forays into English-language film, but her first big international hit was Almodóvar's _All About My Mother (1999)_ (qv), in which she played an unchaste but well-meaning nun. As the film was showered with awards and accolades, Cruz suddenly found herself in demand on both sides of the Atlantic. Her next big project was _Woman on Top (2000)_ (qv), an American comedy about a chef with bewitching culinary skills and a severe case of motion sickness. While in the US, she also signed up to star opposite 'Johnny Depp' (qv) in the drug-trafficking drama _Blow (2001)_ (qv) and opposite 'Matt Damon' (qv) in 'Billy Bob Thornton' (qv)'s _All the Pretty Horses (2000)_ (qv). Cruz says she's wary of being typecast as a beautiful young damsel, but it's hard to imagine disguising her wide-eyed charms and generous nature. Fortunately, with 'Cameron Crowe' (qv)'s _Vanilla Sky (2001)_ (qv) (a remake of _Open Your Eyes (1997)_ (qv)) and a 'John Madden' (qv) collaboration looming in her future, Damsel Penelope isn't likely to disappear just yet.::IMDb Editors