Penélope Cruz
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1974-04-28
    • Born Place: Madrid, Spain
  • Also Known As:

    Penélope Cruz Sánchez

Penélope Cruz

Penélope Cruz is a world-renowned Spanish actress and producer who has achieved the rare distinction of becoming a major star in both European and Hollywood cinema. Born on April 28, 1974, in Alcobendas, Spain, she spent nine years studying classical ballet before transitioning to acting in her teens. Her breakout roles in the early 1990s films Jamón, jamón and the Oscar-winning Belle Époque established her as a formidable talent, but it was her long-standing collaboration with director Pedro Almodóvar that truly defined her career. Through masterpieces like All About My Mother, Volver, and Parallel Mothers, she became a global icon, eventually becoming the first Spanish actress to win an Academy Award for her fiery, scene-stealing performance in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Over her four-decade career, she has garnered four Oscar nominations and won numerous accolades, including a BAFTA, a Goya Award, and the Best Actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival. As of 2026, Cruz remains at the forefront of prestige cinema with several high-profile projects. She stars as Myrna in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s highly anticipated gothic reimagining The Bride!, a role that places her within an elite ensemble featuring Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley. Additionally, she recently premiered the dinner-party comedy The Invite at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, starring alongside Seth Rogen and Edward Norton under the direction of Olivia Wilde. Her recent work also includes a critically acclaimed turn in Michael Mann’s Ferrari and the Spanish drama On the Fringe, which she also produced.

Person History