April 28 is a date marked on Penélope Cruz’s calendar. The most international actress in Spanish cinema turns 50. Professionally, there is little left for her to achieve – if there is anything left – since she has the recognition of the entire industry.
A performer who has been nominated four times for the Oscars, winning the statuette on one occasion for her brilliant performance in Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008); recognized in the most prestigious festivals, also awarded with the biggest awards in the industry.
Penelope Cruz, at the last Goya ceremony.
ANA BELTRAN / Reuters
Some would say that little remains of that teenager who became the protagonist of a music video in which she did not utter a single word, but precisely all of her remains, almost four decades later. She is still at the top, thanks to her efforts, and she has achieved everything without having to live in Hollywood.
‘The Force of Destiny’, by Mecano
Almost 43 years ago one of the bands that would mark an era was created: Mecano. With it, some of the songs in Spanish that would last for all eternity; between them, The force of Destinywhich also marked the end and the beginning of Nacho Cano’s love life.
The end, because he wrote about his ex-girlfriend, the writer Coloma Fernández Armero; and the beginning, because there enters the scene what would be a new couple years later, Penélope Cruz. The then teenager made her first foray in front of the camera in this music video at the request of Coloma Fernández herself because of her resemblance to herself. The actress was only 14 years old, but the screenwriter did not miss the chemistry between her and Cano.
A chemistry that crossed the camera, who fell in love with Penélope Cruz at first sight. The opportunities since then did not stop and, after a small role in the television series urban chronicles (1991), his first big role in the cinema would come from the hand of Bigas Luna with Ham Ham (1992).
Some young Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem in ‘Jamón jamón’, directed by Bigas Luna in 1992
A film that would mark his destiny. Not only because there she would meet the man who would become her husband several decades after her, Javier Bardem; but because the film continues to be one of the most transgressive and surprising films in the history of Spanish cinema.
First Oscar nomination with ‘Belle Époque’
Few can boast of receiving an avalanche of awards practically in their film debut. However, Penélope Cruz lived that magical experience with Fernando Trueba’s masterpiece: Belle Époque, in 1993. The film, in which Cruz starred when he was only 19 years old along with other great names in our cinema such as Maribel Verdú, Miriam Díaz-Aroca, Ariadna Gil or Jorge Sanz; It won nine Goya awards and the Oscar for Best International Film in 1994.
Penélope Cruz with Maribel Verdú, Miriam Díaz-Aroca, Ariadna Gil and Jorge Sanz in “Belle Époque”.
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These were the actress’s first in Hollywood, her second successful film. The night of the 1994 Oscars would be the first time she stepped on the red carpet, but not the last. After starring in several legendary films of Italian cinema such as Alegre ma non troppo (1994); The actress would return in style with adaptations such as The Celestine (1997) or Open your eyes (1997).
However, it would be idyll with Pedro Almodóvar the one who would give him the most joy in his career. The actress is the “Almodóvar girl” par excellence, and it is not surprising, since she, together with the director from La Mancha, has starred in her best works. Since her first movie, tremulous flesh (1997), They made it clear that they were a team with a unique harmony.
Together they demonstrated it in Everything about my mother (1999) and Return (2006), whose character of Raimunda established her as an internationally renowned actress and earned her her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress; Broken Embraces (2009), The passing lovers (2013) pain and glory (2019) or, finally, Parallel mothers (2021), with which the actress once again obtained recognition from the film industry and an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
In 2018 he received the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts and in 2022 he was awarded the National Cinematography Award.
Almost a hundred titles from a track record that has not stopped growing since he first dazzled the camera in 1989. His latest project, 313, the music video by the artist Residente, with actress Silvia Pérez Cruz. In 2025, two new films: Days of abandonment and Girlfriend.
Penélope Cruz turns 50, but we have a legend for a while.
