Penelope Cruz Sanchez

Penelope Cruz Sanchez was the daughter of Eduardo Cruz (a retailer) and Encarna Sanchez (a hairdresser). She was an obsessive performer in her youth and even reenacted commercials on TV for family amusement. But she chose to focus her attention on dance. After nine years of classical ballet instruction in Spain's National Conservatory she was able to continue her studies under the tutelage by a range of well-known dancers. She realized her passion at age 15, when she beat more than 300 contestants in an audition for an agency for talent. The contract she received landed her roles in Spanish TV shows as well as music videos. This opened the possibility of a lucrative career on the big screen. Cruz made her debut in a film with The Greek Labyrinth (1993). (The Greek Labyrinth). Following that she appeared in a brief scene in Framed (1992) directed by Timothy Dalton. Her final film, Belle Epoque (1992) was an Oscar-winning movie in which she was one of the four sisters seeking to win the love of a handsome deserter army soldier. The film has won numerous Goyas, Spanish equivalent of Academy Awards. Cruz became a renowned Spanish actress with her three- to four films per year increasing resume. 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). Her luck changed dramatically in 1998 when her film industry comedy La Nina De Tus Ojos (1998) was awarded the award for award for the Best Actress Goya. Cruz has made several trips to English-language films, however All About My Mother (1999) was her first big international hit. She played an unchaste, but well meaning nun. Cruz discovered herself in high demand across both sides of the Atlantic as her film received numerous awards and accolades. Her next major project was Woman on Top (2000) A comedy from the United States. American comedy about a chef who is enchanting in her cooking skills as well as a severe case motion sickness. While in America,