Ever since her explosive feature debut at the age of 18, Penélope Cruz’s screen presence has been nothing short of exhilarating. The Madrid native’s innate glamour certainly helps, but it’s also her ability to keep us guessing that enthrals audiences. She can go from fiery to startlingly vulnerable in seconds; dart effortlessly between Spanish, Italian, French and English-language projects; and craft characters with precision and nuance, a skill which has so far earned her an Oscar, a BAFTA and three Goya Awards.
Ahead of her next big role – as Laura, the wife of Adam Driver’s Enzo Ferrari in a Michael Mann-directed biopic – and her 48th birthday on 28 April, we revisit her nine most memorable performances to date.
Jamón Jamón (1992)
The actor burst onto the scene as a fresh-faced teen who falls for the heir to an underwear empire (Jordi Mollà) in Bigas Luna’s surreal romp. When his disapproving mother hires a ham delivery driver (Cruz’s future husband, Javier Bardem) to seduce her, hilarity ensues.
Belle Époque (1992)
On the eve of the Spanish Civil War, a deserter meets a painter and proceeds to romance each of his four daughters in Fernando Trueba’s surprisingly sweet satire. Cruz is enchanting as the youngest, a naïve country girl with whom he finally settles down.
The Girl of Your Dreams (1998)
Reuniting with Trueba for this sweeping period piece following a Spanish film crew in Nazi Germany, Cruz plays an Andalusian siren who catches the eye of Joseph Goebbels. She’s fierce yet fearful, charming critics and securing her first Goya Award in the process.