Occupation: Actress, model
Real Name: Penélope Cruz Sanchez
Date of Birth:  April 28, 1974
Place of Birth: Madrid, Spain
Sign: Taurus
Height: 5' 6"
Relations: Father: Eduardo (auto mechanic); mother: Encarna (hairdresser, manager); sister: Mónica (flamenco dancer); brother: Eduardo (soccer player); companion: Tom Cruise (actor)
Education: National Conservatory, Madrid, Spain; majored in classical ballet; Cristina Rota's School in New York (4 years of theater)

Sexy ingenue who burst into the American art houses with her performance in Bigas Lunas' "Jamon Jamon" (1992). Cruz fit the bill in a role that demanded an innocent sultriness, a flair for drollery and nudity. A lead in at least five films over a three-year period, Cruz's best known film role to date is the vestal virgin Luz in Ferdinand Trueba's Academy Award-winning comedy, "Belle Epoque" (1992). She also earned notice as the lead in Pedro Almodovar's "The Girl of Your Dreams" and shifted to English-language roles in "Talk of Angels" and "The Hi-Lo Country" (all 1998). In 2001 she starred in "Vanilla Sky" where she met Tom Cruise.

Trivia:

She donated her entire "Hi-Lo Country" salary to the Mother Teresa's children's sanctuary in Calcutta after spending a week there volunteering.

Academic curriculum: Finished 2º B.U.P. (2nd. year of secondary school). Had 4 years of dance performance with Cristina Rota, several dance courses at New York, 9 years of classic ballet at the Conservatorio Nacional and 3 years of Spanish ballet with Ángela Garrido. Also had Jazz Dance course with Raúl Caballero.

Volunteered in Uganda for 2 months in 1997 with then boyfriend Faiz Ahmad.

Cruz supports a non-government organisation (NGO) called Sabera Foundation. Together with Nacho Cano and other Spanish entertainers, they have set up a home, a school and a clinic for homeless girls and people suffering from tuberculosis in Calcutta. Two documentary programs have already been made for Spanish TV on this project and one is being prepared in English for the US market.

She was named after the song "Penélope" by Joan Manuel Serrat.

Was hyperactive as a child. Says that people had to be very patient with her.

Her sister Monica is now a TV star in Spain. She starred "Un paso Adelante" as a young dancer with a famous aunt.

Is to become a president of an American branch of a charity that helps women and children in India, The Sabera Foundation.

She will serve as president of a U.S. branch of the Sabera Foundation, which provides education, health care and employment programs to women in Calcutta, India. She has been working since 1999 with the organization, which was founded that year by Spanish musician Nacho Cano and was named for a young girl and her mother, whom Cano featured in a documentary about poverty-stricken people in India.

Actress Sadie Frost has been warned that sultry star Penelope Cruz carries a Cruz curse that could destroy her marriage to Jude Law.

After filming HORSES, she became a vegetarian.

Journalists were left fuming after they were told they could only interview Penélope Cruz if they spoke to minor stars from another flick first.

Known outside her native country as the Spanish enchantress, Penélope Cruz Sánchez was born in Madrid to Eduardo (a retailer) and Encarna (a hairdresser).

Penélope Cruz has discovered what it's like to be dating one of the most lusted after men in Hollywood.

Penélope Cruz is being comforted by her mother after being dumped by Tom Cruise.

Penélope Cruz is taking a break from acting - fueling reports she will shortly marry Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise.

She donated her entire Hi-Lo Country salary to the Mother Teresa's children's sanctuary in Calcutta after spending a week there volunteering.

Tom Cruise and Penélope Cruz are still together according to the Spanish stunner.

Penelope Cruz the star of ABRE LOS OJOS (1997), also stars in VANILLA SKY (2001), Cameron Crowe's remake of ABRE LOS OJOS.

Female lesbian at the VIPER ROOM.

She was named after the song Penélope by Joan Manuel Serrat.