Born in Spain in 1974, actress Penelope Cruz studied classical ballet at a young age and later moved to Hollywood, California, to pursue acting. She soon landed roles opposite the likes of Matt Damon and Tom Cruise. She won an Academy Award, becoming the first Spanish actress to do so, for her performance in the film "Vicky Christina Barcelona."

When she was 15 years old, Cruz found her true vocation after beating out 300 other girls at a talent agency competition. Following this early success, she landed several roles as a dancer for music videos, as well as a gig hosting Spanish TV's "La Quinta Marcha." Additionally, Cruz explored her more sensual side in the French erotic TV series "Serie Rose."

Penelope Cruz made her film debut in 1992, in the dark film "Jamón Jamón." Her performance earned her nominations for both the Spanish Actors Union Newcomer Award and the Goya Award (Spain's Academy Award) for best lead actress. A year later, Cruz played Luz in "The Age of Beauty." The film won an Oscar (best foreign language film), virtually swept the Goya Awards and earned Cruz the Spanish Actors Union Award for best supporting performance.

With an impressive apprenticeship to the craft, Cruz earned her place in Spanish cinema as a leading lady. Her resumé continued to grow over the following few years, clocking up three or four films each year. In 1997, Cruz took the role of Isabel Plaza Caballero in "Carne Tremula" and garnered further critical recognition for her performance in the film. Two years later, in 1999, Cruz landed a role in "Todo Sobre Mi Madre," which went on to win Oscar and a BAFTA (best foreign language film) awards. With a series of well-respected movies under her belt, by this time, Cruz was in demand on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

At the age of 25, Cruz made the bold decision to move to Hollywood, California. Fully in command and on top of her career, she took on the role of a control freak and successful chef in "Woman on Top.". That same year, she played the romantic lead in Billy Bob Thornton's Western "All the Pretty Horses." Both films garnered critical success.

Cruz's next film, "Abre Los Ojos," caught the attention of director Cameron Crowe and film icon Tom Cruise. Impressed by the script and the actress, the duo created an American remake of the film: "Vanilla Sky." Cruz went on to further prove she could hold her own among heavy-hitting actors in 2001, when she starred opposite Johnny Depp in the film "Blow." That same year, she appeared in Captain Corelli's "Mandolin"; her performance earned her a European Film Award nomination for best actress.

Returning to Spanish-language filmes, Cruz appeared in "Bandidas" with friend and co-star Salma Hayek. That same year, she starred in "Volver," and her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for best actress. A year later, Cruz won her first Academy Award (best actress in a supporting role) for the Woody Allen film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."

In 2009, she had a supporting role in the musical "Nine," starring Daniel Day-Lewis as a famous Italian director. Cruz received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress. Turning to comedy, Cruz had a role in 2010's "Sex in the City 2," starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon. In 2011, she reunited with Johnny Depp for "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides."

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