Known outside her native country as the "Spanish enchantress,"
Penélope Cruz Sánchez was born in Madrid to
Eduardo (a retailer) and Encarna (a hairdresser). As a toddler
she was already a compulsive performer, re-enacting TV commercials
for her family's amusement, but she decided to focus her
energies on dance. After studying classical ballet for nine
years at Spain's National Conservatory, she continued her
training under a series of prominent dancers. At 15, however,
she heeded her true calling when she bested more than 300
other girls at a talent agency audition. The resulting contract
landed her several roles in Spanish TV shows and music videos,
which in turn paved the way for a career on the big screen.
Cruz made her movie debut in _ Laberinto griego, El (1991)_
(The Greek Labyrinth), then appeared briefly in the Timothy
Dalton thriller Framed (1992) (TV). Her third film was the
Oscar-winning Belle époque (1992), in which she played
one of four sisters vying for the love of a handsome army
deserter. The film also garnered several Goyas, the Spanish
equivalent of the Academy Awards.
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