Listen to the Podcast:
Talking about Penélope Cruz means talking about one of the most important Spanish actresses of all time.
The woman from Madrid made her debut in the entertainment industry at a very young age (she was barely 16 years old when she was chosen to act in the television series La Quinta Marcha), and since then she has carved out an important path both in Spain and in Hollywood, being recognized with awards and nominations for her outstanding work.
Penelope Cruz has shown her versatility by playing a wide range of characters, from historical dramas to romantic comedies to psychological thrillers. Her ability to embody complex and emotional characters has been highlighted by critics and fans alike. In addition, her beauty and natural charisma have made her an iconic and admired figure in the film industry. Without further ado, here is a list of her best works:
1. All About My Mother – 1999
The story centres around Manuela, an Argentine nurse who works at the Ramón y Cajal Hospital in Madrid. Manuela is in charge of overseeing donor organ transplants.
She is also the single mother of Esteban, a teenager who aspires to become a writer.
2. Official Competition – 2021
In search of transcendence and social prestige, a billionaire businessman decides to make a film that leaves its mark. To do this, he hires the best: a stellar team made up of the very famous filmmaker Lola Cuevas (Penelope Cruz) and two well-known actors with big egos: Félix Rivero (Antonio Banderas) and Iván Torres (Scar Martnez). They are both icons, but they aren’t exactly the best of friends with one another. Not only are Félix and Iván forced to confront one another, but also their respective legacies, as a result of the crazy challenges posed by Lola.
3. Pain and Glory – 2019
Pain and Glory narrates a series of reunions with Salvador Mallo, a film director in decline.
Some of them physical, others remembered: his childhood in the 60s, when he emigrated with his parents (Penelope Cruz plays his mother) to Paterna, a town in Valencia, in search of prosperity; his first wish, his first adult love already in the Madrid of the 80s; the pain of the breakup of this love when it was still alive and throbbing; writing as the only therapy to forget the unforgettable; the early discovery of cinema and the void; the immeasurable void in the face of the impossibility of continuing filming. The tape talks about creation, the difficulty of separating it from one’s own life, and the passions that give it meaning and hope. Salvador learns that he has an urgent desire to recount his history as he is in the process of regaining it, and it is in this need that he also finds his redemption.
4. Parallel Mothers – 2021
Both Janis (Penelope Cruz) and Ana (Milena Smit) are about to give birth when they meet in the hospital room where they will both deliver their babies. Both are single and got pregnant by accident. Middle-aged Janis is unapologetic and elated. The other, Ana, a teenager, is scared, remorseful, and traumatized. Janis tries to cheer her up as they sleepwalk through the hospital corridors. The few words they exchange in those hours will create a very close bond between the two, which, by chance, develops, complicates, and changes their lives in a decisive way.
5. Belle Epoque – 1992
In 1930, when Spain is on the brink of civil war, Fernando (Jorge Sanz) chooses to go AWOL from the army. He soon arrives at the country house of the rich Manolo (Fernando Fernán Gómez), who invites Fernando to stay with him. Fernando then meets Manolo’s daughters: Clara (Miriam Daz-Aroca), Violeta (Ariadna Gil), Roco (Maribel Verd), and Luz (Penelope Cruz) and has intimate encounters with each of them, but a problem arises when you cannot decide which beauty to marry.
6. Volver – 2006
Raimunda (Penelope Cruz) works and lives in Madrid with her husband Paco and her daughter Paula. Her sister Sole de ella (Lola Dueas) lives near her, and they both miss her mother Irene (Carmen Maura), who died several years ago in a fire along with her father. An old neighbor from her town claims to have seen Irene’s ghost, and both of her daughters do not believe her. Following a murder and family tragedy, Irene’s spirit materializes around her daughters to help comfort them.
7. Open Your Eyes – 1997
César (Eduardo Noriega), a handsome 25-year-old, had it all: a successful career, expensive cars, a luxurious bachelor’s apartment, and countless beautiful women willing to do anything. However, his life takes a radical turn when he finds himself involved in a strange psychological mystery after a car accident scars his face and lands him in jail.
