Ever since her explosive feature debut at the age of 18, Penélope Cruz has boasted a screen presence that is nothing short of exhilarating. The Madrid native’s innate glamour certainly helps, but it’s also her ability to keep us guessing that enthralls 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.
As she celebrates her 50th birthday, we revisit her 10 most memorable performances to date.
Jamón Jamón (1992)
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection
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.