Biography of Penelope Sanchez (a.k.a.: Penelope Cruz)

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Penelope Cruz Sanchez, better known as Penelope Cruz, is a Spanish actress. She gathered critical acclaim as a young actress for films such as Jamon, Jamon, La Nina de tus Ojos, and Belle Epoque. She has also starred in several American films such as Blow, Vanilla Sky, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. She is perhaps best known for her work with acclaimed Spanish director Pedro AlmodÃ³var, in Broken Embraces, Volver, and All About My Mother.

Cruz has been awarded three Goyas, two European Film Awards, and the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2009, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Goya, and a BAFTA for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

She is Spain's first female Oscar winner and also becomes the sixth Hispanic person to win an Oscar after Jose Ferrer, Rita Moreno and Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Quinn, plus fellow Spaniard Javier Bardem.