Penelope Cruz: The Essence of Class

Gorgeous Spanish actress Penelope Cruz has been in the eye of a Hollywood hurricane ever since she started dating that "other" Cruise. Before the press glommed onto her latest relationship, she was linked with her leading man Nicolas Cage in the World War II love story they made in Greece, Captain Corelli's Mandolin directed by Shakespeare In Love's John Madden. We talked to Penelope recently in Malibu about her role in Corelli, her career in Spanish and American cinema, her charity work in Calcutta, desire to be taken seriously as an actress and, yes, a little about the Cruz/Cruise duo. Her Spanish accent is charming and we found her to be modest, gracious and the essence of class.

Teenhollywood: The Pelagia character in this film has to break up with someone and move on. Has that happened to you?

Penelope: Yes. I think anyone would feel sad about that. No one likes to hurt anyone but I haven't been in a situation similar to Pelagia's. I have had different experiences that can be used to understand her feelings. I understand very well the way she feels and her decisions make a lot of sense to me.

Teenhollywood.com: She's a complex character in a complex situation. What was the biggest challenge of playing Pelagia?

I think there is great pressure in playing a character like this that has the weight of the movie. She's in every scene and there are so many emotionally-charged scenes. Some days I was just exhausted. I couldn't even have dinner or talk to anyone but I was very happy with that feeling because I want (to play) characters that require that, to completely focus on that for three months.

Teenhollywood: Did you have to audition with Nick Cage (co-star)?

No. I auditioned without him, with John Madden in England because of the accent. We worked with a dialogue coach to work on the Greek accent which is a little different from ours (Spanish) but not so different. After the audition he called and said 'Some characters belong to certain people and this one belongs to you'. It was a beautiful way to say it and I was very grateful to him that he gave me this part.

Teenhollywood: You did a very hot tango in the film. Did you choreograph that?

We had a choreographer, the same one from Shakespeare in Love, Quinny Sacks and she worked with us for 15 or 20 days and I was a dancer for 14 years as a student so that helped.

Teenhollywood: Don't you also play a dancer in your next movie (Vanilla Sky)? What was it like playing in the Spanish version and then the American?

My character has five jobs in that movie. Vanilla Sky is a great homage to the original movie Abre Los Ojos (Open Your Eyes). Cameron (Crowe) has a lot of respect because he loves that movie and it's like taking a song and doing your own version of it. I play the same character but it is very different. In some scenes there was a feeling of déjà vu, some moments.

Teenhollywood: What about the pressure of being in the public spotlight so much lately?

I focus on the work and I think that's the only thing that can save you. You work hard, trying to learn as much as possible. There is always so much to learn. You learn from life, from relationships with other people. I try to focus on that. I stay away from gossip. I don't look at it. I don't read it. I don't watch those shows and I think that's what saves you, the way you deal with it because then I just live my life the best I can, no?

Teenhollywood: Is it upsetting to have more press than ever after you since dating Tom Cruise?

Of course I feel bad that I'm followed everywhere but I've dealt with that before. I want to keep that for myself.

Teenhollywood: Are there qualities that you admire in Tom?

I think he's an amazing person. Great generosity.

Teenhollywood: You are wearing a little diamond cross. Are you religious or do you meditate?

I don't really think of myself that way. I like religion very much. I grew up a Catholic and there are things (I have) in common with other religions but I don't call myself anything.

Teenhollywood: How do you live with this definition: "Spanish Superstar"?

It always makes me laugh because in Spain you don't grow up being conscious of stars. It doesn't exist in the European industry. You're an actor, you work, you're very lucky and here, I think it's just a name, no?

Teenhollywood: What is different about working in Spanish cinema and American?

I've found the process of acting to be very similar. When the budget is different that alters some things; there are more people and the trailers are bigger but that doesn't really effect your work and these different directors, Cameron (Crowe) and John (Madden) and Pedro (Almodovar) they have such marked personalities so all of them are different (to work with).

Teenhollywood: Do you still have problems being thought of as a beautiful young woman and not a serious actress?

I have escaped from that with a lot of work. It took me a lot of time to learn that I have to say no to some things. I was happy to get out of that...'you are this and this is what we call you'. I have escaped from that. I am getting the opportunity here and in my country. The character I do here (Pelagia) is like day and night from Vanilla Sky. Neither is based on the way you look. I am very grateful (for) the material they are giving me. I fight for that but it's happening. I would never lie about my age. There are other things I want to do with my life. I want to be a photographer. I don't expect to maintain this rhythm of work forever. I'm conscious of that. I hope to still be acting when I'm an old woman but I'm not going to have this rhythm.

Teenhollywood: What kinds of things do you photograph?

Photographers and they hate it. They don't want to say no because they have been doing it to you but they hate it. They start sweating.

Teenhollywood: Do you have an exercise program and personal trainers and that sort of thing?

No. I exercise and eat well because I feel happier and better but I'm not obsessed with that.

Teenhollywood: You've done volunteer work in Calcutta. Tell us about it.

I was there when Mother Teresa was alive and worked with her for a week in all the houses and after that with a Spanish foundation called Salvera which was created by a friend of mine and we're going to open it here. There were 4 girls in Calcutta who had nothing, no one and were in the streets. Now we have 75 and they are studying music. The idea is that they become an orchestra and they can travel around and help the other little girls that will be arriving.

Teenhollywood: How is your relationship with your parents?

Very good. They are very good friends of mine. They are very young, my parents, 49, the two of them so we talk about everything.

Teenhollywood: Did it help to have your family on the set? (Penelope's mom and other family members were on the island during filming).

Yes but I didn't see them a lot because I was working all the time and they were off on their own on vacation. They visit the set maybe twice in three months but I was happy because they were having a great time. They are there again now. They loved the place so they went back.

Teenhollywood: Did you enjoy being on the island of Cephallonia?

I loved the island. I can't imagine another way to do this movie besides being at the (actual) place (where the historical events happened). We met people who were in similar situations, kept refugees in their houses during the war and survived the earthquake. Some of them were extras in the movie.

Teenhollywood: Did you expect to be such a big success in America?

I feel I've worked so hard all these years but when you are an actor you depend on other people's trust and they are giving me that trust. They are giving me characters that I love, different characters all the time, here and in my country. This was my dream when I was a kid, to be able to be an actress who could work and if you have that you are very lucky. Being able to choose the parts that I want to do is a huge privilege.

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Interviewer and writer Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.