Matt Damon, Tom Cruise, and Matthew McConaughey
After spending a week volunteering her time, Penelope Cruz donated her salary from "Hi-Lo Country" to Mother Theresa's children's sanctuary.
April 2005 - Born in Madrid, Spain, Penelope Cruz ('Dr Eva Rojas' in "Sahara") studied ballet at Spain's National Conservatory until she was 15, when she attended a talent audition.
She made her film debut in 1991 in "Jamon, Jamon" with Javier Bardem, followed by "Belle Epoque." A collaboration with acclaimed director Pedro Almodovar led her towards an international career with "Live Flesh" and "All About My Mother."
After the success of "All About My Mother," Cruz was in demand on both sides of the Atlantic. Billy Bob Thornton cast her opposite Matt Damon in "All the Pretty Horses," she worked with Johnny Depp in "Blow," and she joined Nicolas Cage and Christian Bale in John Madden's "Captain Corelli's Mandolin."
Cruz starred with Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, and Jason Lee in "Vanilla Sky," directed by Cameron Crowe.
Cruz's other credits include "Masked & Anonymous," "Gothika," and "Head in the Clouds," with Charlize Theron. Additional film credits include "Don't Move," for which she won the Italian Academy Award, and "Bandidas" with Salma Hayek.
