Though she had starred in a major Spanish film alongside experienced actors, Penélope Cruz still dreamed about life as a professional dancer. With so many years of dance instruction under her belt, the young Spanish woman decided to move to New York City to continue her studies.
At just 19 years old, she and several other Spanish friends lived and wandered around New York’s Greenwich Village. Eventually traveling between Spain and Los Angeles for auditions was taking its toll. Dancing would soon come second place in her life.
Young Love
While anyone who saw the film “Jamón Jamón” could see that there were clearly sparks flying between the movie’s leads Penélope Cruz and Javier Barden, the actress was actually involved with another famous man - Spanish singer Nacho Cano of the band Mecano.
Nacho and Penélope met on the set of the music video for his 1988 hit “ La Fuerza del Destino.” Still, in her teens, Penélope and the singer were smitten. Cano, a major star in Spain at the time, was often photographed with the burgeoning actress. Sadly, after about five years, the two lovebirds called it quits.
An Uncomfortable Label
Though she had taken part in revealing intimate scenes for a 1991 episode of the French television series “Série Rose,” Penélope soon became uncomfortable with the amount of attention she was getting for her physical appearance and revealing movie scenes.
She even admitted that while she was thankful for the exposure the film “Jamón Jamón” gave her, she “wasn’t really ready for the nudity” - though she added that he didn’t regret agreeing to it because it “changed her life.” She soon found herself seeking roles where she wouldn’t have to expose her body.
Famous Friend
It’s no surprise that people tend to gravitate toward others who are similar to them. When Penélope Cruz arrived in New York City she met a then-unknown actor and fellow Spaniard named Antonio Banderas. The “Desperado” star apparently lived just a few minutes away so the two often spent time together.
Penélope often calls this moment in her life “magical” and says that she was inspired to pursue her Hollywood dreams after seeing how successful Antonio became. She also joked that the two would often cook for one another (her making veggie burgers and him making paella).
On a Roll
Though controversial, there’s no denying that “Jamón Jamón” turned Penélope into a star almost overnight. The actress was soon nominated for awards such as the Goya Award (a Spanish version of the Oscars) and others. She then appeared in the critically acclaimed film “ Belle Époque ” and close to a dozen Spanish and Italian movies.
Her foray into Italian cinema would lead to a life-long fascination with Italian culture. She continued to star in well-received films such as Pedro Almodóvar 's “ Live Flesh ” - a move that would begin her long friendship with the celebrated Spanish director.