Penélope Cruz’s Best Roles

Penélope Cruz is a globally admired actress known for her exceptional talent and captivating performances. Starting her career in Spain, she successfully moved to Hollywood and became one of the most respected actresses of her generation. She’s particularly celebrated for her frequent and impactful work with director Pedro Almodóvar, who consistently draws out her best performances.

Cruz is an incredibly versatile actress, equally comfortable in intense dramas and cheerful comedies. She’s rare in her ability to captivate audiences in both Spanish and English, bringing real emotion and intelligence to every role. She’s received many awards for her impressive work, notably becoming the first Spanish actress to win an Oscar.

‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’ (2018)

This award-winning TV series stars Cruz as Donatella Versace, the famous fashion designer. It tells the story of the 1997 murder of her brother, Gianni Versace, and how the family and their fashion business coped with the devastating loss. Cruz plays a woman unexpectedly thrust into the public eye by a terrible tragedy.

Everyone loved her portrayal of Donatella, especially how completely she transformed herself – from the way she spoke and moved to her overall look. But she did more than just imitate the surface; she brilliantly showed Donatella’s deep sadness, incredible strength, and fierce loyalty as she worked to protect her brother’s artistic work.

‘All About My Mother’ (1999)

In this well-known film, she portrays Sister María Rosa, a caring and empathetic nun. The character is a young woman working with sex workers in Barcelona, and faces a challenging crisis when she discovers she’s pregnant and HIV-positive. She then depends on the support of those around her.

The film’s main ideas – love, loss, and what makes a family – are explored through her character. She develops a strong connection with the central character, a mother coping with grief who rediscovers meaning by caring for her. This role was an early and wonderful opportunity for her to demonstrate her talent as an actress, and marked a beautiful collaboration with director Pedro Almodóvar.

‘Open Your Eyes’ (1997)

Cruz plays Sofía, a captivating woman who quickly becomes the focus of César, a handsome but self-absorbed man. They share a wonderful night together, but a devastating event throws César’s life into chaos. Sofía embodies the happiness he loses.

I’ve been completely captivated by César’s story. After a terrible accident, he starts questioning everything, especially his connection with Sofía. I honestly don’t know if their moments together are actually happening or if they’re just figments of his imagination. Sofía herself is such an intriguing character – beautiful, mysterious, and she feels like the core of this twisting, unsettling thriller. It’s a story where you constantly feel like things aren’t what they appear to be, and she’s right in the middle of it all.

‘Volver’ (2006)

Many consider this to be one of her best roles, where she portrays Raimunda, a resilient working-class woman in Madrid. Raimunda works several jobs, cares for her teenage daughter, and desperately tries to keep a painful secret from her past hidden. She faces a constant battle just to get by.

The story becomes otherworldly when Raimunda is visited by the ghost of her mother, revealing hidden family secrets. Raimunda is the heart of the film, portraying a woman with incredible strength despite facing immense difficulties. Her compelling performance was even recognized with an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

‘Pain and Glory’ (2019)

She plays Jacinta, the loving mother of the main character, a famous director looking back on his life. We see her through flashbacks to his childhood in a small village during the 1960s. These memories are filled with warmth and a sense of longing, depicting a time when life was simple, even though they were poor, and highlighting the strong bond between mother and son.

Throughout these scenes, she embodies both strength and elegance, playing a mother who encourages her son’s imagination while protecting him from the difficulties around them. Her acting is a heartfelt homage to the strong female figures often found in the films of Pedro Almodóvar, the director she works with most often and who is central to her artistic vision.

‘Blow’ (2001)

She portrays Mirtha Jung, the passionate and volatile wife of drug smuggler George Jung. She’s quickly captivated by his lavish and risky lifestyle, filled with wealth, parties, and drugs. Their romance is a fast-paced mix of intense love and self-destructive choices.

The story follows a heartbreaking descent as the excitement of her life spirals into a crippling drug addiction, destroying her marriage and family. The actress gives a compelling performance, portraying a woman who transforms from a charming accomplice to a central reason for her husband’s ultimate failure.

‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ (2008)

Penélope Cruz gave a captivating and award-winning performance as María Elena, the passionate and intelligent former wife of a charismatic artist. Her character dramatically reappears in his life right when he’s become involved in a complex relationship with two American tourists spending the summer in Spain.

María Elena is a passionate and gifted painter, but she also struggles with her emotions, often experiencing intense jealousy and anger. She’s known for speaking quickly, mixing Spanish and English, and leaving a trail of delightful chaos. Her energetic and unpredictable performance is truly memorable, making her the most captivating character in the movie.

‘Broken Embraces’ (2009)

This gripping thriller features a woman named Lena, a stunning secretary with aspirations of becoming an actress. To support her family, she enters into a relationship with a rich, dominant older man who agrees to fund her first movie. While filming, she begins a hidden and intense romance with the director.

The story is revealed through memories, showing the heartbreaking results of a secret love affair. The actress delivers a stunning performance as a woman caught in a difficult situation, struggling with a world full of dangerous obsession and envy. This role further proves her strong creative partnership with director Pedro Almodóvar.

‘Belle Époque’ (1992)

She gained recognition for her role as Luz, the youngest and most naive of four strong-willed sisters. The story takes place in rural Spain in 1931, and centers around a charming army deserter who seeks shelter with the sisters. He soon finds himself captivated by each of them and their distinct personalities.

This charming and upbeat comedy centers on a young man and his romantic relationships with two sisters. He’s initially drawn to the sister who is kind and innocent. The movie was a huge hit worldwide, even winning an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

‘Parallel Mothers’ (2021)

The actress delivers a powerfully emotional performance as Janis, a photographer in her late thirties who chooses to become a mother on her own. While in the hospital, she connects with Ana, a frightened teenage girl also expecting a child as a single parent. The two women develop a strong connection after going into labor on the same day.

I was completely captivated by how their stories unexpectedly collided, and it really pushed Janis’s character into a tough spot – a moral challenge deeply connected to Spain’s past. The film beautifully delves into the complexities of motherhood and the search for truth. Honestly, the way she played a woman torn between her love for her child and a heartbreaking secret was phenomenal – it’s no surprise she received another Oscar nomination!

‘Vanilla Sky’ (2001)

She plays Sofia Serrano, a kind and independent woman who offers a wealthy, self-centered man a glimpse of a simpler, more genuine way of life. He quickly falls for her, but their relationship is abruptly ended by a devastating event that leaves him heartbroken and his life in ruins.

This movie is a new version of the Spanish film ‘Open Your Eyes’, and the actress played Sofia again in this one. She’s the heart of a complicated story that makes it hard to tell what’s real and what’s a dream, leaving both the character and viewers uncertain about everything.

‘Everybody Knows’ (2018)

This gripping thriller follows Laura as she travels back to her Spanish hometown for her sister’s wedding. The celebration quickly turns into a nightmare when her daughter is abducted and the family is demanded to pay a hefty ransom.

The shocking incident tears the family apart, exposing old grudges and secrets that were kept hidden for years. The possibility that the kidnapper is someone close to them breeds fear and mistrust. The actress delivers a compelling portrayal of a mother driven to her limits while frantically searching for her child.

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ (2011)

She became part of the Pirates of the Caribbean adventures playing Angelica, a strong and skilled pirate captain who shares a history with Captain Jack Sparrow. Clever and an excellent fighter, she convinces Jack to help her and her crew on a dangerous quest: finding the Fountain of Youth for her father, the notorious Blackbeard.

She’s a brilliant match for Jack Sparrow – just as clever, charismatic, and unpredictable as he is. Because they have a history together, their interactions are exciting and charged with both romantic feelings and a tendency to betray each other, which brings a new energy to the popular adventure films.

‘Murder on the Orient Express’ (2017)

She’s one of the many famous actors in this big-budget version of the classic mystery story. She plays Pilar Estravados, a reserved and religious Spanish missionary who happens to be on the train when a passenger is killed.

Like the other passengers, this character is hiding a connection to the victim and a possible reason for the crime. She plays the role with a subtle, powerful energy, portraying a woman haunted by her history, which makes the mystery Hercule Poirot is trying to unravel even more complicated.

‘Ferrari’ (2023)

The actress delivers a powerful performance as Laura Ferrari, the wife of Enzo Ferrari, the famous Italian sports car maker. The film, set in 1957, focuses on a difficult time for both the Ferrari company and their marriage. Their relationship is strained by the loss of their son and Enzo’s hidden second family.

Cruz plays Laura as a strong, passionate woman who was vital to the success of Ferrari. The performance also beautifully shows her deep sorrow and anger, portraying a wife and mother desperately trying to maintain her connection to her husband and his work.

2025-09-14 12:16