Penélope Cruz, dressed in red, won the Museum of Modern Art’s 2021 Film Benefit as the process returned to the personal involvement of the brightest movie stars.
Chanel, for which Cruise has been a brand ambassador since 2018, partnered with MoMA at the event to raise money for MoMA’s Film Department, which dates back to 1935 and handles more than 30,000 films and 1.5 million film stills.
The gala featured tributes to Penélope Cruz by Rebecca Hall, Rosalia, Ricky Martin, and MoMA Chief Film Curator Rajendra Roy, as well as pre-recorded tributes to Pedro Almodovar and Lupita Nyong’o.
The Museum of Modern Art also screened a new movie, Parallel Mothers, starring Penélope Cruz and director Almodovar, as part of The Contenders, a series for which the film department selects films that seem to deserve more attention as awards season heats up. In the press release announcing Cruz the winner, Roy, the curator, said that Penélope Cruz has been mesmerizing moviegoers since 1992 as an artist who is as compelling in action-adventure films as she is in auteur films.
Perhaps she liked Penélope Cruz best for her collaboration with Pedro Almodovar. Her stunning performance in his film Parallel Mothers solidifies her status as a global actress. Penélope Cruz, the first Spanish actress to be nominated for and win an Oscar, is indeed in a category of her own.
Previous MoMA Film Benefit recipients include:
- George Clooney;
- Laura Dern;
- Martin Scorsese;
- Julianne Moore;
- Tom Han
- ks;
- Cate Blanchett;
- Alfonso Cuarón;
- Tilda Swinton;
- Quentin Tarantino;
- Pedro Almodovar;
- Catherine Bigelow;
- Tim Burton;
- Baz Luhrmann.
PENÉLOPE CRUZ SÁNCHEZ
In 1992, 17-year-old Penelope Cruz made her big-screen debut in the comedy Jamon Jamon. In the film, Penélope Cruz had to appear topless, which Cruz was completely unprepared for. However, the audience appreciated her, and after the release of the film, Penelope was recognized as the new sex symbol of Spain.
From 1993 to 1996, Cruz was active in Spanish and Italian films. In 1997, Penélope Cruz appeared in the sci-fi drama Open Your Eyes. The film received good reviews from critics.
The turning point in the career of Penelope Cruz was 2001. She played in high-profile Hollywood projects – Vanilla Sky (where she reprised her role in the Spanish original), The Blow, and Captain Corelli’s Choice. Vanilla Sky grossed $200 million worldwide, Cocaine $80 million, and Corelli $62 million.
With the release of Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Penélope Cruz became the first Spanish actress to win the Academy Award of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences or Oscar. The actress received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Penélope Cruz became the first Spaniard to receive such an honor.
Penélope Cruz has been named to FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women in the World, People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in the World, Maxim’s Hot 100, and Empire magazine’s Top 100 Sexiest Movie Stars.
In 2006, Penelope Cruz became the face of cosmetics giant L’Oréal, she advertises hair products and mascara, her annual contract fee is $ 2 million. In April 2010, she became the face of Lancôme Trésor perfume. Cruz also starred in commercials for the Spanish brand Mango and fashion house Ralph Lauren.
Penelope Cruz: I treat myself with irony. I used to worry about what people would think of me, then I realized the following: what’s the difference if they don’t even know me? For self-confidence, I do not need constant confirmation from the outside … Confidence, really deep, can be given by family and friends. They don’t care if you’re beautiful, they care who you are. If only you would get inside my head and listen to the dialogues that play out there when I walk the red carpet in an haute couture dress or participate in photoshoots!
