| By Ali Naderzad With her role as Raimunda in Pedro Almodóvar's latest effort, Volver, Penelope Cruz has been challenging the enduring perception that an OscarTM- worthy performance is an English-speaking one. Being buzzed about to earn an Academy nomination, Cruz's interpretation of Raimunda shows the full-breadth depth of her acting chops - a satisfying balance of emotion, strength and virility commonly found in Almodóvar's female characters. Having been honored with the Best Actress award for Volver at Cannes this year, and due to be honored at this month's AFI Fest, Cruz invited Moving Pictures to catch up with her in New York. Moving Pictures Magazine: You have done several American projects (Vanilla Sky, 2001; Gothika, 2003) and yet it seems your sensibilities show up the most in more artful, or rather, foreign, fare like Volver and Todo sobre mi madre (All About My Mother)...........
Penelope Cruz: To be fair, I'm very grateful that I was given the opportunity to work in American movies, although this is my chance to be a little more selective. I was very happy to go to America, and... even if I go for three, or four months, I know that I will eventually return. I'm not trying to be something that I'm not. I live in L.A. and Madrid, but I think the characters in European cinema are different. And I would never stop working in Europe. MPM: Tell me a little about your relationship with Pedro Almodóvar.
Cruz: Our relationship is a very important thing to me. I met him ten years ago, and even before our first meeting together I knew this was someone very special. About ten minutes before I met him, I remember thinking, "I'm about to meet someone very special, not just for my professional career, but for my life."
Working with Pedro makes me especially emotional: the subject matter of his films, the demanding atmosphere of the set, and the kind of stories he tells. Plus, the working days are so long. If he's not happy with something that I did, he tells me. I had to sing flamenco-style for the film and we had to keep rehearsing. I had not really sung since I was 18. I remember getting home and crying, I was so emotionally exhausted. MPM: Do you ever experience a language barrier working in different countries?
Cruz: I learned English when I was eighteen, after I learned French, so I started late and I kept working and I kept studying and I kept working on my English. Sometimes I'd study five hours a day. I'm very tough on myself when I'm shooting in English. I say, "I could have said this better." I tried to understand conversations, and it was really difficult when I first arrived to America. I got 30 percent of my conversations mixed up. MPM: In Volver, you play a very domesticated mother. It's not an obvious role for someone considered as glamorous as you're portrayed...
Cruz: Sweeping and cleaning, you mean? Yes, in a way I had to learn that all over again. You almost forget how to do this, living in hotels like I do. My family thought I was crazy because I would get home and I would say, "Let me do those dishes, please." And they would look at me like I was crazy, because they know how much I work and how exhausted I am by the time I get home. So I washed and swept the floors and did a lot of dishes to get into the role. MPM: You've had your share of top billing in the press over the last few years. How do you deal?
Cruz: You can't pay attention to everything that is going on, otherwise you go nuts. I distance myself from all that, enjoying my private time. There are so many other things to do in life than to worry. My parents were on the strict side; they had a very good ethic, about working hard and knowing the value of things. I value what I have in my life. Sometimes I took it for granted, so they always reminded me to be humble and value what I have. They are like that, and I always thought those were great values to remember. MPM: There's talk of Volver winning Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards, and that you might also be recognized?
Cruz: Well, you really can't be thinking that far ahead, or even believe that anything's going to happen. But when you're asked that question 20 times a day, it's difficult to ignore. I'm a little scared, very nervous, incredibly grateful at the thought of it; and the film should get everything it deserves because Pedro worked very hard on it. Meanwhile, I try not to think about that too much. |
