Penélope Cruz's Real Name: Penélope Cruz Sánchez
Penélope Cruz → Penélope Cruz Sánchez
Quick answer: Penélope Cruz's real name is Penélope Cruz Sánchez. She was born on April 28, 1974, in Alcobendas, Spain.
Real name and early life
Britannica-class and Library of Congress sources identify Spanish actor Penélope Cruz (LOC: Cruz, Penélope), with full Spanish naming Penélope Cruz Sánchez—Cruz the first (paternal) surname and Sánchez the maternal surname. She was born on April 28, 1974, in Alcobendas, near Madrid. She trained in ballet for years before shifting to acting and became one of Spain's most internationally recognized screen stars. In English-language billing she is usually Penélope Cruz (or Penelope Cruz without the accent).
Quick facts
- Real name: Penélope Cruz Sánchez
- Known as: Penélope Cruz
- Born: April 28, 1974, in Alcobendas, Spain
- Known for: Actor
- Notable work: Volver, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Pedro Almodóvar films; Hollywood features
- Sources checked: Library of Congress Name Authority; Britannica-class biographies
Career highlights
Cruz rose through Spanish cinema, especially collaborations with Pedro Almodóvar (All About My Mother, Volver, and later films). She won the Academy Award for best supporting actress for Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)—the first Spanish actress to win an acting Oscar—and has received multiple further nominations and European awards. Hollywood credits include Vanilla Sky, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and The Counselor. She is married to actor Javier Bardem. Billing remains Penélope Cruz internationally.
Name notes
Under Spanish naming customs, Cruz and Sánchez are both surnames; Cruz is not a stage invention. English databases sometimes omit Sánchez or the accent on Penélope. Prefer full Penélope Cruz Sánchez when stating the complete civil form, and note that professional credits shorten to Penélope Cruz.
Spanish-language credits and interviews keep the accented Penélope and the maternal surname Sánchez visible at home even when Hollywood one-sheets print Penelope Cruz alone.
Awards-season coverage in English often drops Sánchez, so this page restores the full Spanish civil form Penélope Cruz Sánchez for real-name searchers.
Early Spanish television and music-video work preceded Almodóvar collaborations that introduced Penélope Cruz Sánchez to world cinema audiences.
FAQ
What is Penélope Cruz's real name?
Penélope Cruz Sánchez.
When and where was she born?
April 28, 1974, in Alcobendas, Spain.
Is Cruz a stage name?
No—it is her paternal surname; Sánchez is maternal.
Has she won an Oscar?
Yes—best supporting actress for *Vicky Cristina Barcelona* (2008).
How is her name spelled?
Penélope with an accent in Spanish; often Penelope in English headlines.