Top quotes by Penelope Cruz

It's great working with my sister, because we are very close as a family - my brother, my sister and myself. We have a great relationship. Votes: 38

I have stepped off the relationship scene to come to terms with myself. I have spent most of my adult life being 'someone's girlfriend', and now I am happy being single. Votes: 27

I don't know if I believe in marriage. I believe in family, love and children. Votes: 22

For 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona,' for example, Woody Allen is one of the greatest American directors, and we really had a very good working relationship. We understand each other really well. He gave me one of the best opportunities somebody has ever given me in my career. Votes: 22

You can always keep learning with acting, because the school is life and yourself and your friends and your relationships. I'm fascinated by it! It's infinito! Votes: 20

I love the Italian culture - it's a beautiful culture. I love the language, the Italian people, their music, their attitudes... I just love it! Sometimes I think I'm an Italian trapped in a Spanish woman's body. Votes: 19

I have been hearing gossip and lies since I began working. When I was 17, I used to get very angry because I opened a magazine and I saw myself in a picture on a motorcycle, and the headline was, 'I'm getting married next month.' Votes: 15

In my house every Sunday, everybody was cleaning the house. There was always music, and everybody was dancing, sometimes naked, around the house. Not hippie, but very free. Votes: 15

There was a point where I was making four movies a year. I was always on a set. I had no stories to tell. I was feeling empty. My life was just luggage and hotels and from set to set, from character to character. And one day, I said, 'And where is mine?' You know? And the moment I started to feel that fear, I stopped and I slowed down. Votes: 14

I have a little bit of an addiction to work. So I'm always hiding in the bathroom with my Blackberry to work when I'm on holiday. Votes: 14

I breastfed my son for 13 months, and I plan to do at least the same with my daughter. That's an amazing thing for babies, but it's also really good for the mother because it regulates your body again after pregnancy. Votes: 12

I love Salma Hayek; we've been friends for a really long time. I admire how she has come such a long way and always remained grounded and who she is. She never compromises to follow her vision, and she is loyal. Such qualities only mark the great stars. Votes: 12

Unfortunately, I am very aware of editing and I look at the monitor too much. Sometimes the monitor can become your worst enemy because you can, consciously or unconsciously, start editing yourself. Votes: 11

I want my son - and my kids, if I have more - to grow up in a way that is as anonymous as possible. The fact that his father and I have chosen to do the work that we do doesn't give anybody the right to invade our privacy. Votes: 9

I love Spanish food. My diet is the Mediterranean diet, which is good food. I eat well. Votes: 8

I was raised Catholic, but then I discovered Buddhism, and I used to have a boyfriend who was a Scientologist, and they are all good religions that help people. As far as I'm concerned, you can have all three religions at once and it's okay! Votes: 8

I remember playing with some friends and being aware that I was acting as I was playing with them - I would think of a character and pretend to be someone else. My parents also took me to ballet school, and there I think I was able to start communicating those feelings or emotions - I danced for so many years. Votes: 8

I have had a very singular kind of life since I started working so young, so I am very used to traveling, working, taking time for myself. Votes: 8

I am not somebody who likes to give advice, or anything like that, unless it's my closest friends or family. Votes: 7

Sometimes you will do a close-up for a scene in the morning where you are totally distraught, then shoot the rest of that scene seven hours later. How do you hang on to that feeling all day without burning up, without going so far that you have nothing left to give when the cameras roll again? Votes: 7

There is a part of your brain that has to stop when you're acting. You have to be in the moment and dare to fly. Words can't be on your mind. Votes: 7

Even if you were aware of children and felt compassion, when you have your own, it multiplies. It breaks your heart to know that there are so many children in the world suffering so much. Votes: 6

I am living for every day and trying to have less fear, less worry. But I have always worried about everything; it's in my nature. It's the thing that makes me suffer the most. Votes: 6

In Spain, actresses work until they are old. That's my plan. Votes: 5

The thing that really makes me happy is the real work and rehearsing and creating the character and the process of making the movie. Hollywood's not real. Votes: 4

I love New York, but being there the whole year, it gets a little crazy with the speed and rhythm of things. Votes: 3

I only drive in movies. I know that's very weird to hear for an American. I have a weird relationship with it. I know how to drive, but I never went to take the test. Votes: 3

Especially when you are advertising a product, I talk to the photographer and we create a character - it always gives you more freedom because it makes it less about yourself. Votes: 1

It's a good thing to be old. Because when you get older, that means you haven't died yet, right? And when I do get older, I want to have the grace to be proud of it, not to lie about it or try to fight it. Votes: 1

I try to eat healthily, but I love fried food and bad things. Give me a plate of bread, some oil and salt and I'm happy. But you can't eat like this all the time. Votes: 1

I am a big fan of photography, more of being behind the camera - so when I get the opportunity to work with such great photographers, I always try and learn from their technique. Votes: 0

My first fear was about the devil, when I was around fire, something I saw in a movie. I think it's about pain, in whichever form it comes. Votes: 0

All those cliches, those things you hear about having a baby and motherhood - all of them are true. And all of them are the most beautiful things you will ever experience. Votes: 0

I'm strong and opinionated. Those qualities brought me a lot of problems since I was a little girl in school, saying 'I don't agree' and fighting with the children. It's part of my curiosity for life. Votes: 0

The most important lesson I've learned in this business is how to say no. I have said no to a lot of temptations, and I am glad I did. Votes: 0

I always knew I wanted a family because of the way I grew up. Family has always been the most important thing. Votes: 0

You cannot live your life looking at yourself from someone else's point of view. Votes: 0

I've worked myself to exhaustion before. I was so young, and I thought I could do everything; it was just too much for my body and my mind. Votes: 0

My ambition is to be happy. Votes: 0

There's so much more I want to do. I refuse to get to 50 and wait at home for the phone to ring. In Spain, actresses work until they are old. That's my plan. Votes: 0

I have a strong personality, and I say what I think. Votes: 0

I came to New York to study ballet and English. Votes: 0

I had a very curly perm in the '80s, thanks to the 'Way You Make Me Feel' Michael Jackson video. I liked the girl in it. Votes: 0

I always feel scared and insecure on a film set. I don't know any other way. Votes: 0

I don't know why, but women in a hair salon share their deepest secrets. Votes: 0

I came to Los Angeles for the first time in 1994. I spoke no English. I only knew how to say two sentences: 'How are you?' and 'I want to work with Johnny Depp.' Votes: 0

In my everyday life, I just wear jeans, t-shirts and trainers - if I can go barefoot, that's even better. But for the events I have a stylist, and in two hours we have selected a whole outfit. Votes: 0

As an actress, I really love people like Anna Magnani and Debra Winger. I also think there is nobody better than Meryl Streep. Votes: 0

I think magic is very related to happiness. So it is not there all the time, but there are beautiful moments of magic in everyone's life. Votes: 0

I really like the Caribbean. Anyplace in the Caribbean. I get there, and I feel like a monkey - the perfect state. Votes: 0

In my house every Sunday, everybody was cleaning the house. There was always music, and everybody was dancing, sometimes naked around the house. Not hippie, but very free. Votes: 0

My definition of beauty is without rules. It can be the face of a beautiful 90-year-old woman that is full of stories and emotion. Beauty is what somebody's eyes communicate. Votes: 0

I am amazed about how everyone wants to know about my love life. They whisper to me, 'Tell me the truth? Is it true?' Who cares? Because we have this job, we are to say to everybody what we do, or with whom we sleep? It's a bit absurd, but that's why everybody lies so much. Votes: 0

I don't think I am beautiful. I can look good and I can look ugly. Votes: 0

The discipline that ballet requires is obsessive. And only the ones who dedicate their whole lives are able to make it. Your toenails fall off and you peel them away and then you're asked to dance again and keep smiling. I wanted to become a professional ballet dancer. Votes: 0

It is a revolutionary experience. That's the best way I can describe it. It transforms you completely, in a second. Nature is very wise and gives you nine months to prepare, but in that moment-when you see that face, you are transformed forever. Votes: 0

The most difficult thing in the world is to start a career known only for your looks, and then to try to become a serious actress. No one will take you seriously once you are known as the pretty woman. Votes: 0

Every relationship ends, until maybe you find one that lasts forever. Votes: 0

I want to be remembered as somebody that tried to respect her integrity as an artist and as a person. And I don't want to be in any box. I don't want to be one thing. Votes: 0

I have stepped off the relationship scene to come to terms with myself. I have spent most of my adult life being someone's girlfriend, and now I am happy being single Votes: 0

The most difficult thing in the world is to start a career known only for your looks, and then to try to become a serious actress. No one will take you seriously once you are known as the pretty woman Votes: 0

I was very superstitious when I was a teenager, and I had to fight against that because it made me feel anxious. Votes: 0

My parents owned a hair salon, so I learned a few tricks there. I can cut people's hair - if they let me. Votes: 0

Ever since I was a little girl, I've worried too much. It always bothers me because sometimes you end up worrying more about the worry and you are not resolving things that are right there in front of you. I have been like that all my life, and it's hard to change. Votes: 0

I used to dance for seventeen years -classical ballet, which was very disciplined. I like yoga and Pilates, but I don't have the discipline to go to the gym. Votes: 0

I just try not to label myself in any way. I just have an allergy to labels in general. I can tell you that I am surrounded by very strong women and that I really appreciate that, but I'd rather not label myself. Votes: 0

I never want to lie about my age. If I look around at the actresses I admire, they are all women who have not fought growing older, but embraced it and been proud of it - women like Sophia Loren or Audrey Hepburn. Votes: 0

Awards are great, as you get to meet up with friends and colleagues from your industry - a sort of reunion. Votes: 0

There's a lot of work that goes into it - if you think about how many collections a year that Karl Lagerfeld has to do, with Chanel and all the other things he does - you can't do that unless you are working 18 hours a day. It's really a lot of hard, hard work. Votes: 0

There are so many designers that I love, and I'm so lucky that I get to work with so many of them and sometimes spend time with them. As an actress, you get to go to these events and wear their things - it's fun, but it is what it is. I don't put a lot of time into it, but I respect what they do. Votes: 0

Johnny Depp is so special that he is like a Martian. In fact, that's what I call him, Martian. Votes: 0

When I start a movie, the first day, I feel like a duck. Votes: 0

Making a living out of acting sounded like science-fiction when I was growing up. I didn't know anyone around me who lived from anything related to art. Votes: 0

There are roles I have said no to, but for different reasons. And, I never talk about those because I feel it's disrespectful to say, 'Oh, I said no to this project or that other project.' I'd rather talk about the ones that I said yes to and the reasons why. Votes: 0

In 'Twice Born' I play my character in her 20s, 30s and 50s. For the fifty year old scenes, I had some prosthetics; it was interesting to see how I'm going to look when I'm fifty-five or so. I actually saw similarities between my grandmothers and my mother. Votes: 0

My first fear was about the devil, when I was around fire, something I saw in a movie. I think it's about pain, in whichever form it comes. I had a lot of energy as a child - sometimes too much - and I didn't know how to channel it. It was making me suffer. It was bigger than myself, and I was very young. Votes: 0

I remember playing with some friends and being aware that I was acting as I was playing with them - I would think of a character and pretend to be someone else. Votes: 0

Maybe I'll make one movie a year, maybe two, but it's not going to be more than that because I have other priorities now. Votes: 0

I won't go to places where you're going to find more attention. I go to the opposite. Votes: 0

I learned English kind of late. I remember when I got my first opportunity to work in America, I didn't speak a lot of English, so I only really knew my lines for the movie I was doing. Votes: 0

One thing that I am proud of: I am really capable of laughing at myself. Votes: 0

Madrid is what I call home, but also the States. Votes: 0

I don't play comedy as comedy. That would be the biggest trap. I think about the characters and their situations. Then you don't have to worry where the laugh is going to be. But comedy is harder than drama. Votes: 0

[Winning an Oscar] was a beautiful thing that happened. It is in my house, and every time I look at, I see all the people who are a part of it, all the people who gave me opportunities to work, gave me opportunities to make a living at this thing [acting] that was a dream for me, growing up. And I got to do it, and then again and again and again, and make a living out of being an actress. Votes: 0

Age holds absolutely no fear for me. There is so much enjoyment ahead. Votes: 0

As a kid, I had a lot of energy; but the ballet lessons made me calm - this pleased my mother. Votes: 0

Calcutta is like another world. People there are very special and grateful. Votes: 0

He can have my body, but he will never have my soul. never! Votes: 0

I would close down all those teenage magazines that encourage young girls to diet. Who says that to be pretty you have to be thin? Some people look better thin and some don't. There is almost a standard being created where only thin is acceptable. The influence of those magazines on girls as young as 13 is horrific. Votes: 0

I can cook a little bit. I can cook a few Spanish dishes. But, in movies, it looks like I cook much better than I cook. Votes: 0

I don't do Twitter, Facebook; none of that. My email I do from my Blackberry or my iPhone. Votes: 0

I had things with numbers - because I love numbers - but it's not something I'm proud of. I'm proud that I was able to send them away, because you're much more present. Votes: 0

I have seen water availability change drastically in my own lifetime. Around the world, millions of people are already living in a true water crisis. Votes: 0

I like roles that people don't recognize me in. Votes: 0

I love ballet and I love dancing...... It's a little boring for me to go to the gym because I'm used to the dancing discipline - It's really hard, but much more fun. Votes: 0

I love learning on the set. But, directing is not something I want to do. Votes: 0

I never grew up dreaming about a wedding - I don't think about things like that. I don't know how to explain it. All I care about is to be happy. Votes: 0

I spend so much time living by myself - mostly in hotels - and I pick up cats when I'm feeling particularly lonely. Votes: 0

I think it will be better when I get involved with someone again, because I made this time for me. I haven't really been single for a while, and I think it's been good for me, to lose the fear to be like this. Votes: 0

I think superstition has a lot to do with fear: the less, the better. Votes: 0

I try to look at the whole thing and say 'yes' to the projects that I cannot stop thinking about. If I read a script and the subject stays with me - then that's when I want to go to work. Votes: 0

I want to have babies one day but not right now. When I do it I want to do it really well. I want it to be my best project in life. Votes: 0

I want to work with Johnny Depp. Votes: 0

I was 11 when I first said I wanted to become an actress, and everyone looked at me as if I had said I wanted to go to the moon. Votes: 0

I would always cast Meryl Streep for everything. I would do with something inspired by the work of Guy Bourdin, my favorite photographer. Votes: 0

If we continue on the path we're on, there simply won't be enough fresh water for everyone. Votes: 0

I'm not like Puff Daddy, I hold my own umbrella. Votes: 0

It feels great and it's very beautiful when you can bring someone of your own nationality into a story, where even the historic element of it is important. I loved that I could use my own accent for the character. Votes: 0

It's very much like a torture sometimes, the process of trying to get rid of an accent. Votes: 0

I've seen my grandmothers grow old and they are so beautiful, every wrinkle in their face tells a story. I want to feel that in 30 years. I would always choose that kind of beauty over that comes from having too much done to yourself. Votes: 0

My plate is full with just acting. I want to focus on that, and then maybe direct in the future. Votes: 0

Nothing is going to happen to you if you throw salt on the floor, stand under a ladder, or see eight black cats on the street. Votes: 0

Sometimes, when things go well on a set, or when you are working with somebody like Pedro Almodovar, Woody Allen, Rob Marshall or somebody so talented and so inspiring, it's really beautiful, what happens there. Votes: 0

The good thing is that I have always had wonderful people around me. It's dangerous when you start earning a lot of money and you become famous when you are too young. Votes: 0

There are so many designers that I love, and I'm so lucky that I get to work with so many of them and sometimes spend time with them. Votes: 0

There is a magic factor that is sometimes on a movie set, that is a really, really beautiful thing that cannot be compared to anything else, if you are somebody that is really passionate about acting or directing or the world of movies. Votes: 0

To be able to explore the genre of the musical is nice. It was great to be able to sing professionally, for the first time, and dance, which was something that I did growing up, but I had not done for many, many years. Votes: 0

We must act now to make sure fresh water is available to everyone, no matter where they live. The consequences of doing nothing will be even more catastrophic. Votes: 0

We need to stop the dying and start the living; stop the hunger and start the hoping. Votes: 0

When I read a script, I try not to judge the characters. I try to have an open mind and really see what it makes me feel. Votes: 0

When I was 16, I got 'Jamon, Jamon.' Of course, I had to lie about my age. And I had to lie to my parents about the content of the script. Votes: 0

When you really have the preparation time and things start taking the shape that they need, you have a beautiful feeling that comes from the hard work. Votes: 0