Penelope’s Tattoo

27 August 2001 (WENN) – The secret behind Penelope Cruz’s 883 ankle tattoo is out – it’s all to do with the Spanish star’s love of numerology. And the hidden meaning behind the mysterious markings on the actress’ leg doesn’t bode well for her current beau Tom Cruise – they indicate she’s more interested in money, success and power than love. Leading numerologist Christine Delorey, who wrote hit book Life Cycles, claims people who have tattoos of numbers are usually fans of numerology – and she’s convinced that’s the case with Cruz. She says, “In her chart, eight and three pop up as her main numbers in life. Eight stands for money, power and success and three stands for skill in communications and creativity. The second eight is to strengthen the power of the first. Penelope wants to win – she is very aggressive in terms of her career.”

After filming All the Pretty Horses (2000), she became a vegetarian.

It was rumored that she donated her entire The Hi-Lo Country (1998) salary to the Mother Teresa’s children’s sanctuary in Calcutta after spending a week there volunteering. This was later denounced by Cruz, according to a Reuters news article in 2001.

Daughter of Eduardo (merchant) and Encarna (hairdresser).

Brother, Eduardo.

Academic curriculum: Finished 2º B.U.P. (2nd. year of secondary school). Had 4 years of dance performance with Cristina Rota, several dance courses at New York, 9 years of classic ballet at the Conservatorio Nacional and 3 years of Spanish ballet with Ángela Garrido. Also had Jazz Dance course with Raúl Caballero.

Volunteered in Uganda for 2 months in 1997 with then boyfriend Faiz Ahmad.

She founded a non-government organisation (NGO) called Sabera Foundation. Together with Nacho Cano and other Spanish entertainers, they have set up a home, a school and a clinic for homeless girls and people suffering from tuberculosis in Calcutta. Two documentary programs were made for Spanish TV on this project. Unfortunately differences of opinion caused a collapse in the project and Sabera Foundation tragically no longer exists.

Was in a relationship with Tom Cruise (July 2001-January 2004).

She was named after the song “Penélope” by Joan Manuel Serrat.

Her sister Mónica Cruz is now a TV star in Spain. She starred in “Un paso adelante” (2002) as a young dancer with a famous aunt.

Voted the 7th Sexiest Female Movie Star in the Australian Empire Magazine September 2002.

Lived with Nacho Cano, Spanish musician, part of the trio (famous in Spain) called “Mecano”, a pop music group. Penelope appeared in one of the band’s video-clips “la Fuerza del Destino” and that’s where her romance with one of the two Cano brothers that form part of the group along with the singer Ana Torroja begun.

Best friends with actresses Goya Toledo and Salma Hayek.

Ranked #23 in Stuff magazine’s “102 Sexiest Women in the World” (2002).

Likes to keep stray cats.

Learned Italian because she wanted her part in the movie Don’t Move (2004) really badly. It paid off and she went on to win the Italian equivalent of the Oscars for Best Actress.

Speaks four languages: Spanish, Italian, French and English.

Was accompanied by Matthew McConaughey to the Grammy Awards in 2005. The couple met on the set of Sahara (2005).

Shares her birthday with Jessica Alba & Jay Leno

Spanish citizen.

Two of her boyfriends have been named “Sexiest Man Alive” by People Magazine: Tom Cruise (in 1990) and Matthew McConaughey (in 2005).

Bigas Luna was determined to have her starring as the lead character in the torrid Las edades de Lulú (1990), but Penélope was only 14. They agreed that she was too young for the role and Francesca Neri was cast instead. Two years later, Luna’s fixation with Cruz resulted in her breakthrough performance in Jamón, jamón (1992), her first film, famous for her somewhat erotic scenes. They eventually collaborated again in Volavérunt (1999).

Claims that Victoria Abril’s powerful performance in Pedro Almodóvar’s Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1990) (“Tie me up, tie me down!”) determined her to become an actress.

Ranked as #51 in FHM’s “100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005″ special supplement. (2005)

She claims her role in Bigas Luna’s Jamón, jamón (1992) psychologically scarred her for life. She was a teenager when she was cast in the film which required her to do nudity and sex scenes.

Named #72 in FHM magazine’s “100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006″ supplement. (2006).

Good friends with ex-boyfriend Tom Cruise. She was one of the first people to visit his new-born baby daughter Suri.

One of People magazines 50 Most Beautiful People in the world 2005.

Older sister of singer Eduardo Cruz (born 1986) and actress Mónica Cruz (born March 16, 1977).

Second Spanish performer to be Oscar-nominated. The first one was Javier Bardem.

Is a fan of Indian cinema and has expressed interest in working with Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan someday.

Ranked #58 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list.

Choosen by Empire Magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Movie Stars in the world (#50) 2007.

In 2006, she was earning $2 million per year representing L’Oreal cosmetics.

Ranked #82 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2008 list.

Second Spanish performer to win an Oscar for acting. The first was Javier Bardem.

She is the only person to win an acting Oscar (Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)) and appear in two Oscar-winning Best Foreign Language Films (All About My Mother (1999) (aka “All About My Mother” ) and Belle Epoque).

Has been in a relationship with Javier Bardem since they began filming Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) together in July 2007.

When she appeared on a Mexican talk show to promote one of her movies, the interview ended with her being sawn in half by a magician in an illusion called “Clearly Impossible”. In this, she was sawn in half inside a clear-sided box that gave an unobstructed view of her body all through the illusion.

Met Javier Bardem for the first time on the set of Jamón, jamón (1992), but they wouldn’t become a couple until working together in Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008). They also worked together on Live Flesh (1997), but didn’t share any on-screen time.

Magician David Copperfield once sawed her in half using the antique “Buzz Saw” illusion that Orson Welles used to saw Rita Hayworth, Marlene Dietrich and Marilyn Monroe in half.

Her role-model is Meryl Streep.

Was in a relationship with Matthew McConaughey (March 2004-May 2006).