On May 8, Penelope Cruz and husband actor Javier Bardem will open the 71st edition of the Cannes Film Festival with their psychological thriller, Everybody Knows. Directed by acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi (The Salesman), it will mark Cruz’s third feature to open the festival — but the first one to open in competition.
“It’s very exciting. At the same time, it’s kind of nerve-racking, because there’s a very strong adrenaline,” said Cruz, speaking to Gulf News tabloid! on Thursday evening in Dubai. Clad in a floor-length, pearl white ensemble, Cruz was helping launch a Carpisa store in Dubai Mall; she’s been the face of the luxury handbag brand for three years, and designed a colourful, bold capsule for them with sister Monica.
The Spanish actress enjoys working with her family. This year she has Everybody Knows with Bardem, and the couple starred in Loving Pablo together last year, based on a tumultuous romance featuring Pablo Escobar. What is it like, to work with her husband in a professional setting?
“It’s very easy, in a way, because we know each other so much and we trust each other so much — but at the same time, it’s not something we want to do every year. It’s something for once in a while,” said Cruz, with a playful smirk.
(For years, Bardem has been compared to fellow actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan. There are entire galleries, video clips and listicles dedicated to their physical similarities. Is Cruz aware of this underground movement trying to prove they’re the same person?
“He told me that sometimes that has been mentioned, and I don’t know if one day they showed each other,” she said, still with a grin. “Sometimes I see a little bit of resemblance. A little bit. Not too much, but a little bit.”)
IT’S A SPY THING
In the latest casting news from Hollywood, it was revealed that Cruz would star in Jessica Chastain’s upcoming spy thriller, 355. The all-female leads also include Lupita Nyong’o, Fan Bingbing, Marion Cotillard and Chastain herself.
“She called me and told me about the story, and she’s been incredibly creative and generous, making all of us partners in this story,” said Cruz, of why she accepted the project, directed by Simon Kinberg and written by Theresa Rebeck.
“A lot of women are involved — a lot of women are developing and creating this film from the start. I just read the treatment a few days ago, and it’s going to be really smart and funny and interesting. It arrives in a great moment. It’s supposed to be the beginning of a franchise,” said Cruz.
The 44-year-old actress is no stranger to fast-paced and suspenseful genres, from psychological horror flick Gothika and action-comedy Sahara, to the romantic thriller Broken Embraces and crime drama, The Counselor.
Can she feel the difference, as an actress, when there are a lot of women working behind the scenes?
“I don’t want to generalise, but it’s true that in a lot of those action movies, thrillers, sometimes the female character has had a purpose that, most of the time, was not the most interesting,” Cruz said, calling the phenomena ‘tiring’.
“Women can carry the weight of a movie like this, where there is action, where there is a thriller element. I feel like it’s obvious that it can be done, but the fact that it hasn’t been done a lot is…” Cruz added, trailing off.
“I love that Jessica has had the strength to make the decision and take the risk and say, ‘Let’s do it.’ We’ve been having a great response.”
VERSACE ON TV
Another complicated character that Cruz recently had the chance to play was Donatella Versace, as part of true crime series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. Though the TV show has been surrounded in controversy, due to objections from members of the Versace family, it has also been critically acclaimed, receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews.
Cruz had reportedly asked Donatella for permission to portray her on screen, and proceeded with her blessing.
“I loved playing her. I did it with all my love and respect,” said Cruz. “Donatella is such a unique personality, so for me, it was one of the most difficult and challenging parts. I had a lot of months of preparation for that; I didn’t want to do an imitation, but I wanted to capture an essence in the way she talks, the way she moves. It’s so particular, so unique. But I’m very happy that I did it,” admitted Cruz.
Up next for the actress is another collaboration with long-time friend and unorthodox director Pedro Almodovar. She will act against Antonio Banderas in Dolor y Gloria, an ode to a director’s twilight years.
It could be Almodovar’s final film. Banderas called working with him hell, but creative hell. Cruz laughed at this.
“For me, I’ve always had very good and calm experiences with him. We have a very good connection on set, and everything is very intense, but I love it. I’ve enjoyed every movie I’ve done with him. In this one, I work like, eight days to set up collaboration in the film. The lead is Antonio,” said Cruz.
“But I love this character. I don’t measure a character’s importance by how many scenes they have … I loved the character that he wants me to do, because I know it’s a special character for Pedro. It is for me, too.”
TIME’S UP VS. THE WORLD
Cruz, despite her popularity in the industry, doesn’t consider herself to be “a woman in Hollywood.”
“I feel like an actress who is having great opportunities to work in different industries. To work in Spain, in France, in Italy, in Hollywood, too. I feel very privileged, but I don’t live there for many years,” said Cruz.
She added that what’s happening in Hollywood isn’t just affecting Hollywood.
There are ongoing movements within the industry that fight against sexual violence and the casting couch mentality. One of them is Time’s Up, which has gathered tens of millions of dollars for its legal defence fund.
“This is affecting everywhere, and in all of the industries. We have a microphone closer to us, so we can express ourselves. But I feel that every time we speak, we have to do it in the name of all the other women that don’t get asked these questions. Any teacher, or doctor, or cleaning lady,” said Cruz.
“I love Times Up, because it’s a very specific contribution to this change — it’s a fund that has been put together from donations from all over the world, and it creates a possibility to get legal representation for men and for women. It’s not just for women. This change has to happen with us being more together than ever.”
