Penelope Cruz in Sarajevo to shoot movie

Spanish actress Penelope Cruz has arrived in Sarajevo, where she will film "Venuto al mondo", a drama directed by Sergio Castellitto.

"Venuto al mondo" is the film adaptation of the same-named novel by Margaret Mazzantini, Castellitto's wife and one of the most popular writers in Italy.

Cruz will play the role of Gemma, a single mother who accompanies her teenage son to modern-day Sarajevo, the birthplace of his father, who died during the 1992-95 war in Bosnia.

Participating in the project are Bosnian production companies Pro.ba and Deblokada.

The Oscar-winning actress has worked with Castellitto before on his 2004 film "Non ti muovere".

Hollywood actress to star in 'Dhoom 3'?

Yashraj is reportedly considering pairing Aamir Khan with a Hollywood star in Dhoom 3.

Producer Aditya Chopra and director Vijay Krishna Acharya are considering casting either Oscar winner Natalie Portman, Penelope Cruz or Eva Longoria to play Khan's love interest.

A source told IANS: "The names you mention are definitely in the list. Yashraj has never worked with an international star in any of its films.

"The production house has now decided to take the Dhoom franchise to a global level. One safe and effective way of going global would be the casting of a Hollywood hottie."

The coveted role was originally offered to Katrina Kaif, but the Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara star was said to be uncomfortable with two scenes which required her to wear a bikini. Kaif subsequently stated that she had nothing to do with the film.

Yashraj's official spokesperson confirmed the reports, saying: "Yes, as of now some new international options are being considered."

Russian film market lures Hollywood

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia may not become the next Hollywood, but Tinseltown is definitely coming to Russia, where audience numbers are growing fast and US blockbusters are gaining greater popularity over domestic films.

Recognising Russia’s potential as a rapidly emerging film market, Hollywood has been flying silver screen stars to Moscow for red carpet events, to the delight of avid Russian fans.

Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz visited Moscow for the Russian premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” in May, while the world premiere of Hollywood 3D blockbuster “Transformers: The Dark of the Moon” attracted 80 Hollywood names including director Michael Bay.

“Moscow is an emerging market, it plays a very important international role,” Bay said before the premiere. The film made $22 million in Russia in its first week, 3.4 percent of the global box office take so far.

Cinema-going is booming in Russia two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union put a night out at the movies out of reach for many. Cinemas made a record $1 billion in sales last year on the back of 15.2 percent audience growth.

“We’re seeing a solidly positive trend, which shows that people feel comfortable. Russians are adopting the lifestyles and consumer behaviours of the developed nations,” said Yevgeny Nadorshin, an economist and former government adviser.

Foreign movies became Russian favourites two years ago, when their Russian returns first outperformed those of domestic films. Last year, U.S. productions made almost five times as much as the Russian ones.
The latest high-profile Russian film “Tired with the Sun-2: The Citadel”, heavily promoted at last year’s Cannes festival by veteran actor-director Nikita Mikhalkov, flopped, earning less than 4 percent of its $34-million budget in its first two weeks.

“The problem with producers here is they don’t co-produce well with other countries, or with each other, and a lot of them get money too easily. They are not as hungry as foreign producers are, they churn out movies with very little quality,” said Russian-based independent film director Johnny O’Reilly.

Penelope Cruz made Johnny Depp feel broody

Actor Johnny Depp has revealed that working with new mother Penelope Cruz has made him feel broody.

Cruz, who gave birth to son Leo in January, was shooting for "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides", while she was pregnant and Depp admits the sight of her being pregnant on set and then seeing Cruz with her husband Javier Bardem and their new baby evoked a desire on him to have more kids.

"It's great to watch the three of them in action. It's just adorable and it makes you incredibly broody and clucky," femalefirst.co.uk quoted Depp, who has daughter Lily-Rose, 11, and son Jack, 8, with long-term partner Vanessa Paradis, as saying.

Penelope set her hair on fire

Actress Penelope Cruz once set her hair on fire while blowing out candles on her birthday.

Cruz revealed she was so nervous while blowing out the candles of her birthday cake that she set her hair on fire, reports dailymail.

"I always get nervous celebrating the birthday. I get nervous when people sing 'Happy Birthday', I get nervous when I have to open the presents in front of them. I get more nervous even than at the Oscars," she said on " The Tonight Show With Jay Leno".

"If I like it or don't, I don't know how to express myself. The other day I got so nervous that when I had to blow the candles, my hair caught on fire. But it really caught on fire," she said.

Penelope Cruz says my son changed my life

Penelope Cruz has revealed that having her son Leo completely changed her life.

The actress and her husband Javier Bardem became parents to Leo in January and Cruz insisted that she has enjoyed every moment with him.

She told GQ: "Everybody tells you things change. And then all those clichés, all 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. So yes, your priorities change. It's from the second you see that little face, your life has changed forever."

The 37-year-old discovered she was pregnant shortly before she was due to start filming the Rob Marshall-directed Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides with Johnny Depp, and said that there were certain changes that had to be made.

She explained: "I found out I was pregnant and I had to tell Johnny and Rob. First for safety, second for honesty.

"It made for a very interesting shoot - especially it being an action movie. There were a few things I had been in training for before filming, before I knew I was pregnant, in rehearsals that had to be changed.

"And my outfits kept, well, evolving. I wasn't able to do any of the more dangerous shots, obviously. But the sword fights became more like choreography, more like dance. But everything was very safe and I felt very protected. I couldn't have done it any other way."

Johnny Depp loves working with Penelope Cruz

Actor Johnny Depp says he loves working with Spanish actress Penelope Cruz because they have so much fun together.

The two worked together in Blow and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
"It's been a long road of giggles. There's nothing bad to say. I've even tried to provoke her into some fit of anger, it doesn't work, I get nothing. Giggles, more giggles," a website quoted him as saying.

Cruz and her husband Javier Bardem became parents to son Leo in January and Depp feels the actress is a "phenomenal" mother.
"She's an inconceivably phenomenal mommy, which I've witnessed firsthand, and it's pretty incredible. She's as loyal and true a friend as anyone could ever dream of and I'm very privileged to be able to have her in my life," he said.

Penelope Cruz: 'Depp likes toilet humour'

Penelope Cruz has revealed that her Blow co-star Johnny Depp is a big fan of toilet humour.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the actress recalled being pranked during an incident on the film's set involving a "fart machine" owned by Depp, with whom she recently reunited for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

"He fooled me once when we were doing Blow," she recalled.

"I was doing a very dramatic close-up, and he kept making that sound with the machine… I was just thinking, 'I hope they're not thinking it's me'. When I met him ten years ago, he had a plastic [fart machine], and now, ten years later, he has one with a remote control."

However, Cruz went on to say that aside from the jokes she has nothing but respect for the actor, adding: "I only have good things to say about him... He's really one of the most kind and genuine people that I have ever met. He became a good friend. And he's so funny - I guess people know how funny he is. He has one of the best senses of humour, he's kind and smart. I love working with him."

Cruz escapes crush at Lakers game

Penelope Cruz reportedly had a lucky escape while watching a basketball game, when a player nearly fell on top of her.

According to WENN, the pregnant actress was watching the Los Angeles Lakers match against the Miama Dolpins with her husband Javier Bardem on Christmas Day.

She avoided injury when a player reached for a high ball and fell into crowd members in the front row, reportedly avoiding Cruz and Bardem by a few inches.

The Spanish couple married in early July 2010.

Cruz's sister to act as her body double

Pregnant actress Penelope Cruz's sister Monica is standing in as her body double for the new Pirates Of The Caribbean movie to hide the star's growing bump.
The Vicky Cristina Barcelona star confirmed earlier this year that she is expecting a baby with husband Javier Bardem.

Cruz is currently filming scenes for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and the shoot will be a family affair - her actress sister Monica has been drafted to appear in full-length shots to disguise the pregnancy, reports express.co.uk.

The baby is due early next year.

Penelope Cruz confirms pregnancy

Penelope Cruz has confirmed speculation that she is expecting her first child.

The Vicky Cristina Barcelona star sparked rumours that she is pregnant when she was photographed sporting a fuller figure on the set of Pirates Of The Caribbean 4 in Puerto Rico.

A representative for the actress has now confirmed to The AP that she is four-and-a-half-months pregnant. The spokesperson added that Cruz is currently travelling to London to finish filming the Disney sequel.

Cruz married actor Javier Bardem - her co-star in Vicky Cristina Barcelona - at a friend's house in the Bahamas in July.

Johnny Depp And Penelope Cruz: “Pirates 4” Pals

Getting down to work on “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz were spotted shooting scenes in Oahu, Hawaii on (July 26).

The “Public Enemies” actor and the “Vanilla Sky” babe looked intense as they worked together in their pirate getups as the paparazzi looked on from afar.

In between shots, Depp was seen chugging Gatorade and chatting with fellow cast and crew members.

Over the weekend, Johnny appeared via video at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con to entice the crowd about the new film, due in theaters May 20, 2011.

Lancome Superstar Spokesmodel

Fresh off of completing her initial shoot with the company, it has been announced that Penelope Cruz has made a deal with the Lancôme division of L’Oréal.

The cosmetics giant has signed the Spanish beauty as the brand’s third superstar spokesmodel, joining Julia Roberts and Kate Winslet.

According to WWD reports, "Miss Cruz will become the face of Lancôme’s top-ranked Trésor fragrance with a new ad campaign in the fall."

Not unfamiliar with working with Penelope, the actress has also taken part in an ad campaign for the company’s L’Oréal Paris brand.

Penelope Cruz's faint fear

Penelope Cruz almost "passed out" at the Oscars.

The Spanish actress - who won a best supporting actress Academy Award earlier this year for her role in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" - has revealed she has no recollection of the evening because she felt faint with tension.

She explained: "I feel frustrated that I can't remember, because it was beautiful how your family and your people can feel so happy for you. I felt I was on the border of passing out from tension. That I can remember very well."

However, the brunette beauty can recall tucking into 300 canapes, crying for half and hour and being confused about what was going on.

She explained to Britain's The Times newspaper: "I remember thinking, 'What am I doing here? How did this happen?' "

Despite her glowing movie career, the 35-year-old starlet still has problems with her self-esteem.

She explained: "I don't want to like myself too much in my work, because if the camera sees that, it's the thing it will hate the most, seeing an actor that likes himself too much.

"I have always been very self-critical. It's one of those things I don't feel I should try to change. I think you need that to keep growing and improving.

"It is in my nature to worry, about anything. I have always been like that, but now I try to control it and to be more positive. But I worry a lot."

Penelope Cruz can't stop kissing Meryl Streep

Actress Penelope Cruz has admitted that she can't stop kissing Meryl Streep.Speaking to her Nine co-star and fellow Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, the Spanish star said she thinks Meryl is the best there is."We only know each other from seeing each other at awards ceremonies or those kinds of events, but whenever I see her, I always go up to her and start kissing her," Penelope said in the latest issue of Interview Magazine.She added: "I don’t even say anything - I just kiss her. She must think I’m some crazy person."The Spanish stunner believes that Meryl is the best actress there is, reports The Daily Telegraph."There is nobody better," she said. "I watch her movies over and over again. I saw Silkwood again a couple of weeks ago, and it made me just want to kiss her feet."

Penelope Cruz wants to install ropes to swing from in her bedroom.

The actress had to shoot an elaborate song-and-dance rope routine for her new movie 'Nine', and despite damaging her hands during the scene she wants to make the most of her training.
'Nine' director Rob Marshall explained to Vanity Fair magazine: "The day we were shooting her big number she was working so hard. In the middle of the number she does this work with ropes - she was swinging on them and it was scary and she had formed calluses and her hands were bleeding.
"There's this huge sheath of pink satin she slides down on. When we finished the number she had disappeared behind the satin and was in tears. I said, 'Are you unhappy with what you did?' She said, 'No, no, it's that it's over and I loved every second. I want to install ropes in my bedroom so I don't have to let go of it.' "
Sophia Loren co-stars in the film and she bonded so strongly with Penelope, they were inconsolable at the end of filming.
Sophia said: "When it was my last day she came to my dressing room. She was crying and I was crying. This is the first time I have left a film set crying because we got so upset about leaving each other."
Penelope, 35, has previously admitted she found shooting the movie an extremely rewarding and emotional experience.
She said: "I couldn't stop crying, because I had been doing dance classes and rehearsals for so many months. It's in the film and it will be there forever, but I don't get to do it again. I was addicted to dancing!"

Gay director Almodovar attracted to Penelope Cruz

Well-known Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, who is a gay, says he got attracted to his muse Penelope Cruz with whom he has done films like "Volver" and "All About My Mother".Almodovar admitted that he was intensely attracted to Cruz while filming his latest film "Broken Embraces", a concept he also included in the plot, reported contactmusic.com."Out of all the actresses I have worked with, Penelope really has been the one who has caused a sense of desire in me beyond the sensuality of a film shoot," he said."Normally, as a director, you engage with your leading lady on an extremely emotional level, and there is everything but sex. But it is true that with Penelope it is different. She has caused me sexual desire," he added.

Penélope into motherhood

The blogosphere has gone into overdrive with reports that Penélope Cruz is expecting her first child with longtime love Javier Bardem.

“Penélope is about four months pregnant,” according to Just Jared who broke the story. “She’s really healthy now and will be a great mother.”

Whilst reps for both Penélope and Javier are yet to comment, tellingly, respected broadsheets such as the LA Times have picked up the story.

It has been noted that the Spanish beauty has been looking a little plumper than usual and we know she recently quit smoking so motherhood may be just a few months away. However, although the actress may be expecting the patter of tiny feet, she won’t be getting married anytime soon.

She recently told UK’s Psychologies magazine, “When I [have babies], I want to do it really well. I want it to be my best project in life. I don’t know if I believe in marriage. I believe in family, love and children.”

The couple has been together since the summer of 2007 when they got close while filming Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona in which the two Oscar winners played estranged but entwined lovers.

Penélope has enjoyed a star-studded romantic past, having been linked to both Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey but her low-key relationship with Javier has always seemed like something special.

We hope that it’s true and that another Hollywood baby is on the way!