Penelope Cruz is another one of those “classy” actresses I like to refer to every now and then…an Oscar nominee, a Golden Globe winner and a gorgeous beauty who has dated our favorite placenta stew lover…Scientol-Tom.

When interviewed, it is inevitable that you will hear at least once from the Spanish princess, “I don’t want to talk about that.” And how can you bicker with the doe-eyed actress who has captured the hearts of many across the world with her movies? Although we would like to hear about her whirlwind romance with Scientol-Tom, but apparently we’ll have to wait until she gets a little tipsy on some tequila before we find out any details on that. Hmmph.

Most recently Pene has been recognized for her role as Maria Elena in “Vicky Christina Barcelona” and while she sat down with Martyn Palmer, she revealed very little about her personal life, but she does give an interesting interview to say the least. Check out some of the highlights below.

ON WORKING WITH HER BOYFRIEND JAVIER BARDEM:

Javier is a wonderful man, a great actor. It was wonderful to work with him. I think he’s the best. He’s one of the best actors around. He’s fantastic. He has an amazing talent. This character is very difficult and he does it in an amazing way – it’s completely the anti-cliché. Some of those scenes are so subtle, so difficult, it’s an amazing performance.

ON DATING HER CO-STARS:

I don’t think a successful relationship depends on [being in the same work]. In my first relationship I was with somebody for six years, a guy who had nothing to do with the movie business. And you know, that was the longest relationship I’ve had. For me, being with another actor doesn’t make it more difficult or easier. It’s just good to have somebody who understands you.

ON HER ROLE AS MARIA ELENA IN VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA:

I’m always drawn to play people who suffer because I feel more for them. It doesn’t matter if I like them or not, as long as I feel something strong for the character. Then I want to get into their heads; into their souls. With Maria Elena, I felt so much compassion and curiosity because this is a woman who was told when she was growing up that she was too special to be happy. And now she feels she has to stay as this tortured artist in order to continue to be special; she is in a trap. I found that very interesting to play, to try to understand someone like that.

ON HER RISQUE SCENE WITH SCARLETT JOHANSSON:

The day we did that scene the set was crowded. I think it was supposed to be a closed set, but these guys made a lot of excuses to be there…

ON HER CHILDHOOD:

Everything had the right value. We could not take things for granted because my parents had to work very hard to raise us. (Her mother, Encarna, was a hairdresser and her father, Eduardo, a shopkeeper.) I’m happy that I grew up in that kind of family. It makes you appreciate things. I think the people who are around you when you are a child shape who you become.

ON HOW SHE ALWAYS KNEW SHE WOULD BE AN ACTRESS:

Even when I was four, I would dress up and create little characters, taking clothes from my mother’s closet, my grandma’s. When I was 13, I said to my family, “I’m going to be an actress.” And then I looked for an agent – she sent me away three times because I was a little girl, but I kept coming back.

ON WORKING ON A FASHION LINE WITH HER SISTER:

We love doing [Mango], because we’ve been wearing their clothes since we were little girls. We work pretty close to the fashion world so it was the perfect thing to do together and it’s been a lot of fun.

ON CHILDREN:

I tried to adopt then but they wouldn’t let me because I wasn’t married. I’m not criticizing those rules, that’s the way it is. I do know that motherhood is going to be very important to my life.

WHAT SHE LIKES TO DO WHEN SHE’S NOT WORKING:

Oh, you know, to be with friends, read, listen to music, go to the shops – sometimes I get recognized, sometimes I don’t, but I’m not going to stop doing it. And sleep! I’ve always needed a lot of sleep.

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