Make It Big

She was an established actress in the Spanish film industry. A lot of hard work and her liaisons with some top actors brought her into limelight in Hollywood. While it took Penelope a bit of time to earn her due recognition in the United States, roles in films like Blow (2001) and Vanilla Sky (2001) propelled her into marquee-name status. Her little fling with Tom Cruise while he was separated from Nicole Kidman didn't hurt either. After roles in several box-office bombs like 2003's Gothika and 2004's Head in the Clouds, Penelope Cruz surely bounced back after her Golden Globe nomination for 2006's Volver.