She has tamed Javier Bardem. And we’re actually already taking our hats off to Penélope Cruz for that. We are all the more impressed that the actress prefers to walk through Madrid in a T-shirt and without much make-up than in high heels on the red carpet.
FACES: You have been working with Lancôme for nine years. What did you think of the label in the past, and how do you see it today?
Penélope Cruz: Lancôme has been with me all my life. I remember the moment as a child when I saw Isabella Rossellini’s campaign with Peter Lindbergh for the fragrance Trésor – it completely blew my mind! When I was given the opportunity to work for this brand myself nine years ago, I felt very honored. Lancôme is like a family – there are so many extremely talented people working here who also want to hear my opinion. I’m not just a face that turns up for the shoots, no, as an ambassador I’m involved everywhere.
F: They told us how they came into contact with Lancôme through Isabella Rossellini’s campaign. How did you react when you heard that Rossellini was rejoining the Lancôme family?
PC: I was so looking forward to meeting Isabella, spending time with her and telling her how she impressed me with her work as a child. I was often inspired by her after I took on the role of the Trésor woman nine years ago. It’s great to be working with her again and I really appreciate that Lancôme keeps women of all ages as ambassadors.
F: What do you say to those who see beauty as trivial and superficial or associate it with vanity?
PC: I grew up in an environment where beauty was not the most important thing in the world. Eventually, however, I realized that my mother’s beauty salon was of great importance to her customers. Many of them were very busy mothers with children who were trying to cope with their everyday problems. These women then left the salon with more self-confidence. There is nothing superficial or trivial about it.
F: As an actress, you know all the more how much make-up contributes to transformation. For which of your roles was make-up particularly important?
PC: Make-up was incredibly important for the role of Donatella Versace in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”. Apart from the wigs and a prosthesis that I put under my lips, the right make-up was crucial for my physical transformation.
F: What Lancôme products do you use in your everyday life?
PC: Génifique, Absolue, Visionnaire and the mascaras Grandiose or Hypnôse.
F: Do you follow a special beauty routine in the morning and evening?
PC: Before I go to bed, I wash my face, and I do the same when I get up in the morning. I also exfoliate once a week and even when I’m not applying make-up, I use a moisturizer. When I’m not working, I use very little make-up: a little mascara, a little blush and L’Absolue Rouge lipstick.
F: You once said that in an ideal world, you would have an hour to do your hair and another hour to do your make-up before a red carpet event. When did you have the most time for your look and for which occasion the least?
PC: I don’t usually need more than two hours to get ready for an event like this – unless it’s the Cannes Film Festival or the Academy Awards, where 20 minutes is all it takes to get dressed. Films set in a bygone century usually require elaborate styling – the same applied to the role of Donatella Versace. However, I then use the time in the mask to read, meditate, answer emails or get tips from the make-up professionals.
F: Then you must know a tip for a quick red carpet styling!
PC: A look that is quick and always works and that I can do myself in ten to 15 minutes is the
the following: I jump out of the shower, put my hair back, do my eyebrows and apply mascara, blush and lipstick.
F: You’re part of Lancôme’s Write Her Future program, right?
PC: Yes, and I am very happy to support Lancôme in promoting the education of women worldwide. At a recent press conference in Spain, I was even able to announce that “Write Her Future” is now working with Plan International there.
F: How important is it to you to work with a brand that is committed to projects like this?
PC: It’s extremely motivating. It is quite clear to me that education is one of the most important things in life, if not the basis of everything. Nothing works without education, dreams remain dreams and do not become reality. Education gives people the right tools to create their own freedom and discover their interests.
F: Why is anal phebetism such a big issue for women in particular?
PC: Anal piety is a tragedy. It breaks my heart to see young women dropping out of school to go to work for their families. Her childhood ends just as abruptly as her dream of becoming a doctor or teacher. It is sad that illiteracy is so much more common among girls than boys. That’s why Lancôme’s “Write Her Future” initiative is so important, because it supports girls in their education.
F: Do you remember the first book you ever read?
PC: One of the most important books I’ve ever read is J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye”. I devoured it in an afternoon and it made a deep impression on me. I remember exactly that day and that I felt like I was the protagonist while reading it.
F: What would you miss most if you were suddenly unable to read and write?
PC: I don’t even want to think about that. I like reading more and more, and writing is like a kind of therapy for me. I write down my thoughts every day and then destroy the documents straight away. There’s something very satisfying about writing down everything that’s on your mind, completely unfiltered and with the certainty that no one will ever read it.
F: Do you speak any other languages besides Spanish, French, English and Italian, and how important is it to you to know foreign languages?
PC: It’s worthwhile for anyone to speak several foreign languages, but for an actor it’s essential. I wouldn’t have been able to make all these movies if I didn’t speak several languages. A language helps you to understand the culture. I’m currently trying to learn Portuguese – I love the sound of this language! And for my next movie “Wasp Network” I’m practicing Spanish with a Cuban accent, which is another big challenge.
F: You’ve starred in many films alongside your husband Javier Bardem and do so again in your latest flicks “Everybody Knows” and “Loving Pablo”.
PC: We share a passion for constantly learning new things and developing ourselves further. We both believe that it is the journey that counts. It is important for us not to stand still and be stuck, but to know that we are in control of our own lives.
F: What do you appreciate most about your husband?
PC: His loyalty and his sense of humor.
F: What song are you currently listening to up and down?
PC: My brother is an incredibly talented musician and I listen to his music all day long.
F: Is there a song that really energizes you?
PC: Drake’s “Passionfruit”.
F: How do you keep your children occupied on a long car journey?
PC: I am convinced that children should not be constantly bombarded with technology and screens. At home, we only consciously turn on the TV when we want to watch a series or a movie. You should encourage your children to spend their time doing things that stimulate their imagination and creativity. In my opinion, it’s important for children to get bored sometimes and learn to deal with it.
F: What makes you happy?
PC: My family.
F: French chic or Spanish style?
PC: A combination of both.
F: What do you cook when you need to cook quickly?
PC: Spaghetti carbonara.
F: Early dinner in Los Angeles or late Spanish dinner?
PC: Early Spanish dinner.
F: Which animal would you like to be?
PC: I used to be called “Pato” – duck! Many people have already told me that I look like a duck. My favorite animal, however, is the dolphin.
F: Which city best suits your personality?
PC: I identify very much with Madrid. It is such an extremely exciting city with the perfect urban pace and the right proximity to the countryside and nature.
F: Tell us about your favorite childhood memories!
PC: There are many of them! For example, the Friday evenings with Grandma Modesta, where we watched “Un, dos, tres” together, a famous game show. Or the afternoons with my parents, who taught me how to swim in the pool.
F: What superpower would you like to have?
PC: I wish I could fly. Ever since I was little, I’ve dreamed of flying and having wings.
