Mónica Cruz

Mónica Cruz

Mónica Cruz at the premiere of the film Jerry Cotton in Munich on February 28, 2010.
Born Mónica Cruz Sánchez
March 14, 1977
Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain
Occupation Actress, Dancer
Years active 2002–present
Children 1
Relatives Penélope Cruz (sister)

Mónica Cruz Sánchez (born March 14, 1977) is a Spanish actress and dancer. She is the younger sister of actress Penélope Cruz.

Early life

Mónica Cruz Sánchez was born in Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain, the daughter of Encarna Sánchez, a hairdresser, and Eduardo Cruz, a retailer and auto mechanic.[1][2] Throughout her childhood, Cruz lived in Alcobendas, a working-class town. Cruz is the middle child of three siblings ; she has an older sister, Penélope, who is an actress, and a younger brother, Eduardo (born in 1986), who is a singer.[3] Her parents divorced in 1999 and her father remarried Carmen Moreno in 2003. Moreno gave birth to a baby girl, Salma Cruz, on February 24, 2012.[4] Penélope and Mónica distinguished themselves as promising young dancers and they both received professional instruction; Penélope attended Spain’s National Conservatory, while Mónica enrolled in The Royal Academy of the Dance to study traditional ballet and flamenco.

Career

Mónica Cruz in her dance studio in Madrid in July 2007.

Upon graduating from the academy, Mónica joined Joaquín Cortés’ flamenco dance company.[5] She stayed with the company for seven years until, in 2002, she left dancing to pursue a career as an actress. By 2005, Mónica starred in the Spanish television show Un Paso Adelante[5] alongside Beatriz Luengo, Miguel Ángel Muñoz, Pablo Puyol and Silvia Marty.

In 2010, her sister Penélope was pregnant while filming scenes for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Towards the latter half of shooting, the appearance of her pregnancy was very apparent so the filmmakers had to figure methods of shooting around it. This included shooting Penélope in close up scenes while hiring Mónica to stand-in for long distance scenes as she appeared identical to her sister.[6]

Personal life

Cruz dated Spanish actor and singer Miguel Ángel Muñoz for three years. While they were dating, she got a tattoo of Muñoz's initials inside her left wrist. She then dated Argentinian actor Fabián Mazzei for about a year. She was also in a relationship with an Italian stunt man, Paolo, from 2007 to 2010. In 2011, she dated Spanish actor Álex González.

Cruz gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Antonella Cruz Sánchez on May 14, 2013.[7] Her daughter was conceived via artificial insemination and has no legal father.[8]

Filmography

Year Film Role
2011 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Angelica (doubled for Penélope Cruz)
2011 Iron Cross Gaby
2010 Jerry Cotton Malena
2009 9 meses Irma
2008 Asterix at the Olympic Games Esmeralda
2008 All Inclusive Clemencia
2007 Caminando Mary Carmen Maya
2006 The Inquiry Tabitha
2005 Last Hour Rosa Mulero
2005 Un Paso Adelante Silvia Jauregui

References

  1. ↑ "Penelope Cruz Biography (1974-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
  2. ↑ "The Rising Star of Penelope Cruz". CBS News. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
  3. ↑ Vries, Hilary De (2013-06-09). "Penelope Cruz: Will She Say I Do, or I Don't". Marie Claire. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
  4. ↑ "Penelope Cruz's sister born after father welcomes little girl with second wife Carmen Moreno.". hellomagazine.com. 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gordon, Jane (16 November 2007). "Monica Cruz: Why I'll never be as famous as my sister". Mail Online (London: Associated Newspapers). Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  6. ↑ "Packing for two, Penelope? Pregnant star leaves London with a LOT of luggage". Daily Mail. 7 November 2010.
  7. ↑ "Monica Cruz Gives Birth To Daughter". Starpulse.com. 2013-05-15. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
  8. ↑ J J Anisiobi (2013-01-11). "Penelope Cruz's sister Monica reveals she used anonymous sperm donor to get pregnant | Mail Online". London: Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-09-06.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mónica Cruz.