In her recent ELLE cover story, Penelope Cruz, 49, spoke candidly about aging and the impending milestone of turning 50. Known for her unforgettable roles and striking beauty, the Spanish star says of course she’s thought about aging as she’s reaching this milestone. She’s been asked about aging her whole career in the spotlight, she notes.
“But you know why I don’t worry about that?” she replied when asked again. “Because people have been asking me about age since I was twentysomething. I was more bothered then than now. Now it makes more sense, to discuss turning 50. It’s a huge, beautiful thing, and I really want to celebrate that with all my friends. It means I’m here and I’m healthy, and it’s a reason to have a party.”
Cruz reminisced about the challenges she faced in her mid-20s when confronted with intrusive questions. “When I was 25, they would ask me these psychotic questions, things you would not believe, and the only weapon I would have was not to answer.”
Even on the red carpet today, Cruz says she maintains her composure. “Even now, on the red carpet, when they shout to ‘Turn around,’ I always pretend I didn’t hear what they said.”
It’s perhaps this intrusiveness that has led Penelope Cruz and husband Javier Bardem to remain private about her children, Luna, 10, and son Leo, 12. “It’s for them to decide if they are going to have a job that is more exposed to the public or not. They can talk about that when they’re ready,” she told the magazine.
