Penélope Cruz interview highlights growing fear in Hollywood, global conflict, and why more celebrities remain silent despite humanitarian crises.
Penélope Cruz is one of the most beloved actresses in the industry, as well as one of those who never stays silent when it comes to denouncing atrocities around the world.
Together with her husband, Javier Bardem, she forms one of the most influential couples in show business, both in entertainment and political circles; their voices never go unnoticed.
The Spanish newspaper El País recently published an interview in which she talks about these issues.
Q: I understand that visiting Bad Bunny’s studio led your children to tell you: “Mom, you’re finally cool!” What do you gain from connecting with young artists?
A: (Laughs) Did I actually tell that story somewhere? Well, they really do come out with the funniest things… In my life, music came first; I had been doing ballet since I was four years old and spent 18 years dancing. My favorite pastime was sitting next to the record player with my vinyl records and those huge headphones. I knew every single note of Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, and Chopin by heart. From there, I’d move on to the Bee Gees, Alaska, Radio Futura… At home, on Sundays, we’d all clean the house together with music playing in the background. I used to force everyone to sit on the sofa and watch my performances. Since then, I’ve always used music to help me reach the emotional depths I need as an actress—to conjure up specific feelings. So I’m a huge fan of the musicians I admire—and Benito is definitely one of them. What he’s doing—and the places he’s taking our language—strikes me as something truly astounding, and incredibly brave. His music gives me such a rush; I went to see him three times in a row in Puerto Rico.
Q: Now that you mention Bad Bunny’s bravery, I’d like to talk about your own. Has taking a stand on certain causes ever taken a professional toll on you?
A: Yes, it has—occasionally. But that has actually helped me realize that I didn’t need to be working with that particular person anyway. I would never allow anyone to silence me when it comes to speaking out against the brutalization of civilians and children anywhere in the world—because, to me, a child’s life holds exactly the same value no matter where on earth they live. Unfortunately, it seems that for many people, that isn’t the case. I focus on children because they have always mattered deeply to me, ever since I was very young. When I was 18, I went to Calcutta; I wanted to be there, working alongside Mother Teresa. I witnessed some truly harrowing things—that trip left a profound mark on me.
Q: At the most recent Oscars ceremony, one of the few guests who spoke out about current events was Javier Bardem. Do you think there is a climate of fear in Hollywood?
A: I think there are a lot of people who are afraid to speak up, given everything that’s happening with ICE and other ongoing conflicts. I mean, if it isn’t fear, then what is it? I prefer to believe that it’s fear…
Q: …Rather than believing it’s apathy.
A: The sheer volume of images we’ve received showing children and civilians in Gaza—images that affect me in exactly the same way as those of all the civilians who died in Israel on October 7th… I see those children in Gaza suffering and dying in such a manner—with that level of agony and horror—and I ask myself: How can we look at that and say nothing? Write nothing? Do nothing? To each their own.
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