Penelope Cruz was born in Madrid, Spain in 1974. She was named after the song "Penélope" by Joan Manuel Serrat. Penélope Cruz Sánchez stands 5 feet 6 inches – just an inch shy of her new beau Tom Cruise. She was named after the song "Penélope" by Joan Manuel Serrat. She was very hyperactive as a child and says that people had to be very patient with her. Personally, we can’t understand a word she is saying. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, not the ear. She started out in Televison and Movies roles in Spain. She got big acclaim in America for her role in "Blow" co-starring Johnny Depp. She is currently dating Tom Cruise, they met while they worked on the movie "Vanilla Sky". In the remake of Vanilla Sky she played the same role as she did in original Spanish version of it called "Abre Los Ojos". See her below in "Abre Los Ojos" - 1997.