Cruz began his screen career with Rafael Alcázar’s Greek Labyrinth in 1991 and rose to prominence a year later in Javier Bardem’s Jamón, Jamón. Over the years he appeared in 68 films, often collaborating with Oscar winner Pedro Almodóvar, while also starring in television campaigns and music videos.
Since 1993, the Spanish Film Academy has recognized his work, nominating him twelve times for the Goya Awards starting with Jamón, Jamón. This long and diverse career cemented his status in Spanish cinema and beyond.
These are among his most notable roles:
Ham, Ham – 1992
Jamón, Jamón propelled the Madrid-born actress to stardom, co-starring with her future husband, Javier Bardem. Directed by Bigas Luna, the film earned seven Goya nominations but did not win any awards. It marked a defining moment in her early career and remains a touchstone in Spanish cinema. [Citation: Spanish Film Academy records, 1992]
Belle Époque – 1993
Fernando Trueba’s Belle Époque premiered in 1993 as a landmark Spanish production and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It claimed nine Goya Awards and established the film as one of Spain’s most celebrated features. Though not the title Belle Époque might imply, it is a richly crafted ensemble piece set around the fall of the Second Spanish Republic. Cruz portrayed Luz alongside a strong cast featuring Ariadna Gil, Jorge Sanz, Agustín González, Chus Lampreave, and Fernando Fernán Gómez. Post–Jamón, Jamón, this production helped her earn multiple nominations and wins, including Fotogramas and Trofeo de Actriz. [Citation: Spanish Film Academy, 1993; Trueba archives, 1993]
The Flock’s Eye – 1998
In the Trueba drama The Girl with Your Eyes, Cruz delivered a commanding performance that earned her the Goya Award for Best Actress and the European Film Award for Best Actress. The project itself received eighteen Goya nominations and won seven. The story follows a group of Spanish filmmakers invited to Germany during the Nazi era to shoot a bilingual musical drama at UFA studios in Berlin. [Citation: Goya Awards archive, 1998]
Back – 2007
For Pedro Almodóvar’s Volver, Cruz earned her first Oscar nomination, though she did not win. In the film, Raimunda comes to life as a woman navigating family ties, resilience, and the social expectations of a changing Spain. Almodóvar has described Volver as a vivid portrait that challenges stereotypes about Spanish identity, presenting a Spain that is lively, generous, and brutally honest. [Citation: Academy discussions, 2007; Almodóvar interviews]
Vicky Cristina Barcelona – 2008
In this international collaboration, Cruz worked under Woody Allen’s direction and became the first Hispanic woman to win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She plays María Elena in Barcelona, sharing the screen with Scarlett Johansson and Javier Bardem. The film explores love, jealousy, and artistic ambition against a sun-drenched Catalan backdrop. [Citation: Academy Awards records, 2008]
Parallel Mothers – 2021
In Almodóvar’s latest project, Cruz again collaborates with the director, delivering a powerful performance that earned praise from critics and festival juries alike. While it captured widespread attention, neither a Goya nor an Oscar was awarded to her for this role. The drama centers on two women who meet in a hospital room to share the moment of birth. Janis, a confident, aging filmmaker, and Ana, a younger expectant mother, form a bond that reshapes their lives as events unfold around them. [Citation: Goya Awards records, 2021; festival reviews]