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France Honors Actress Penelope Cruz
2006-01-12
PARIS - Penelope Cruz was honored Wednesday by France's culture minister who called her a ``great European actress'' and proclaimed her a knight in the Order of Arts and Letters.Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres praised in particular her international movie career which includes roles in French, English, Italian and her native Spanish. ``It's France's role to be the ardent defender of cultural diversity and to recognize those who extend, with their talent, the culture of their country,'' said the minister. ``I'm happy to have honored this great European actress.'' Cruz, in Paris to promote her new movie, ``Bandidas,'' received the minister's accolades with blushing modesty. ``I'm not sure that I deserve it, but I will do my best so that you won't regret it,'' Cruz said during the ceremony at the Culture Ministry. The minister cited ``Bandidas'' as an example of Cruz' ability to work with a diverse cast of international talent. The movie, a Western about two female outlaws set in 19th century Mexico, was written and produced by French filmmaker Luc Besson. The film co-stars Salma Hayek, who was present at the ceremony and gave Cruz a congratulatory hug. Cruz rocketed to international stardom with the success of Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar's Oscar-winning ``All About My Mother.'' Hollywood came courting, giving her starring roles in ``Blow,'' ``All the Pretty Horses,'' ``Vanilla Sky'' and ``Sahara.'' ``Volver,'' her most recent collaboration with Almodovar, is expected in movie theaters later this year.
Tom Cruise is free from studio system (2006-11-09)Cruz downplays Oscar buzz for 'Volver' (2006-11-09)France Honors Actress Penelope Cruz (2006-01-12)Director Crowe looks at success, failure in new film (2005-10-13)Cruise loses PR wars as Pitt stays on message (2005-06-12)
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