Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem were in LA over the weekend, but he was already on the go again Sunday as he arrived for a flight out of LAX.

Penelope stayed behind, and yesterday afternoon she stepped out for a facial at Chez Gabriela.

They were able to have a few days together in California and enjoy local favorites like a trip to In-N-Out on Friday.

The couple recently shared a vacation in Anguilla where she sported a bikini amid pregnancy rumors.

Javier is due on the set of Eat, Pray, Love soon, so hopefully he and Penelope had some fun times together before going their separate ways.

Penelope Cruz is sleeping with her Oscar award.

The Spanish star picked up the Best Supporting Actress prize for her role in “Vicky Christina Barcelona” on Sunday (February 22, 2009) and was so thrilled she took the famous golden statue to bed.

She told US TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey: “When they gave it to me I could not stop crying for 20 minutes.”

“I could not look at it – is it for real, or one of those things my friends gave me or something?”

“This morning I woke up with the same feeling. But I had put the Oscar in my bed, on the other pillow, I looked – and it was there!”

Penelope’s friends and family all painted the letter “P” on their foreheads to show their support for the actress at the awards.

In her acceptance speech, Penelope said: “I grew up in a place called Alcobendas, where this wasn’t a very realistic dream.”

The mayor of her hometown, a suburb of Madrid, has since said he may name a street after her.

Penelope – who is her country’s first ever female Oscar winner – celebrated her win by partying until 5.30am after the ceremony.

In collecting an Academy Award, Penelope follows in the footsteps of her boyfriend Javier Bardem, who became the first Spanish actor to win an Oscar last year.

Javier didn’t attend the awards on Sunday because he was filming his latest movie “Beautiful.”

Penelope Cruz won the first Academy Award of the night Sunday, claiming the supporting-actress honor as a tempestuous artist in Woody Allen’s Spanish romance “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

The win capped a big weekend for Cruz, fresh off her win Saturday for the same prize at the Spirit Awards honoring independent film. “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” features Cruz as an unstable Spaniard in a steamy three-way affair with her ex-husband and an American woman.

“Has anybody ever fainted here? Because I might be the first one,” Cruz said, who went on with warm thanks to Allen. “Thank you, Woody, for trusting me with this beautiful character. Thank you for having written all these years some of the greatest characters for women.”

It’s the fifth time an Allen film has earned a performer a supporting-acting honor. Cruz joins past Allen collaborators Dianne Wiest, a dual Oscar winner for “Hannah and Her Sisters” and “Bullets Over Broadway”; Michael Caine for “Hannah and Her Sisters”; and Mira Sorvino for “Mighty Aphrodite.”

The award was presented by five past supporting-actress winners, including last year’s, Tilda Swinton, plus Eva Marie Saint, Anjelica Huston, Whoopi Goldberg and Goldie Hawn.

It was a much-different style for the Oscars as each past recipient offered personal tributes to one of the nominees, without clips of the nominated performances. Awards usually are done in chit-chat style between a couple of celebrity presenters.

After last year’s Oscars delivered their worst TV ratings ever, producers this time aimed to liven up the show with some surprises and new ways of presenting awards. Rather than hiring a comedian such as past hosts Jon Stewart or Chris Rock, the producers went with actor and song-and-dance man Hugh Jackman, who has been host of Broadway’s Tony Awards.

Instead of the usual standup routine, Jackman did an engaging musical number to open the show, saluting nominated films with a clever tribute.

Offering a nod to best-picture favorite “Slumdog Millionaire,” Jackman crooned, “Just a humble slumdog, sitting in a chair, of a millionaire …” He hauled best-actress nominee Anne Hathaway on-stage to stand in as Richard Nixon in a gag tune about fellow best-picture nominee “Frost/Nixon” and asked the question in song — why don’t comic-book movies get nominated? — a dig at Oscar voters’ best-picture snub of the Batman blockbuster “The Dark Knight.”

“Slumdog Millionaire” came into the evening with 10 nominations and an unstoppable run of prizes from earlier film honors.

In keeping with its theme of bottomless optimism amid adversity, “Slumdog Millionaire” has led a charmed life, dodging a flirtation with straight-to-DVD release, winning over critics and climbing toward $100 million hit status. The film has won top honors at all key earlier awards ceremonies.

Now its cast of unknowns — from new celebrities Dev Patel and Freida Pinto to kids plucked by director Danny Boyle from the slums of Mumbai, India — earned a trip to Hollywood’s glitziest party.

The film’s young stars were greeted with cheers and blew kisses in return as they walked the red carpet before the Oscars.

For best picture, “Slumdog Millionaire” faced off against the romantic epic “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” the Richard Nixon saga “Frost/Nixon,” the Harvey Milk tale “Milk” and the Holocaust-themed drama “The Reader.”

Shot in India on a modest budget of $14 million, “Slumdog Millionaire” traces the life of a Mumbai orphan who overcomes poverty, betrayal, police torture and other hardships on his way to a reunion with his childhood love and success on India’s version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”

The film nearly got lost in the shuffle as Warner Bros. folded its arthouse banner, Warner Independent, which had been slated to distribute “Slumdog Millionaire.” It was rescued from the direct-to-video scrap heap when Fox Searchlight stepped in to release the film.

It wasn’t all sunshine for “Slumdog Millionaire” going into the Oscars, though. A few raindrops fell on the red carpet at midmorning amid forecasts of a 30 percent chance of showers on Hollywood’s big night. And hope of warm feelings between the Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers was lost late Saturday night when SAG’s board of directors rejected the producers’ “last, best and final offer” for a new contract.

Sunday’s ceremony, airing live on ABC, featured a mix of fresh faces and old Oscar hands in the acting categories. Two-time winner Meryl Streep extended her record to 15 nominations, this time for best actress in “Doubt,” while other past Oscar recipients and nominees include Sean Penn (best actor for “Milk”), Kate Winslet (best actress for “The Reader”), Robert Downey Jr. (supporting actor for “Tropic Thunder”) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (supporting actor for “Doubt.”)

Newcomers included a rush of veteran performers, among them best-actress contenders Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”) and Melissa Leo (“Frozen River”) and best-actor candidates Mickey Rourke (“The Wrestler”), Frank Langella (“Frost/Nixon”) and Richard Jenkins (“The Visitor”).

“The Dark Knight” co-star Heath Ledger was considered as strong a lock to win supporting actor as “Slumdog Millionaire” is to win best picture and director. Ledger, who died on Oscar nominations day last year, took comic-book villains to new heights with his delirious incarnation of Batman foe the Joker.

Past winner Angelina Jolie and her man, Brad Pitt, both were nominated. She’s up for best actress in “Changeling” and he’s competing for best actor in “Benjamin Button,” which leads with 13 nominations.

Salma Hayek forced Penelope Cruz to watch the Oscar nominations.

Penelope, who was staying at close friend Salma’s Los Angeles home, had planned to sleep through the nominations, having only flown into the city a few hours before. Her hostess, however, had other plans.

Penelope said: “I had just arrived to Los Angeles very, very late at night, and I had went to sleep (sic). Four hours later, I was at the house of some of my girlfriends, and they woke me up.”

“Actually, it was Salma Hayek. She woke me up and said, ‘We have to watch it live!’ I said, ‘That’s such a big risk!’”

Despite fears of jinxing her chances of a nomination, the actress soon discovered her role in romantic comedy “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” has put her in the running for the Best Supporting Actress award.

She said: “We watched and then I heard the news – everything goes so fast! An hour later, you have to start doing all these interviews and then you spend all day working. I haven’t had the time yet to digest or understand it.”

Penelope Cruz was left blistered and bruised after performing a sexy dance.The actress was forced to push through the pain while doing a rope routine for new musical film “Nine” – because she was worried she would lose her grip and fall.

She said: “When something like that happens, you just have to keep going and forget about any physical pain.”

“I was dancing in the dark with one spotlight on me, so I had to be extremely alert and focused.”

“There were other things to think about, so I was not in pain while dancing – I was just praying not to fall!”

However, the star soon learned to love the raunchy moves and was left in tears on her last day of filming when she realized her hard work had paid off.

She added: “You carry on and forget the pain, and at the end of the day you see all the blisters and bruises.”

“I couldn’t stop crying, because I had been doing dance classes and rehearsals for so many months.”

“It’s in the film and it will be there for ever, but I don’t get to do it again. I was addicted to it!”

“Nine” – which also stars Daniel Day-Lewis – is due for release in November.

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem have enjoyed a romantic holiday.

The “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” co-stars, who are believed to have been dating for around a year, spent a week in the luxurious private resort of Cayo Espanto, off the coast of Belize.

The Hollywood pair kept a low-profile during their break, preferring to spend time away from other holidaymakers scuba-diving and having picnics on the beach.

A source told America’s OK! magazine: “They enjoyed their privacy.”

Penelope and Javier also splashed out on several private helicopter rides which flew them to their romantic outings.

This is not the first holiday the Spanish stars have enjoyed together. Last October, they fueled romance rumors after they were seen in the Maldives.

Although the pair have since be spotted holding hands and hugging, Penelope and Javier have refused to comment on their relationship.

However, last month 34-year-old Penelope revealed she has never been happier. She said: “I have to tell you, my private life is at its best.”

When pressed on her romance with 39-year-old Javier, Penelope said: “If you want to know more about him, then please ask him. I am not going to say any more. I never discuss my personal life.”

Scarlett Johansson preferred kissing Penelope Cruz to Jonathan Rhys Meyers.The blonde beauty – who announced her engagement to Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds earlier this year – admits the highly-anticipated kiss for “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” was more pleasurable than she thought it would be.

She said: “Everybody wants to know what it was like. Penelope had less facial hair than a guy so it was certainly more pleasant. It was better than kissing Jonathan Rhys Meyers in ‘Match Point.’”

“Kissing him wasn’t that bad, but he did have to stop and shave in the middle of a scene even though he’d shaved that morning. The man has really got some beard on him!”

Scarlett – who has worked with Woody Allen on three movies so far – also revealed she would “do anything” if it meant she could work with the esteemed director again in the future.

She added to Parade.com: “I worship Woody and I’d do anything in one of his movies.”

The 23-year-old actress said she has learned a lot about herself since she started dating “Definitely, Maybe” star Ryan.

She said: “I’m so fortunate to be in a very solid and comfortable relationship. I’m in a good place in my life right now.”

“I’m a really big believer in loving yourself before you can give love to somebody else.”

“The healthiest and most inspiring relationships are the ones where you’re so comfortable with the other person that you actually learn more about yourself that you could never appreciate before.”

Penelope Cruz has confessed she doesn’t understand how she passed her school exams because she never studied.The “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” actress – who is reportedly engaged to actor Javier Bardem – was stunned with her high school success because she never applied herself in class.

She said: “I was good in school, but I was surprised because I didn’t put too much time in studying.”

“I was always dreaming about the things I wanted to do when I was older, like acting. I still don’t know why or how I passed, because I literally put no time in.”

Penelope, who locks lips with Scarlett Johansson in Woody Allen’s new movie, insists she liked going to school and learning new things.

She added: “I did actually enjoy every subject. Except mathematics!”

The 34-year-old Spanish beauty recently revealed she struggles to control her “inner beast,” who threatens to ruin any achievements in her life.

She explained: “I’m always finding very tricky and hidden ways to sabotage any beautiful moment.”

“And it’s something so internal that I don’t think even my friends or family can catch me doing it.”

Kissing Penelope Cruz was “the least sexy thing you can ever imagine”, according to Scarlett Johansson. The blonde beauty, who locks lips with the Spanish siren Cruz in Woody Allen’s new movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona, insists despite the hype surrounding the raunchy scene, it did not live up to her expectations.

Johansson said: “There were about 60 crewmen sitting around eating salami sandwiches! It’s really the least sexy thing you can ever imagine!”

Scarlett also said the scene will only shock the most conservative viewers, adding: “These characters are in love with each other! Oh my gosh! People are so conservative!”

However Scarlett, who is engaged to Definitely, Maybe star Ryan Reynolds, admits she would love to be nominated in the Best Kiss category at next year’s MTV Movie Awards.

“Anytime that my name and best kiss come up, I’m more than inclined to accept the award,” she said.

It was Johansson’s third time working with Allen, who directed her in Match Point and Scoop. Has she set a date with Reynolds?

“We’re just enjoying our time,” she said. “We’re just recently – very recently – engaged. So, you know, we’re just taking it easy. And no big plan yet. But it’s a good time and we’re just … enjoying our time to be young and engaged.

“I mean, I’m 23. There’s no reason to rush into it. Everything feels very natural and relaxed.”

Hollywood actress Penelope Cruz is reportedly set to exchange wedding vows with actor beau Javier Bardem, later this year.

According to the sources, Bardem had proposed Cruz during a recent romantic vacation in France and the couple is planning to tie the knot.

Bardem’s pals have also revealed that the actors mother Pilar had asked him to make his relationship official.

“Pilar took her son aside and told him, ‘What’s the matter with you? She’s perfect! You love her, she loves you. Get married,’” Contactmusic quoted a pal as telling National Enquirer.

The duo had started dating last year (07) after shooting for Woody Allen movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona in Spain.

Judi Dench and Nicole Kidman are said to be in talks to join Javier Bardem and his girlfriend Penelope Cruz (pictured together with Salma Hayek, right) in the film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Nine. The show, first staged in 1982, was an adaptation of Fellini’s 8 1/2 and is about a film director (Bardem) juggling the demands of the many women in his life.

Kidman, who is due to have a baby before filming starts in September, sang and danced in Moulin Rouge. Dench, best known to international film-goers for her portrayal of M in recent Bond movies, has plenty of musical experience. She played Sally Bowles in the original London production of Cabaret in 1968, and won the 1995 Olivier Award for the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music.

Bardem, meanwhile, finds himself in the bizarre position of having been replaced on a film by a woman. Francis Ford Coppola has cast the Spanish actress Carmen Maura to take over the role Bardem was due to play opposite Vincent Gallo in the Godfather director’s new film Tetro.

Coppola said: “As I read and reread (the script), I felt that the interaction between the two characters would be far more intriguing if they were of the opposite sex.”

Sexy Penelope Cruz has been named Hollywood’s new style queen, according to a poll conducted by ‘In Touch Weekly’.

The ‘Blow’ star was followed by the dazzling Kate Hudson and ‘13 Going On 30′ actress Jennifer Garner.

The purpose behind the list was to find the most consistent best dresser on Tinsel town’s red carpets.

As for the reason for choosing Cruz, the In Touch editors claimed that the 33-year-old had everything to look like the star she was.

“Penelope plays up romance… She steams up the red carpet in strapless gowns that play up her decolletage,” Contactmusic quoted the editors, as saying.

“A true girlie-girl, Penelope loves to play dress-up in romantic styles by classic designers like Chanel and Valentino, and look like the movie star she is,” they added.

Cameron Diaz, ‘Ray’ star Kerry Washington and Katie Holmes also made it to the Top 10 in the list.

Spanish actress Penelope Cruz was honored by Queen Sofia of Spain for promoting Hispanic culture around the globe.

The multilingual star received her award at New York City’s Spanish Institute last week.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton was also acknowledged by Queen Sofia for his “significant role as a world leader”.

“I was trying to figure out exactly why I would receive this award tonight. It may be because even though I’m not of Spanish descent, I’ve seen every one of Penelope Cruz’s movies – and I liked them all,” Contactmusic quoted Clinton, as saying.

The queen was also joined by the institute’s honorary president, designer Oscar de la Renta, in presenting the gold medal honors.

Penelope has earlier been nominated for Golden Globe and Academy Awards for her role in ‘Volver’ in 2006.

Spanish actress, Penelope Cruz is all set to play a porn star with her sister Monica in a music video.

The sister duo has agreed to appear in their rock star brother Eduardo’s next album.

“We’re going to be playing porn stars, Contactmusic quoted Penelope, as saying.

The album is titled as ‘Cosas Que Contar’. The Golden Globe and Academy Award nominated actress had earlier teamed up with her sister Monica for designing a 25-piece collection for the Barcelona-based fashion chain Mango in May, 2007.

It seems Jessica Biel is tired of donning her best outfits all the time.

The 25-year-old actress who has a stylist, who also dresses Penelope Cruz, Demi Moore and Eva Mendes, at her beck and call, revealed that it was a ‘pain’ to dress-up all the time.

“It’s a pain. It really is. Just because there is so much weight on what you’re going to wear,” Sydney Morning Herald quoted Biel, as saying.

‘The Illusionist’ actress insisted that she was always in a dilemma about what to wear and hoped she could wear a comfortable pair of flats sometime.

“So sometimes you feel like, ‘Oh, God. I’d better come up with something amazing.’ And I do dress up a lot. I feel like I’m dressing up all the time now and I find myself constantly thinking, oh please let it be a pair of flats. No more heels,” she said.

Meanwhile, the sexy actress who appears on the cover of GQ Magazine in a barely there bikini also insisted that she did not want to be the ‘overexposed’ celeb.

“Getting your picture taken when you are walking down the street is not good,” she said.

However, Biel does not mind is some filmmaker spots her pic and offers her a role.

“But I’ve found it can work both ways. If a producer sees that photo and considers you for a film, then it’s great,” she added.

The Hollywood stars – who were first romantically linked in March – tried to avoid being seen when they arrived at New York’s Alias Restaurant on Sunday.

A source told the New York Daily News newspaper: “They came in around 10, both casually dressed but looking super-hot. Penelope wore a fedora.”

After high-profile relationships with Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey, Penelope is said to be going to extreme lengths to keep her romance with Josh under wraps.

Josh, 29, and Penelope 33, were first seen together in March when they dined at top Los Angeles restaurant Little Door. The stars were seen holding hands and kissing in a private dining room.

The pair allegedly got together after Josh split from Scarlett Johansson and Penelope ended her brief fling with Orlando Bloom.

In April, they reportedly enjoyed a romantic holiday in the Turks and Caicos’ private island resort of Parrot Cay.

Earlier this month, Penelope was romantically linked to rocker Lenny Kravitz.

The ‘Volver’ beauty celebrated her birthday with Kravitz at New York’s Beatrice Inn, before going back to his TriBeCa apartment to continue partying.

Penelope Cruz and Josh Hartnett have been seen enjoying a romantic dinner date.

The pair demanded a private table at trendy Los Angeles restaurant El Coyote.

When they discovered all the rooms at the hip diner were taken, Penelope and Josh rushed to top eatery The Little Door, where they were given the secluded Blue Room to enjoy their intimate dinner.

A waiter at the restaurant revealed Penelope and Josh held hands and kissed throughout the meal.

He told In Touch Weekly magazine: “Before they went, they kissed goodbye, they were touchy-feely all night, holding hands and kissing. They were cute.”

After high-profile relationships with Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey, Penelope, 32, is said to be going to extreme lengths to keep her romance with Josh, 29, under wraps.

The couple avoided paparazzi waiting outside The Little Door by leaving separately.

Orlando Bloom has been on a date with a Penelope Cruz look-alike.

Orlando has been seen having dinner with a woman who looks just like Penelope – who he was rumored to be dating – at New York’s Nobu Next Door restaurant on Thursday night (Mar 22, 2007).

A source told the New York Daily News newspaper: “He was with a smoking-hot, tall, Spanish-looking girl, very made up, very much a Penelope Cruz wanna-be.”

“She was hot. Not classy like Penelope, but more of a showgirl hotness. There was a lot of flirting going on.”

Penelope and Orlando were last seen together at Prince’s post-Oscars party in February, where they were said to be kissing passionately all night.

A source said at the time: “Penelope and Orlando couldn’t keep their hands off one another – they were making out the whole night.”

“It was crazy! Touching, kissing – even a little bit of groping. And in view of tons of actors, too, like Leonardo DiCaprio.”

Orlando and Penelope have never confirmed they are an item.

Academy award winner Nicole Kidman has been voted as the best dressed leading lady at the Oscars by readers of hellomagazine.com.

The Aussie beauty, who dazzled in a striking Scarlet Balenciaga gown with a halterneck bow detail, got 32 per cent of the total 8000 votes, and topped the charts for the second year in a row. However best actress nominee Penelope Cruz gave a tough competition to Kidman, and stood second in the list with 28 percent of the readers voting for her outfit.

The Spanish beauty’s strapless Versace dress was favoured by fashionistas, and her 20-carat Chopard diamond earrings added an extra sparkle to the Tinseltown’s most celebrated glamorous night. The third place in the list went to actress Cate Blanchett, who looked stunning in a grey one-shuldered bejewelled Armani Priv? gown.

The fourth place went to ‘Walk the Line’ actress Reese Witherspoon, who won 10 per cent of the votes for her strapless, deep purple Nina Ricci dress. Best actress winner Helen Mirren got the fifth place for her for her sparkling gold Christian Lacroix gown. “I cried when I put it on. It really is a work of art,” The hellomagazine.com quoted the 61 year old actress, as saying.

Penelope Cruz and British veteran actor Sir Ben Kingsley are to star in a big-screen adaptation of the steamy Philip Roth novella “Dying Animal”, it was reported Wednesday.

Cruz, nominated at last month’s Oscars for her performance in “Volver”, will join Kingsley and Patricia Clarkson in the film, which will begin shooting in Vancouver next month, Variety reported.

The film tells the story of a student who engages in a torrid affair with her professor and then returns to confront him years later.

Tom Rosenberg, of producers Lakeshore, said the company had made adapting Roth’s works for cinema a priority.

“He’s one of the great American writers, and this one is squarely an adult story, with the kind of erotic scenes that hark back to the films of the 1970s,” Rosenberg told Variety.