Penélope Cruz on Woody's women

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By Stephanie Lysaght,
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Woodys women

They say its best to keep your professional life and your love life separate, but Woody Allen never thought so. Many of the female leads in his movies were the female leads in his real life too. Here is a look back at Woodys women, on and off screen. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

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Kate Winslet

Believe it or not, Kate Winslet was actually slated to play Scarlett Johanssons part in Match Point. At the last minute, however, Winslet withdrew to spend time with her children.

“I was in a hole, I had to get somebody fairly quickly, Allen confessed to citypaper.com. “I hired [Johansson] and became totally captivated by her. I thought she could simply do anything. I’m very happy to work with her. Whenever there is a part that fits anything she could do, I would always call her and hope that she would be available for it, as I did with Keaton for years. I did that with Mia -- I did many roles with her, thought she was a wonderful actress, and she never let me down. I think that the same will be true with Scarlett.” (Damon Winter / Los Angeles Times)

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Scarlett Johansson

After Johansson starred in three Woody Allen films -- Match Point, Scoop and the recently released Vicky Cristina Barcelona, many have speculated that she was his new muse. The actress, for her part, doesn’t think so.

I think muse is kind of a silly word that the media’s adopted, like a kind of darling word, she told cinecon.com. If you said that to Woody, I think he would think that it’s strange. (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

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Next up?

In Allens 2009 release Whatever Works, the lead role will be played by a newcomer to the Woody Allen clan: Evan Rachel Wood. You probably know Wood from her turn as Jessie Sammler on Once and Again -- or as that woman who’s dating Marilyn Manson. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

By Robert Abele

Feb. 4, 2009 12 AM PT

It’s nearly an hour into Woody Allen’s golden-hued comedy of desire “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” when Penélope Cruz shows up as Javier Bardem’s passionately unhinged ex-wife Maria Elena, a life-is-art-and-vice-versa firecracker. It takes only seconds for the Spanish siren to shake up the molecules in the film’s breezily romantic air with her confrontations and seductions.

One bloc of moviegoers particularly entranced by Cruz was academy voters, who nominated her for supporting actress. It’s the second shot at an Oscar for the raven-haired Madrid native, after her starring turn three years ago as a resilient mother in “Volver.” That film was directed by her countryman Pedro Almodóvar, whose next film, “Los Abrazos Rotos” also stars Cruz.

How did you find out about your nomination?

I arrived from Europe into L.A., and one of my girlfriends woke me up and said, “Let’s watch it live!” So we did. That’s a big risk!

It turned out a happy morning, though.

The great thing about it is when you hear your family and friends cry about how happy they are for you. It’s so beautiful. It’s about the work, but it’s something you can share with people who care about you.

Why do you think Maria Elena resonated with voters?

Well, I didn’t want to play her crazy. That’s such an abstract concept. I felt for her, and I felt like I understood her. Since I started working as an actress, I’ve wanted to at least once have the opportunity to play a character with mental instability. That to me has always been one of the mysteries of life. I wanted to understand the reality that made sense to her. That’s why I didn’t want to play her crazy. Because, what is crazy? For her, the rest of the people are the crazy ones.

How did you work with Woody Allen as a director?

He’s very specific about what he wants. He doesn’t rehearse but he gave us the script a few months before, and he wanted us to come ready with different proposals. I think it’s a clever strategy he uses to keep actors in [the present], because all the time you feel as if you are running out of time. And don’t his characters always feel like that? I think it’s something he creates so we don’t drive him crazy. He’s afraid of how psychotic actors can be, so he uses that adrenaline.

Do you have a favorite scene from the film?

I remember when Javier and I did the scene screaming in the street, we did it at 7 in the morning. Woody said, “Check the gate” after one take. I said, “That cannot be it for me today! I’m gonna go home and drive myself crazy not having the opportunity to do other things!” He said, “Yeah, but I love what you guys did.” So we begged him, and we did two more takes!

Woody has a penchant for directing people to Oscars: Diane Keaton, Michael Caine, Dianne Wiest, Mira Sorvino. Do you feel lucky?

I think it’s better if it catches you by surprise. I would lie to you if I told you it wouldn’t be a great and exciting thing. But I just want to enjoy that day with my family and value everything that’s happened with this movie.

Will Pedro be jealous if you win for Woody’s movie?

Pedro is so generous. He was one of the first people to call me. And Pedro really likes Woody. They always leave me messages for each other. I feel privileged that I can be that messenger.

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