Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem's Relationship: a Love Story Built on Fireworks

Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz met for the first time in 1992 – relatively unknown actors at that time starred in the film Jamón jamón. By the way, this role was the first big screen project for Penelope. The film contains several explicit scenes, so it was difficult for the audience not to notice the chemistry between the co-stars.

Bardem later confessed that he could not take his eyes off Cruz. There surely was a spark between them, but he was 21 and she was only 16, so nothing happened. It was the first time they worked together on a movie. Javier believes that life itself brought them together. Then the actors went their separate ways, but the feelings were still there.

In 2007 they crossed paths again. And after the second time they realized that they were made for each other. This happened during the shooting of Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Soon their relationship was revealed by reporters of the British magazine Hello! They published photos taken during their vacation in the Maldives. However, neither Bardem nor Cruz wanted to share their personal details to the public: they were never seen together after that and journalists declared that there was nothing between them, they were just friends. Moreover, there were rumors after the release of the film that Bardem had an affair with his colleague Scarlett Johansson. However, it was later dismissed by Ryan Reynolds, who was her husband at the time.

By the way, during one of the interviews with journalists, Javier admitted that he doubted his feelings at first. He was confused by Penelope's hot temper. However, he gradually got used to her saying that she's a Spaniard and sometimes can be a bit unbearable. For example, when they fight, Penelope smashes dishes and screams like crazy. And though it can be scary, he still loves her madly. He added that she has this passion that consumes her whenever she's doing something.

Secret wedding

The secret relationship of Javier and Penelope lasted three years, until 2010, when they first appeared in public as a couple on the red carpet at the Spanish Goya Awards ceremony. Shortly after, Bardem addressed Cruz publicly for the first time at the Cannes Film Festival.

Accepting the Best Actor Award, he made a moving confession: "I share this joy with my friend, my companion, my love: Penelope: I owe you a lot and I love you so much."

Not surprisingly, the couple, who took three years to confirm their romance, decided to have an intimate ceremony. In July of that year, the stars tied the knot at the home of a mutual friend in the Bahamas. Only family and close friends were invited to the wedding. The bride walked down the aisle in a gown designed by John Galliano. Of course, no photos from the celebration made it to the press, fans of the couple found out about the wedding only a few months later.

Happy life

Penelope and Javier became parents for the first time in January 2011 when their son Leo was born. Two years later, the couple had a daughter, Luna. Despite them being famous, the stars try to protect their kids from the public attention and do not show their photos in social media.

The spouses are very responsible professionals and do not mix their career with personal life. After two joint projects, Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz once again appeared together on the big screen. In 2017, they starred in the film Loving Pablo and a year later they participated in the shooting of the movie Everybody Knows.