Penélope Cruz & Javier Bardem in “Jamón Jamón” (1992) Penélope has spoken candidly about how emotionally difficult her first film Jamón, Jamón was for her. The movie — directed by Bigas Luna and released in 1992 — was her feature-film debut, and Cruz was just 18 years old when she shot it. In the film, she appears in sensual and frank scenes that she later admitted she wasn’t emotionally prepared for and that she handled very poorly at the time. Cruz later recalled that after filming those scenes she had a strong reaction to anything s*xual or sensual, which affected her personally and professionally: she cut her hair short and avoided love scenes — even kissing — for many years afterward because she wasn’t ready to deal with that part of acting. In a 2017 interview for Esquire UK, Cruz reflected on how intimidating her first n*de scenes felt. She said that on the last day of shooting she was crying, worried the film would be the end of her career, fearful she might never work again after those bold, early scenes. Despite her anxiety at the time, she understood the importance of the role: she knew the script was “special, brave, and refreshing,” and that it could be a significant opportunity for her. She also emphasized that the cast and crew were respectful of how young she was during filming. Jamón, Jamón itself became a cultural touchstone — the film helped launch Cruz as a major s*x symbol in Spain and garnered attention for her performance, earning her a nomination for both a Goya Award and a Spanish Actors Union Newcomer Award. Over time, Cruz built a critically acclaimed international career, moving beyond roles defined by her appearance to win an Academy Award and establish herself as one of Spain’s most respected actors. - @the_goodfilms