Cruz wins Spanish 'Oscar'
2007-01-30 09:33
Madrid - Spanish actress Penelope Cruz won the Goya Prize, Spain's equivalent of an Oscar, for her performance in Pedro Almodovar's movie Volver at an overnight gala in Madrid, news reports said on Monday.
The comic and melodramatic tale of three generations of women, which is also an Oscar candidate for best actress, won five Goyas, including best movie, best actress for Cruz, best director for Almodovar, best supporting actress for Carmen Maura and best music.
Almodovar did not attend the gala, but followed it on television at home "like football, with beer, potatoes and friends," his brother Agustin said.
An emotional Cruz said she owed her award to "Pedro, for your confidence, generosity and all you have taught me."
Volver has helped her climb so high that it had seemed "impossible" for someone from her "environment and social class," says the 32-year-old actress born in a Madrid suburb to the family of a retailer father and a hairdresser mother.
Cruz said she now had many possible projects, including an urban and futurist new film with Almodovar and a Hollywood production in which she will co-star with Ben Kingsley.
Mexican director Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth
The second big winner was Mexican director Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth, which won seven Goyas: best original script, best newcomer actress - 12-year-old Ivana Baquero, best photography, best editing, best special effects, best make-up and hairdressing.
Del Toro expressed his "respect" and "profound admiration" for the Spanish film industry.
"It is here that they believed in a crazy project like this," said the director of the fantasy movie on a girl's adventure during the Spanish Civil War, a Spanish-Mexican co-production.
Best actor was Juan Diego in Victor Garcia Leon's Vete de Mi (Go from Me) about a father-son relationship.
Queen elected the best European movie
Director Agustin Diaz Yanes' Alatriste, the adventures of a 17th- century mercenary played by Viggo Mortensen, won the Goyas for best wardrobe, production direction and artistic direction.
Daniel Sanchez Arevalo's DarkBlueAlmostBlack on the life of a gentle young man took the awards for best newcomer actor - Quim Gutierrez, supporting actor - Antonio de la Torre - and best new director.
Stephen Frears' Queen, starring Helen Mirren, was elected the best European movie.
- AP