Penelope Cruz and her younger sister Monica Cruz are so alike that even they themselves sometimes cannot tell the difference. "The other day we were sitting together in the back seat of the car, I was looking in the rearview mirror and a very strange thing happened: I thought I was looking at my face, and it was hers!" shares Penelope.
Born three years apart to the late talk show host Encarna Sanchez and Eduardo Cruz, who died of a suspected heart attack in 2015, the two girls grew up together in a suburb of Madrid, Spain, along with their younger brother Eduardo.
Although Penelope eventually leaves her hometown for the bright lights of Hollywood, the sisters never lose their bond. "We talk to each other all the time and tell each other everything, even if sometimes we have to do it on BlackBerry," Monica told The Daily Mail in 2007.
She also dismissed any rumors of sibling rivalry, stating: "I was brought up to value my family. Penelope and I never fight, we have a very, very good relationship. I get angry and sad when people ask me if we we drive because I can't imagine a family could be any other way."
Although both women are artists, since they have been dancing and acting since childhood, Monica tells the publication that they have always maintained their individuality. "Penelope was hyperactive - she wouldn't sleep or eat - and I was always the quiet child," she told the Daily Mail. "I was the good girl - at least until I was 16 or 17!"
Monica was born on March 14, 1977, just under three years after Penelope appeared on April 28, 1974.
"Penelope was always the clown - acting, singing, going crazy, and I just sat and watched her," says Monica about their childhood.
In March 2017, Penelope shared an adorable photo of the two girls together on Instagram in honor of Monica's 40th birthday. "Happy birthday my beautiful sister!! I love you," she wrote.
Penelope and Monica have been creating clothing collections for various fashion companies since 2007, when they created a line of bags for Samantha Tavasa.
Penelope publicly stated that the work came naturally to the sisters, who as children would "hide together in the bathroom and sit on the floor with magazines, drawing on patterns and changing designs".
Both sisters are pregnant at the same time.
Monica announced her pregnancy via IVF in January 2013. Just weeks later, a rep for Penelope confirmed to HOLA that the Vanilla Sky star was also pregnant, saying the actress was "extremely happy and very excited."
Monica gave birth to her daughter Antonella Cruz Sanchez on May 14, 2013. During the birth, Penelope was by her sister's side, as were the sisters' mother, Encarna, and their brother, Eduardo.
Penelope welcomed her second child with husband Javier Bardem, daughter Luna, just two months later on July 22, 2013.
The sisters grew up with their brother Eduardo Cruz, who is a famous singer in Spain.
In 2011, Monica spoke about her brother's profession, saying: "It's very important for us to be seen as individuals with our own careers. I think it's very intelligent of Eduardo to do music the way he does. does."
In addition to Eduardo, Penelope and Monica also have a half-sister named Salma from their late father Eduardo's second marriage to actress Carmen Moreno. /BGNES
