Penélope Cruz, the Oscar-winning Spanish actress best known for her acclaimed performances in films such as ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ and ‘Parallel Mothers’, has revealed a deeply unsettling health scare she experienced while filming her latest movie, ‘The Black Ball’. The actress, 52, shared the news during a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday, May 23, just after the film received an extended standing ovation during its premiere at the Grand Théâtre Lumière.According to Variety, Cruz recalled the moment a doctor warned her about a possible brain aneurysm while she was preparing to film late-night performance scenes for the movie, in which she portrays a cabaret entertainer performing for soldiers.
What Penélope Cruz experienced on set
Cruz described the moment with vivid detail. “And then when we’re about to go out, I was putting on my wig, and they said, ‘Oh, apparently you have some brain aneurysm,'” she recalled. “I thought I was about to die. This is something that was totally surreal in my life.”The actress said she was medically cleared the following day after a doctor confirmed she could continue singing and dancing for the production. The experience, she said, shifted her perspective entirely. “I thought, ‘It’s a total miracle. I have to, I must have this in me,'” she said.Cruz also praised the film’s production team for their support throughout the ordeal and reflected on how the experience connected to the movie’s broader themes. “You experience these things together, yet despite all this, despite the hardship, you can move forward in life,” she said.
About ‘The Black Ball’ and Cruz’s upcoming projects
‘The Black Ball’ features an ensemble cast that includes Glenn Close, Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, Lola Dueñas, and Carlos González. The project is currently in contention for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and is scheduled for release in Spain on October 2.Cruz is also set to appear in the upcoming film ‘The Invite’, directed by and co-starring Olivia Wilde, alongside Seth Rogen and Edward Norton, with the film scheduled for release on June 26.
