Penelope Cruz

Penelope Cruz takes on the role of Pilar Estravados which in in fact the name of a character who appears in Hercule Poirot’s Christmas, although it is just the name that has been borrowed and not the character traits. Her character in Murder on the Orient Express is of an impassioned, intense missionary with a zeal to travel the world and do what she can to improve that world. Cruz describes the mystery within her character explaining that “at the beginning of the story we don’t know much about Pilar, just that she seems very religious...she’s a very damaged person, and she’s finding relief and a reason to live by helping other people.”

Penelope Cruz has proven herself to be one of the most versatile actresses by playing a variety of compelling characters and becoming the first actress from Spain to be nominated and win an Academy Award®. First introduced to American audiences in the Spanish films Jamon, Jamon and Belle Epoque, Cruz starred in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona and was awarded an Oscar®, a BAFTA, a NYFCC, and a NBR Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance. Cruz’s standout portrayal of Carla in Nine garnered her multiple award nominations including an historic Oscar® nomination, as it marked only the third time the winner of the Academy Award® for Best Supporting Actress was nominated for Best Supporting Actress the following year.

Talking about Agatha Christie, Penelope Cruz says:

I think everybody loves Agatha Christie. It doesn’t matter how old you are or if you discovered it twenty years ago or last year, it’s amazing.

Penelope Cruz