Penelope Cruz says she's 'still learning' after more than 15 years of marriage with Javier Bardem
Los Angeles, July 5
Hollywood actress Penelope Cruz has said that her relationship with husband Javier Bardem is a learning curve.
The actress said that she is "still learning" in her relationship with husband Javier Bardem after more than 15 years of marriage, reports 'People' magazine.
The actress opened up about their relationship while promoting her new movie, 'The Invite'. The actress, 52, said that she believes the comedy, which was directed by Olivia Wilde and centers on the relationship dynamics of two couples at a dinner party, is so relatable because so many people are still discovering new things about their partners, regardless of how long they've been together.
She told 'People', "I feel like I'm still learning (in my relationship), you know? And I am with somebody that I've known for 33 years. I really know that person, but it's like, is there a day where you really get to know yourself? No. So the same with your partner".
The actress and Javier Bardem, 57, first crossed paths in 1992 while filming the Spanish dark comedy Jamon Jamon.
While later speaking about the experience with GQ, Bardem said that while there was "obvious" chemistry between them, "nothing happened".
As per 'People', the pair didn't form a romantic connection until they reunited for the 2008 filmVicky Cristina Barcelona.
"Neither of us would make the first move", he said while recalling their time on set of the comedy-drama.
"I don't know if we were shy or trying to be too professional. Anyway, it got to the very last day of filming and nothing had happened. So I thought, 'F*** We better get drunk'. Luckily a friend of ours threw a wrap party and, well, the rest is history. Thank God", he added.
In a 2024 interview with Gentleman's Journal, Javier Bardem said that part of their special connection stems from the fact that they knew one another before they were famous.
"We met each other and knew each other before all of the noise, before success and before anybody saw us with different eyes because of who we now were, what we had become", the actor said.
Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, who are infamously private about their relationship, tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in the Bahamas in July 2010. They welcomed their first child, a son named Leo Encinas Cruz, in January 2011, followed by daughter Luna Encinas Cruz in July 2013.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, I'm impressed they kept it private for so long. In our country, celebrities are always splashing their relationships everywhere. Shows real maturity and respect for each other. Also, "getting drunk to make a move" - relatable for many of us bachelors who had liquid courage for our first dates! 🍻
I love how they knew each other before fame changed things. That's so precious. It reminds me of how in Indian families, our parents' marriages were built on knowing each other for years, not just Instagram dates. Penelope is right - you never truly know yourself, so how can you fully know another person? Beautiful perspective!
"Still learning after 15 years" - this is what real commitment looks like. Here in the West, people give up so quickly. Maybe there's something to be said for the enduring marriages we see in Indian culture, where couples stick together through thick and thin. Good on them though for keeping things real.
One thing though - I wish she had talked more about how they balance two busy Hollywood careers with raising kids. That's the real struggle for working parents everywhere, especially in India where both partners often work now. But overall, a sweet story. Relationships are indeed a lifelong learning process. 🙏
Love this! As someone who's been married for 8 years, I can totally relate. You think you know everything about your partner, and then they surprise you. Penelope and Javier seem so down-to-earth despite being A-list celebrities. That's something we can all learn from, whether in Mumbai or Manhattan.