Penelope Cruz Honored at SBIFF Award 2022 & Husband Javier Bardem Looks So Proud!

Penelope Cruz wows in a gorgeous red dress while being honored at the 2022 Santa Barbara International Film Festival held at Arlington Theatre on Tuesday night (March 8) in Santa Barbara, Calif.

The 47-year-old actress was honored with the Montecito Award at the festival, and was feted by her friends and colleagues while speaking of her lengthy career. Penelope‘s husband Javier Bardem was seen in the audience looking very proud of her.

During a panel at the event, Penelope opened up about her off-screen romance with Javier.

“I would watch everything he did and I was shocked and blown away by his talent. And then it was a movie [Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona] that put us together… we hadn’t worked together in a long time but we had been friends… and after that movie, everything changed,” she said.

Penelope also opened up about them both getting Oscar nominations this year.

“It was crazy, it was beautiful,” she said. “I still, today, don’t believe that it has happened that way… When they announced Javier’s name for Best Actor I started to scream and he was not moving, not reacting! …He was waiting because he thought maybe they were going to say my name too, and I said ‘One, almost impossible. Two at the same time? Totally impossible.”

She added, “Then they said my name and that is when he started screaming! I loved his reaction so much, all my attention went to his generosity…what a beautiful reaction and so honest, he really could not enjoy his news until he heard my name.”

FYI: Penelope wore a Chanel dress.

Click inside to see over 100+ pictures of Penelope Cruz being honored at SBIFF…