Penelope Cruz is engaged.

The 35-year-old actress and her Spanish actor boyfriend Javier Bardem have told friends they are planning to tie the knot in the near future.

Penelope Cruz wants to install ropes to swing from in her bedroom.

The actress had to shoot an elaborate song-and-dance rope routine for her new movie 'Nine', and despite damaging her hands during the scene she wants to make the most of her training.

Penelope Cruz is a "worrier".

Despite earning millions from her glittering movie career, being considered one of Hollywood's most beautiful women and dating handsome actor Javier Bardem, the Spanish actress has to be busy all the time or she panics about her life.

Penelope Cruz and director Pedro Almodovar feel like lovers. The actress and the gay movie maker have collaborated on several films - most recently "Broken Embraces" - and know each other so well they are practically in a relationship.

Pedro said: "There is something that works really well in our relationship that combines both our friendship and the professional side. We operate like lovers. So while we don't have the pleasure of sex, we don't have the complications of sex either. We work really well as a couple who don't sleep together."