Sultry actress Penelope Cruz has just completed the annual Christmas advert for sparkling wine producers Freixenet, joining a long list of legendary beauties including Raquel Welch, Kim Basinger and Jacqueline Bisset who have dazzled in the prestigious spots in years past.
For her turn in the high-profile commercial, Penelope dons a low-cut, red gown from Giorgio Armani and later sparkles in a besequined black, floor-length Ralph Lauren number.
The Captain Corelli’s Mandolin star, who has been spending more and more time stateside with boyfriend Tom Cruise, returned to her native Spain in late October to shoot the adverts. Penelope’s mum and sister Monica joined the stunner on set to keep her company as the photo session extended into the wee hours.
Penelope appears in the spot alongside the famed “bubble” dancers, who represent the cavas effervescence. So popular are the bubbles, that last year Freixenet executives decided to forego the celebrity element altogether and made the girls the focus of the glamorous advert.
Professional British dancers filled the chorus line in past years, but for the 2000 spot 45 girls were chosen following four months of casting calls across Spain. The Spanish joined violinist Lorin Maazel, who performed on his £1 million Stradivarius.
This year’s collaboration is not the first work the All The Pretty Horses star has done with Freixenet, however. In 1994 she reunited with her co-stars from the Oscar-winning film Belle Epoque for the company’s traditional Christmas greeting.
Although happy to be back in the Spanish sun, Penelope confesses she’s growing more comfortable with life in Los Angeles, even if its food pales in comparison with that of her Madrid hometown. That admission should make boyfriend Tom happy as the two have reportedly discussed a walk down the aisle. The high-profile couple are also said to be planning a trip Down Under for Christmas where they’ll promote their eagerly anticipated film Vanilla Sky.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
