by Antonio Mejías-Rentas
Penélope Cruz
Penelope Cruz became the first Spanish actress to win an Academy Award, capturing the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Cruz spoke first in English, then in Spanish at the Feb. 22 ceremony in Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre, dedicating the Oscar to her country’s acting community.
The statuette “weighs a lot, but I am not letting go,” she told reporters later.
In the English-language film, which is directed by Woody Allen and set in Spain, Cruz speaks mostly Spanish. She plays a hysterical Spanish woman involved in a love triangle.
The historic win at the ceremony capped a triumphant awards season for the 34-yearold actress from Madrid, who also won an Independent Spirit Award for the same performance on Feb. 21.
This year she also won BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG awards.
Cruz became the second Spanish actor to win the Oscar, following last year’s win in the male supporting category by Javier Bardem, for No Country for O/d Men.
Oscar tradition had stated that Bardem would hand the award to Cruz, but this year’s show producers called on five former winners in the same category to announce the winner.
Bardem, who co-starred with Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona – end is reportedly dating the actress—did not attend this year’s ceremony. He stayed in Spain, where he is working on Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu’s next film, Biutiful.
Cruz attended the ceremony with her mother and two siblings.
The Oscar win solidifies the Hollywood standing of the Spanish actress, who had been previously nominated as best actress for director Pedro Almodovar’s Volver. She will next be seen in another Almodovar film, Los abrazos rotos, which should be in U.S. theaters before the end of the year.
She is also finishing postproduction work on Nine, the film adaptation of the Broadway musical.
PAY FOR PLAY: Top norteño act Los Tigres del Norte joined other artists lobbying Congress this month for the passage of a law that would force AM and FM radio stations to pay royalties to performers.
The Performance Rights Act, reintroduced at the beginning of the Legislature, would eliminate an exception to copyright law that allows broadcast radio stations to play songs and pay royalties only to authors. The loophole encourages many performers to demand composing credits on songs where their creative contribution is minimal.
Performers such as Sheryl Crow end will.i.am were among those lobbying on behalf of the non-profit music First Coalition, which claims radio broadcasters should give performers e portion of their $16 billion in advertising revenue. Other platforms such as Internet radio, satellite radio and cable TV music channels already pay performers royalties.
The bill is opposed by the National Association of Broadcasters, which claims AM and FM radio stations need the loophole to remain competitive.
ONE LINERS: Ruben Blades joined Calle 13 at the filming of a music video for the song La Perla at the namesake San Juan beachfront slum; the song is included in the Puerto Rican duo’s latest album, Los de atras vienen conmigo. Puerto Rican finalist Tatiana Del Toro, known for her incessant on-air crying, was eliminated from the American Idol competition on Fox and New York rapper N.O.R.E was arrested at a Miami hamburger joint after reportedly hitting a customer in the face and yelling “Do you know who I am?” He was booked on assault and disorderly conduct and released. Hispanic Link.
