MUMBAI: In anticipation of the release of her new film, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in theaters 20 May, 2011, Penelope Cruz received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 1 April.

An Academy Award winner, Cruz has proven herself to be one of the most versatile actresses by playing a variety of compelling characters, and most recently, becoming the first actress from Spain to be nominated and to win an Oscar.

First introduced to American audiences in the Spanish films Jamon, Jamon and Belle Epoque, in 1998 she starred in her first English language film, The Hi-Lo Country for director Stephen Frears opposite Woody Harrelson, Patricia Arquette and Billy Crudup. In 1999, Cruz won the Best Actress award at the 13th Annual Goya Awards given by the Spanish Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for her role in Fernando Trueba’s The Girl of Your Dreams.

Confirming her status as an international actress, Cruz landed a series of coveted roles. She appeared in Billy Bob Thornton’s All the Pretty Horses, Fina Torres’ Woman on Top, Alejandro Amenabar’s Open Your Eyes, and Maria Ripoli’s Twice Upon a Yesterday.