Move over, Matthew McConaughey. There’s a new love in Penelope Cruz‘s life–a camel.
Yes, it’s true. The Spanish beauty formed a special bond with her hoofed friend while filming the newest action-adventure Sahara on location in Morocco. Based on the best-selling novel by Clive Cussler, Sahara follows master explorer Dirk Pitt (McConaughey) as he embarks on a treasure hunt with his cohort Al Giordino (Steve Zahn) through some of the most dangerous regions of West Africa. Along the way, they meet Dr. Eva Rojas (Cruz), a beautiful and brilliant doctor who believes that the hidden treasure may be connected to a larger problem that threatens the world around them. Dirk, Al, and Eva suddenly must rely on their wits and their daring heroics to outsmart dangerous warlords, survive the threatening terrain, and get to the bottom of both mysteries.
Hollywood.com had a chance to talk to the lovely Ms. Cruz, who is known for her superb performances in dramas such as All About My Mother and Vanilla Sky. We discussed all the excitement–and some of the danger–about making Sahara, her very first action-adventure, as she talks about doing her own stunts–and, of course, her love affair with the camel.
It looked you had fun making your first action film.
Penelope Cruz: I’ve always wanted to do one, but I never thought the female characters were interesting enough. When I read [Sahara], I thought it was smart enough not to take itself too seriously.
Your part of the film is very plausible, dealing with the pollution and disease impacting Africa. You’ve done some humanitarian efforts in real life, haven’t you?
Cruz: I’ve been more of a volunteer. They invited me to go work in Mother Teresa’s children’s sanctuary [in Calcutta], interview her and spend time there. I couldn’t say no to something like that! Different trips like that, I’m always opened to. Being in those places, learning and trying to use every minute of your day.
Filming in the Moroccan desert seemed a little harrowing.
Cruz: It was great, actually. Some of the places we shot didn’t have hotels, so we slept in tents and trailers. I adapt very quickly to any environment. We weren’t too cold or too hot, we had food, water… we didn’t really need anything.
So there wasn’t anything at all you wished you had?
Cruz: One day, I was craving American junk food, so I asked for a box of Fritos and Doritos. I called Steve [Zahn] and Matthew [McConaughey] and told them I had the biggest treasure in my room. Everyone was so excited when I received that package. There was a big celebration in the hotel–a bag of Fritos!
What was the most exciting aspect of making the film?
Cruz: To do what we did with the camels. I was terrified in the beginning but [director] Breck [Eisner] really wanted us to ride them ourselves. I thought they were crazy. The galloping and throwing–first next to a truck then next to a train. Breck would say, “Now with one hand!” I had so many nightmares at the beginning, I thought they were nuts. But I ended up thanking Breck for letting us do it ourselves. It was an amazingly freeing experience. I trained for two months for a scene that’s like, two minutes. But I liked my camel. My camel answered me, recognized my voice. We definitely bonded. We email each other, still, it’s very sweet.
Doing your own stunts can be a bit treacherous, no?
Cruz: Sometimes we did things borderline dangerous. Some of things we did with the camels, I’m glad we did because we trained gradually. You had control of it. But I have done things that I shouldn’t have done. I’ve been lucky and I haven’t hurt myself.
I had heard that you actually cut yourself pretty badly in the train sequence in which Dirk Pitt is pulling you up.
Cruz: [Showing the scar on her wrist proudly] That’s nothing. I almost like having it. But when it happened, I was screaming SO hard. And they all thought I was just acting!
I sense that you’re gutsy, which might stem from your dancer’s training. You are used to pain perhaps?
Cruz: Absolutely! I used to be 8-years-old, my feet bleeding and smiling at the same time. You get used to that. So when I got on the [Sahara] set, I didn’t want anyone treating me like I was the girl. I Had to be one of the guys. But you also have to be careful with this kind of thing–it’s not a joke. Because an accident on a camel or a horse can happen–and has happened–many times before. You have to know how to say no when you don’t think you are ready for it.
And now you’re doing even more stunts in your upcoming movie Bandidas with your best buddy Salma Hayek.
Cruz: I get to ride horses in that one–really, really fast! Salma and I had so much fun making that.
Speaking of you and Salma, the two of you certainly made quite an impression at the Academy Awards in March. What are your feelings about being labeled a “sex symbol”?
Cruz: I don’t think I’m really labeled that. [Laughs, after the reporter gives her a dubious look] Well, I don’t base my career on the way I look. I give the characters what they need. I just did a movie in Italy in which I had to look really, really ugly. I don’t care about that. That’s why I wanted to be an actress, to get under the skin of those characters. So if someone says [I’m a sex symbol], it’s not something that’s going to get me angry. But it’s kind of silly, isn’t it?
Sahara opens in theaters April 8.
