Photos: WENN
Everybody's getting into the discount fashion business these days- maybe the economy has something to do with it. Penelope Cruz and her equally adorable sister Monica are models for the fall collection for Mango - a modestly priced and successful chain of stores that started in Spain and spread all over the world. Madonna designed for H&M, and the Cruz sisters have their own collection for Mango.


Woody Allen was hugely disappointed when his muse Scarlett Johansson failed to show up for the sensational premier of his new movie "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" at the Cannes film festival. Scarlett's costars Penelope Cruz and Rebecca Hall DID show up for the event and they were thrilled when the movie got a ten minute standing ovation. Scarlett's reps had made some unfortunate demands that Warner Bros wouldn't agree to. On top of all the other first class arrangements, Scarlett wanted to bring a ten thousand dollar a DAY personal makeup artist, and she didn't want to stay in the convenient Cannes hotel with the rest of the cast. She wanted a private hotel thirty miles away that would have jeopardized their tight schedule. She did promise to make it up to Woody by promoting the movie in the US.
Photo Credit: Splash News
Penelope Cruz just arrived at LAX with her boyfriend Javier Bardem, who happens to be the favorite for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. He ducked away from the cameras and we wonder if they will appear on the red carpet together or pretend to be nonchalant and arrive separately.

Photo Credit: Buzz Foto
Last night Javier Bardem was seen on his way to an event with a female companion who is definitely NOT Penelope Cruz. Is he fantasizing about his tropical vacation with Penelope in this picture- or has he forgotten all about her? We hope it's not over already - they make a very hot couple. In this photo Javier looks like a young Anthony Quinn, doesn't he?

Now THAT'S a sexy couple. Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem started jaws flapping when they went out together in New York but the truth is, they really are ONLY friends. (Penelope is using her designer handbag for an umbrella.) Javier has a longtime girlfriend back in Spain. Penelope and Javier have acted together before and known each other for years, but for some reason never got together. This summer they're scheduled to start filming a new untitled Woody Allen movie in Barcelona.

Photo Credit: Buzz Foto
HERE'S a pair that no club doorman in his right mind would turn away whether their names were "on the list" or not. For awhile, Penelope Cruz had no one to hang out with because her best friend Salma Hayek got pregnant. Now she's palling around with Shakira and the two hot girls create quite a stir wherever they go.
We were really annoyed by those rumors about Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz being MORE than just friends simply because they like to hang out together. Hey, they're not gay, they're FRIENDS! And apparently Salma is really a standup girl and loyal to people she cares about. Salma has been tirelessly campaigning and verbally supporting both Penelope and another friend -Adrianna Barraza- to get them award show recognition, and hopefully Oscar nominations. Salma feels that Penelope's role in Volver and Adrianna's supporting role in Babel both deserve Hollywood's attention and she promotes them at every opportunity. Not many actresses go to bat for other actresses like that.
The Hollywood Girl Feuds are still flourishing. At the Chateau Marmont party hosted by Penelope Cruz, Mischa Barton and Rachel Zoe were having a good time - but with one eye on the door. They did NOT want to run into Nicole Richie so they had planned to make a quick escape if when and if she arrived. They also hoped to avoid Paris Hilton so they asked people to notify them if either turned up. They had their escape route carefully planned so they could leave quickly without any fuss. (The Olsen twins weren't about to let their dislike of Paris Hilton ruin THEIR good time - they just pretend she doesn't exist.) Rachel and Mischa wasted their energy - their arch enemies didn't turn up.



