Monica Cruz

Cruz was born the daughter of Encarna Sánchez, a hairdresser, and Eduardo Cruz, a retailer and auto mechanic. Her sister Penelope Cruz is an actress, and brother Eduardo is a Spanish singer. Monica and her two siblings grew up in the predominantly working-class suburb of Alcobendas, just north of Madrid. The family may have lacked money, but they more than made up for it with the burgeoning talent contained within Monica and her sister, Penelope. The sisters distinguished themselves as promising young dancers, and they both received professional instruction; Penelope attended Spain’s National Conservatory, while Monica enrolled in The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) to study traditional ballet and flamenco