Penélope Cruz reveals brain aneurysm scare during production of new drama 'The Black Ball'
The actress described the moment she received the alarming news as 'totally surreal'
Penélope Cruz has revealed she feared for her life after suffering what she described as a “totally surreal” brain aneurysm scare while filming her upcoming movie The Black Ball.
The Oscar-winning actress opened up about the frightening health incident during a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival, explaining that she received the alarming news just before beginning a series of night shoots for the drama film.
According to Cruz, she was in the middle of getting ready on set when she was suddenly informed about the possible medical issue.
“When we were about to go out, I was putting on my wig, and they said, ‘Oh, apparently you have some brain aneurysm,’” she recalled.
The 52-year-old actress admitted the moment left her terrified and convinced something terrible was about to happen.
“I thought I was about to die,” Cruz said. “This is something that was totally surreal in my life.”
The actress explained that she initially believed the situation might be some kind of misunderstanding or joke, but doctors later cleared her to continue filming the following day.
Despite the health scare, Cruz praised the cast and crew of The Black Ball for supporting her throughout the difficult experience, saying the production never lost momentum during the ordeal.
“The shooting was not going to stop,” she said. “Talking about these things is very important.”
Cruz also reflected on the emotional demands of portraying cabaret singer Nene in the film, which filmmaking duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi directed.
Although her role has limited screen time, the actress said she was deeply drawn to the project due to its compelling story and emotional themes.
“I don’t base my decision on the number of minutes my character is in the script,” Cruz explained. “I want to be part of things that are important, that speak to me.”
The film centers on the interconnected lives of three gay men, with Cruz revealing that the story’s LGBTQ+ themes strongly resonated with her personally.
The actress said she feels deeply affected by injustice and is passionate about supporting stories that highlight struggles for equality and acceptance.
“When I see people struggling and fighting for rights that should never be questionable, that creates a very strong reaction in me,” she said.
Cruz added that filmmaking has allowed her to channel those emotions through the characters she chooses to portray on screen.
