As any one with a newspaper, TV or radio knows by now, Penélope Cruz not only took the prize for best supporting actress at Sunday 81st Academy Awards—she was the first Spanish-born actress to score an Oscar win.

Bravo to my home girl!

The fellow Madrileña, born to a hairdresser and an auto mechanic, is key to the Pedro Almodovar posse and she extended props to the director along with Woody Allen in her emotional acceptance speech last night. (With her first word in Spanish, I turned to mush.)
The 34-year-old beauty got her first Oscar nom for Pedro’s “Volver,” among my favorite of his films and her roles. It’s brilliant. And the 2006 film made Cruz the first Spanish woman to be nominated for a best actress Academy Award for a non-English speaking role. But it was Bigas Luna’s wild dramedy "Jamón, jamón" that was her first break, and her first film opposite Javier Bardem, the ex she terrorizes and loves in Woody’s "Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” That film straddles the best and worst in a film, and most everything but Penelope, Javier and Bacelona end up in the latter category
¡Viva España!

But I digress. What really matters today is not the gold tchotchke (which she dutifully dedicated to fellow thespians in Spain) but the fashion. Penelope also tops best-dressed lists. And why not?
Her choices always lead the lists, including the kicky, chocolate Azzedine Alaia she chose for Saturday's Independent Spirit Awards or the black velvet Alaia for the recent BAFTAs. She also brought home the awards at both those events.
Penelope's 60-year-old Balmain couture gown was the stuff superstars are made of—or we expect them to be dressed in. Rita Watnick, a master authority of vintage couture and the owner of the unparalleled vintage salon LILY et Cie in Beverly Hills, steered Penelope and her stylist Christina Ehrlich to the frothy silk confection.
Chopard jewels and a Leiber clutch, and the simplist of updo's and makeup rounded out this iconic picture of elegance.


[Top Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage]