Penelope Cruz explains why she's raising her kids in Spain
Penelope Cruz has explained why she and her husband Javier Bardem decided to raise their children in Madrid, Spain instead of living in Los Angeles at the heart of the movie industry - admitting it's "easier to have a normal life" in Europe.
Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem are raising their children in Spain because it's "easier to have a normal life".
The two Oscar-winners- who both hail from the European nation - decided to base themselves in Madrid while bringing up Leo, 15, and Luna, 12, instead of living in at the heart of the movie industry in Los Angeles and Penelope has admitted they wanted to be closer to their family and friends.
She told The Perfect Magazine: "All our families are there, and the friends from childhood and from our teenage years; it’s easier to have a normal life, you know?
"You have to make an effort to keep a part of your life private. But I think when you have children, it’s really important. And they deserve that, they completely deserve that.
"Later they can decide what they want to do in terms of their work and everything. But they need to have that freedom and not be exposed to things when they are little."
It comes after Skyfall star Javier admitted he always turns down acting roles if it means he has to spend more than two weeks away from his family.
The 57-year-old screen star always puts his brood first so he always makes sure he gets breaks from filming for regular visits with his loved ones.
Javier told Variety: "I don't have musts in my contract that have to do with bigger trailers or luxurious suites.
"The only thing I do pay attention to is, no more than two weeks away from my family."
Praising his wife, the No Country for Old Men star added that he feels “blessed” to have been in “the same time, in the same place” to have been able to meet his other half.
He added: “Penelope is an amazing, beautiful, good human being - the way she relates to her family, to her friends, to our kids, to me, to herself. It's been a lot of years, and I haven't seen a hint of malice in her.
"On top of that, she's amazingly f****** beautiful! When I see her being photographed on some magazines, I go: 'Is that my wife? Jesus is it? It must be!'"
