Javier Bardem can relax - it's just longtime friend and collaborator, Pedro Almodovar, who's directing Penelope in his next film, Broken Embraces!

I love me some Almodovar (especially films like Talk to Her and All About My Mother), but isn't it time he gave Penelope a rest and let someone else do some acting?

I know she got nominated for an Oscar and all, but is she even all that good?

We spotted Penelope Cruz at the world premiere of Elegy, Pen's latest project, last night in Madrid.

Penelope's little sister Monica showed up to throw her support behind the flick - and so did Sonsoles Espinosa, wife of the president of Spain!

Sources tell the National Enquirer that Oscar-winner Javier Bardem popped the question to Spanish enchantress Penelope Cruz during their holiday in France last month.

And who convinced him? His mom, Pilar! Apparently she took him aside and said: "What's the matter with you? She's perfect! You love her, she loves you. Get married."

The wedding is said to be taking place later this year, so we're guessing Penelope said yes!

We thought Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem looked irresistable on the red carpet last night - and apparently, they both agreed!

It all started when the Oscars ended; Penelope was clearly in the mood to party, and set a course for not one, not two, but three separate bashes!

Unfortunately, none of them were able to keep her attention for very long - until she ran into Javier at Villa, that is!

As usual, the couple didn't want the whole pap press corps snapping pix of their exit, and did their best to make separate exits - but we still got a split-second shot of the two of 'em leaving together in the same car!

Well, it looks like Woody Allen's decided to give everyone on earth at least one reason to see his upcoming movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona - a steamy lesbian sex scene between Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz!

According to an insider who spoke to PageSix.com, the scene promises to be "extremely erotic. People will be blown away and even shocked. Penelope and Scarlett go at it in a red-tinted photography dark room, and it will leave the audience gasping."

The two also allegedly get it on with Javier Bardem, who plays Penelope's husband in the film.

Yeesh, sounds like this movie's gonna have more action than a whole night of Cinemax - not that we're complaining, mind you!

Stars - they hate airport security just like us!

Yes, even an Oscar nominee like Penelope Cruz has to go through airport security before hopping on a plane; we caught her waiting patiently last night while a TSA employee inspected the contents of her bag.

What a lucky guy - other folks would pay through the nose for a chance to sift through Penelope's clothes!

After snapping a pic of Spanish lovers Javier and Penelope Cruz in a passionate embrace inside club Socialista in New York last week, one photog was pushed, threatened, and had his camera broken and flash card stolen by security, club owner Armin Amiri, and Javier himself.

According to the photog (and also reported by the NY Post), after seeing the flash go off in the club, Javier, his bodyguard and driver chased the lensman out of the club, where Javier insisted he delete the photo.

After the photo in question was deleted, Javier still wasn't satisfied, apparently telling the photog "if all these people weren't here, I would kill you!" Javier was urged to go back inside, and after being roughed up by club security, the photog's flash card was stolen before he was eventually let go. The photog, who suffered some minor injuries, is still waiting for his property to be returned. I'm sure it was annoying, but all that for one photo??

This new couple is really heatin' up! Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz were spotted at JFK airport after having spent a week in NYC. Think Penelope's dating days are over and she's ready to settle down? Possibly. If so, Javier definitely seems like a good guy for her!

No, really - Penelope Cruz broke out her specs when she met up with Javier Bardem at an office building in New York City yesterday. Might they have found the time for a little office romance?

Having known each other since starring together in 1992's "Jamon, Jamon", (but only having started dating recently), Javier and Penelope's relationship is heating up! The Iberian couple enjoyed lunch together at Madeo Monday. After fifteen years of friendship, is Penelope ready to wear a ring? How about a bra?

We spotted Penelope Cruz out and about by herself again last night. Seriously - we know Javier Bardem's schedule is booked solid and all, but wouldn't you cancel a few appointments to go out with a woman as caliente as Penelope?

Last time we saw Penelope Cruz out and about, she was ducking for cover - in then-new boyfriend Javier Bardem's arms! Yesterday, however, Penelope was flying solo as she left after lunch. She still did her best to hide her famous face - well, after she made sure we noticed how hot she was lookin', that is!

Isn't this the cutest thing! X17 caught Spanish enchantress Penelope Cruz gettin' warm and cuddly with her most recent co-star, Javier Bardem. (The two are currently shooting a Woody Allen movie with Scarlett Johansson.) Here's Penelope and Javier all over each other - literally! - in Hollywood. The Volver star has been linked to various men post-Tom Cruise - ranging from John Mayer to Bono! Think Javier is the one?

We were lucky enough to catch the ever-lovely Penelope Cruz stopping by Nobu for dinner last night with two male companions. Hopefully Javier Bardem isn't the jealous type!

We were taken aback by how often Penelope Cruz had to hike her dress up as she sauntered through the shops of St.Tropez over the weekend - I mean, strapless dresses can be a pain, but that thing would not stay up! Fortunately, Penelope is nothing if not a problem-solver - when she made her big appearance at VIP a little later in the night, she'd swapped out her strapless black dress for a stunning silver number - with shoulders! (It goes without saying, of course, that she looked like a million bucks in either outfit!)

Is girlfriend really breaking up a Nobel Prize-seeking do-gooders marriage? I'm awaiting details from our St. Tropez spy as to what's really going down with this mis-matched Euro couple. Will Pene soon be jetting off to Africa with Bono to cure AIDS?

After a night of hitting the clubs together, Oscar-nominated actress Penelope Cruz and U2 lead singer Bono were spotted together again today - this time on a boat in St. Tropez. Is something serious developing here? Bono has been married to Alison Hewson since 1982 and the couple have four children... so what is all this about? Penelope better watch her back! We don't want another Cameron Diaz/Criss Angel fiasco.