A recent guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Penélope Cruz, graced the screen on January 6, regaling viewers with tales of her New Year's Eve exploits. Amid the mirth, she delved into a Spanish tradition involving grapes, a quaint ritual that appears to stir her parental concerns.
However, the spotlight doesn't solely linger on her present; it meanders through the corridors of her past, particularly the nascent stages of her illustrious career. In those early Hollywood days, Penélope found an unexpected ally in her longtime confidante, Salma Hayek. Their connection unfolded in an unconventional manner.
"In the realm of Los Angeles, we were strangers," Penélope reminisces. Their acquaintance had solely sprouted over telephone lines. She recounts her maiden visit to the City of Angels—a venture armed with a return ticket and a brief itinerary to shoot a film. Only a two-month sojourn was anticipated.
"I stepped into this foreign land, a canvas devoid of familiar faces," she narrates. Yet, Salma defied the expected norms. At the airport's threshold, she stood, a reassuring figure, and declared, "Hotel? No, my abode shall embrace you. Beginnings are arduous, solitary; let my haven be your refuge." Thus, Penélope found herself ensconced in Salma's sanctuary—a transformative gesture that birthed a sisterhood forged by fate.
Sleep eluded Penélope, causing her to seek solace in shared quarters. A recollection punctuated by nighttime vulnerability: hand in hand, Penélope grasped at Salma's presence, a lifeline in the realm of dreams. The lines between reality and reverie blurred.
Recollections flow like cascading streams, and Penélope's tone resonates with awe. "Stranger she was, yet her hospitality bespoke familiarity," she gushes. Day one witnessed the inception of an enduring bond that defied the passage of time.
Their camaraderie, once a fledgling promise, now stands as an unwavering testament. Penélope's affectionate regard extends to all facets of Salma's existence, a sentiment encompassing even her unconventional companion—a pet owl named Kering.
A smile graces Penélope's lips as Kering's existence is unveiled. "Indeed, the owl—my heart finds resonance with its presence," she shares, her voice a canvas for warmth. Memories surface of a childhood marred by the mystique of an owl, as vivid as they are tinged with fear. Yet, curiosity persisted, a flame kindled.
Penélope's narrative embarks on a whimsical trajectory as she recalls an enchanting chapter—feeding the owl, a ritual both surreal and ordinary. "Rats," she muses, the tiniest of creatures feeding the bonds of an extraordinary friendship.
In the embrace of Penélope's retelling, the story of Penélope Cruz and Salma Hayek's connection unfolds—a tale marked by unanticipated kinship, whispered confidences, and the silent wisdom of an owl named Kering.
