At a Glance
- Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem have shielded their children, Leo (15) and Luna (12), from public attention.
- The couple prioritizes family over fame, limiting social media exposure and ensuring a private upbringing.
- Both actors have tailored career choices to stay present for their kids.
- Why it matters: Their approach highlights how high-profile families can balance fame with a normal childhood.
Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem have made a conscious effort to keep their two children out of the public eye. The Hollywood power couple, married since 2010, are parents to son Leo, 15, and daughter Luna, 12. Speaking to Marie Claire in February 2019, Cruz shared that while she wasn’t in a rush to have kids, she always “really wanted to be a mother.” She added that she had been drawn to maternal roles from a young age, but waited until the right time and the right person.
Keeping the Kids Out of the Spotlight
Cruz and Bardem have been deliberate about shielding their children from the media. “I want my son – and my kids if I have more – to grow up in a way that is as anonymous as possible,” Cruz told Vogue in May 2011. She stressed that the family’s choice of profession does not give anyone the right to invade their privacy.
Bardem echoed this sentiment in an interview with PEOPLE in May 2017, noting that Leo and Luna “don’t fully understand our careers quite yet.” He added, “We don’t have anything in our house that reminds them that we are actors. We really don’t care about that.”
Birth and Early Years
On Jan. 22, 2011, the couple welcomed Leo Encinas Cruz in Los Angeles. At the time, representatives told News Of Los Angeles, “Penélope and Javier welcomed their first son into their family last week. Both parents and baby are doing great.” Bardem was the first to break the silence on Cruz’s pregnancy in September 2010, saying, “I am very happy.”
Two years later, on July 22, 2013, Luna Encinas Cruz was born in Madrid. When Luna was five months old, Cruz spoke to Allure in December 2013 about her postpartum routine. She explained that she was breastfeeding Leo for 13 months and planned to do the same with Luna, noting that “breastfeeding burns about 500 a day.”
Parenting Philosophy
Both parents emphasize a hands-on approach. In July 2017, Cruz told The Telegraph that she had stepped back from her career to focus on raising her children. “My priorities have really changed over the years. I want to raise my kids and I don’t want to be away from them,” she said.
Bardem shared a similar view in an interview with The Talks. “I am getting older so the things I appreciate most now … To be a good dad, to be the best husband I can be, which is the hardest thing in the sense that you have to put your attention into it and give time and love to the people that you really love and care about,” he said. “Time is everything, time is quality. Especially for kids.”
Balancing Careers and Family
Despite their demanding schedules, both actors make time for their children. In November 2024, Bardem told Interview magazine that he now prioritizes presence: “Now today I have two kids, and we are more aware of how important it is to be present,” he shared. “Sometimes we are way too present in their lives.”
Cruz has also been careful about technology. “You will never see a picture of my kids on Instagram,” she told The Telegraph. Later, on CBS Sunday Morning, she said she is “very tough with technology” when it comes to her kids. “We can watch movies sometimes or some cartoons. How can I not let them watch movies?” she laughed.
Influence on Careers
The couple’s children have influenced Bardem’s film choices. In 2022, he starred in Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, explaining to Metro.co.uk that he wanted a role his kids could enjoy: “For my kids to watch a movie with dad in it, so they’re finally proud of what I do – because they don’t care!”
Cruz also revealed how Luna reacted to her mother’s award. During a November 2021 Vogue Arabia interview, Cruz described Luna’s surprise when she learned Cruz would receive the Volpi Cup for best actress at the 2021 Venice Film Festival. “My daughter was with me and said, ‘Mom, why are you crying if you are getting a prize?’ I had to explain to her what this award meant to me,” she recounted.
When Bardem was cast as King Triton in Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid, Luna was excited. In a January 2023 appearance on The Jess Cagle Show, Bardem recalled Luna’s reaction: “My daughter got so emotional, and I said, ‘But I am not playing Ariel, Luna,’ and she said, ‘Of course not, Dad, you will be Triton, right?'”
Key Takeaways
- Privacy first: The couple has kept Leo and Luna out of the media, avoiding social-media posts and limiting public exposure.
- Family-centric career choices: Both actors adjust schedules and select roles that allow them to spend time with their children.
- Technology control: They set strict boundaries around screens for the kids.
- Influence on work: Their children’s presence has directly shaped Bardem’s film projects.
Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem demonstrate that even the most celebrated actors can maintain a private family life while continuing to succeed in Hollywood.
