Penélope Cruz Reveals Why She Doesn’t Work With Her Husband Javier Bardem That Often

Penélope Cruz and her husband, Javier Bardem, are no strangers to starring in films together, but don’t expect that trend to continue.

Penélope , 44, and Javier, 49, have co-starred in films like Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Just Frenzy, Live Flesh, Not Love, Loving Pablo, and others, but the pair probably won’t be starring in as many films together anymore. Penélope sat down with Marie Claire to reveal why exactly that is. “Obviously we can’t choose parts just for logistical reasons, like, ‘Oh, let’s work together more often because it’s easier,’” the American Crime Story actress says. “No. In fact, it’s not something we want to do that often, partly out of a desire to protect what we have.”

Penélope continues, “On the one hand, it’s easier because you know that person, he knows you, and the way you work is very similar. On the other hand, the idea of it happening every year is kind of scary.” The actress adds, “You never know if that might mix things up too much. My instinct is that it would. I think it’s better for it to just be once in a while, even though they’ve been very good experiences.”

But all you Penélope /Javier fans shouldn’t feel too bummed out just yet, as the couple is still starring in the February film, Everybody Knows, and that’s mainly because of the characters they both play. “If we do work together we wouldn’t want to always play a couple,” Penélope explains. “For instance, in Everybody Knows, they have a past, but they’re not together. In Loving Pablo they are, but then they’re also a very different couple, which helps.”

Penélope and her husband aren’t the only couple that have recently starred in films together — lovebirds Emily Blunt and John Krasinski have as well, as they co-starred in A Quiet Place. Emily said, “I didn’t want it to be like, ‘Oh, how adorable. They’re working together,'” She added, “It was the only idea that had come our way that seemed bigger than our marriage. The narrative of our marriage was not going to overwhelm this movie and this amazing opportunity for him as a director, as a filmmaker, as a writer. I knew this was a big swing for him.”