Penélope Cruz Says Health Scares Have Deepened Focus on Women's Health

Penélope Cruz says recent health scares have made her more focused on staying healthy.

In a new interview with Net-a-Porter, the actress said doctors recently warned her about a possible brain aneurysm while she was filming the drama La Bola Negra (The Black Ball). After medical tests, doctors confirmed it was a false alarm, and she returned to work the next day.

Cruz said it was not the first time she had experienced a medical scare. She added that she avoids drinking, smoking, and partying because she wants to protect her health.

The actress also spoke about her role in The Invite, Olivia Wilde’s remake of the Spanish film The People Upstairs. Cruz said she suggested adding a scene about perimenopause because she believed her character, a therapist and sexologist, should discuss the effects of female hormones on health.

Cruz criticized the lack of research into women’s health, saying illnesses that mainly affect women receive too little funding. “Without health, we have nothing,” she said, adding that improving women’s healthcare should be part of achieving true equality.

The Invite, which premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, is now playing in theaters.