Maturing relationship

PenÉlope CRUZ was an ingénue when she and Oscar-winning Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar collaborated for the first time on "Live Flesh."

Now a decade and two films later — "Talk to My Mother" and the current Academy Award-nominated "Volver" — Almodóvar says their relationship hasn't so much changed as evolved into something deeper.

"She's now an adult woman," he says. "She's more conscious of herself, of her career and her capacity of working. When I am directing Penélope, I can ask her to go further."

Cruz, who earned an Oscar nomination for the role, describes their collaboration as akin to riding a roller coaster. "It's like being in Disneyland for an actor," she says. "You never know what's going to happen because he's always honest, which is a little bit scary. But I would much rather have somebody who can intimidate me, but guide me with the truth."

Almodóvar says that's crucial. "She only feels safe if she knows I am telling her the truth," he says through an interpreter, "and if I tell her everything, especially things that don't work."

Lengthy rehearsals were the key to their collaboration on "Volver."

"Three months before I started the shooting we worked on the role in the physical sense, the emotional sense and the technique," says Almodóvar.

Also, he says, "we went through the dialogue. I wanted her to understand the intentions and all of the things that were in my head when I was writing the script."

Though afternoons and evenings were spent in Almodóvar's office doing script and scene work, Cruz occupied her mornings learning skills she would need to play the character, including driving a van.

"I had cooking lessons," she says. "I had singing lessons. I was cleaning my house because I was a bit out of training because of living in hotel rooms. I said, 'I better learn how to move a broom because he's going to be really angry [if I can't].' "

The two hope to work together again soon. "At this moment," says Almodóvar, "my relationship with Penélope as a director and as a friend is at the highest level. It is the most mature relationship we could have."