Penelope Cruz’s First Role: Mecano’s “La Fuerza del Destino”

We all know Penelope Cruz for her roles in the films Blow, Vicky Christina Barcelona and Pirates of the Caribbean but how many of us knew that one of her first roles was in a music video at age 15?

Before starring in the Spanish comedy film “Jamon, Jamon”, Cruz made her acting debut in a music video for the Spanish pop group Mecano’s song “La Fuerza del Destino”, known as “The Force of Fate” in English.

Mecano found commercial success in Spain, Latin America, France and Italy during the late ’80s and early ’90s selling over 25 million albums worldwide. Mecano was founded by brothers Nacho and Jose Maria Cano, along with singer Ana Torroja, in Mardrid in 1981. The band became synonymous with the sociocultural movement “La Movida Madrilena”, that represent a “New Spain” with the emergence of a resurrected economy and a new Spanish identity.

“La Fuerza del Destino” was dedicated Nacho Cano’s girlfriend of many years, Coloma Fernandez Armeo. As fate would have it, Peneolope Cruz would end up having a relationship with Nacho Cano for several years after the video was made.

Here’s the video for “La Fuerza del Destino” that sparked Nacho’s and Cruz’s relationship.