Penélope Cruz took home the best supporting actress Oscar Sunday night

“Vicky Cristina Barcelona” actress was favored to win

By Matthew B. Zeidman

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Today) 2/22/09 – There were no surprises when Penélope Cruz took home the award for best supporting actress at the Oscars ceremony Sunday night. The Spanish thespian won for her portrayal of the unstable and combative ex-wife of Javier Bardem’s character in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

“Has anybody ever fainted here? Because I might be the first one,” Cruz joked before beginning her speech. “I always felt this ceremony was a moment of unity for the world, because art in any form has been and always will be our universal language….”

Cruz was presented the statuette by Whoopi Goldberg, Goldie Hawn, Angelica Houston, Eva Marie Saint and Tilda Swinton, who were all previous winners of the award.

“Vicky Cristina Barcelona” was written and directed by Woody Allen and also featured Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall.

Cruz was up against Amy Adams and Viola Davis for their respective performances in “Doubt,” as well as Taraji P. Henson for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and Marisa Tomei for “The Wrestler.”