Penélope Cruz has had a year worth celebrating, with two performances potentially putting her in the running for an unusual Oscars milestone. The actor stars in La Bola Negra and The Invite, two films that could put her in contention for two nominations in the Best Supporting Actress category at the 2026 Academy Awards. A change to the Academy’s rules now allows performers to receive multiple nominations in the same acting category, provided both performances rank among the top five in voting.

But while the possibility of making history is an exciting one, Cruz is keeping her attention on what matters most to her: the characters she has played and the response her work has received from audiences.

At the BFI London Film Festival, Screen Daily asked Penélope Cruz how she felt about the possibility of making Oscars history with two nominations in the same category. The interviewer congratulated her on her performance in La Bola Negra, then praised her work in The Invite, describing both as among their favorite films of the year.

When asked what it would feel like to make history, Cruz admitted that she had not even allowed herself to think about it. Instead, she spoke about how fortunate she felt to have been part of both films.

“I love the three of them. I feel so lucky to have been able to play these characters, and I'm very grateful that I've had the opportunities, and that I'm also getting so much love back from the people who watch the movies, and what more can you expect? Anything else, I should not be thinking about it,” she said.

Rather than getting caught up in the prospect of awards recognition, Cruz's response centered on gratitude. Being able to play characters she loves and see audiences respond so warmly to her work is already a meaningful reward for the actor.

For those unversed, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has changed its acting rules for the 99th Academy Awards. Under the new rules, actors can receive multiple nominations in the same acting category if their performances each rank among the top five vote-getters. Previously, an actor could not secure two nominations in the same acting category in a single year. If Cruz receives recognition for both La Bola Negra and The Invite in the same category, she could become the first actor to achieve that milestone under the new rules.

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Cruz's enthusiasm for the films goes beyond the response they have received. She explained what made one of the projects feel special to her from the moment she first encountered it.

Asked at the BFI London Festival how Penélope Cruz knew so quickly that La Bola Negra would be as incredible as it turned out to be, Cruz pointed to the strength of the script and the talent of the people bringing it to life.

“It was just so perfect a script from beginning to end, and it's so hard to get something like that where you read it and you have no doubts that it's going to touch people's hearts,” she explained.

For Cruz, that confidence came not only from the writing but also from knowing what the filmmakers could do with the material. She praised their visual approach and described them as “brilliant and so young and so brilliant,” expressing her admiration for the talent behind the project.

A script that feels complete from beginning to end, paired with filmmakers whose creative vision she trusts, can make all the difference. And as Cruz weighs the possibility of an extraordinary awards-season achievement, her focus remains firmly on the work itself and the people who bring it to life.

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Do you think Penélope Cruz can get two Oscar nominations in the same category for La Bola Negra and The Invite? Let us know in the comments.