Penelope Cruz swimwear Candids on holiday at Southern Italy
So it's interesting to see that the role she refers to as her 'biggest transformation yet,' that of being a mother to seven-month-old Leo, hasn't extinguished that trademark flame.
In fact, the 37-year-old has never looked more beautiful than in these shots of her relaxing with her son and husband, fellow Oscar winner, Javier Bardem, 42.
Beautiful Boy! Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem stand in front of baby Leo's pushchair in Southern Italy on Sunday
Wearing a stunning white one-piece swimsuit, reminiscent of Italian pin-up Sophia Loren, the new mother left her envy-inducing tresses loose while she doted on Leo, and took a swim.
The family relocated to Southern Italy at the weekend after enjoying a trip to Roses on their native Spain's Costa Brava with Penelope's 26-year-old brother Eduardo and his girlfriend Eva Longoria.
The Desperate Housewives actress, 36 , and Penelope's younger brother have been dating since early this year, not long after Eva's divorce from ex-husband Tony Parker was finalised.
They seemed particularly happy in each other's company, with Eva throwing an arm around Eduardo as they lunched outside.
Just beautiful! Cruz looked stunning in her one-piece
But Penelope and Javier, who married in July 2010 in the Bahamas, obviously wanted some time alone with their beautiful young son.
Both parents are understandably besotted and took turns to dote over their beautiful boy, later Penelope tied her hair into a loose chignon and threw on a white beach dress to tackle the little one's push chair as they returned to their lodgings.
But that wonderful hair was free again after the couple changed their clothes to take Leo on a stroll of the surrounding countryside, this time Penelope in vibrant green and Javier in blue.
The couple are based in both Madrid and Los Angeles, but Penelope has spent much time in Italy recently while she shoots a new Woody Allen film in Rome.
The look of love! Cruz smiles happily at Bardem as they securely place Leo into his pushchair
The actress is filming Bop Decameron, a modern-day take on Giovanni Boccaccio's The Decameron and will consist of four vignettes.
In his story, Woody and his wife travel to Rome and meet the family of the Italian man that their daughter is going to marry; Cruz is rumoured to be playing his wife.
Ellen Page, Jesse Eisenberg, Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni will also star in the movie, which is slated for a 2012 release.
Baby Leo should make the most of all the attention as the Cruz family has another baby on the way, Penelope's father Eduardo Cruz is expecting his first child with his girlfriend Carmen Moreno.
Look, darling! The proud parents show Leo around the countryside
Eduardo, 59, and Carmen, 37, have been together for eight years and have always lead a very discreet life.
The couple are said to be overjoyed about the baby, due next spring.
It will be Eduardo's fourth child, who already has three children, Penelope, Monica and Eduardo, with his estranged wife Encarna Sánchez.
The couple separated 12 years ago but are not officially divorced yet.
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