Penelope Cruz is the sultry Spanish star who finally gets some respect in Hollywood thanks to a string of high-profile roles. The 34-year-old actress takes the August 2008 cover of W Magazine.

On avoiding celebrity gossip: “I try not to go on the Internet and read about myself. It’s a guaranteed way to get angry for no reason. You start looking at yourself from the outside, from the wrong place. And everything is out of proportion. The good things, the bad things—everything. I think it’s disgusting. It’s dangerous and nasty, and bad for our society in so many ways. And it’s getting worse every day. It affects me directly, but I really believe that this culture of gossip affects our society on a much deeper level, on an ethical level. It’s what kids see and hear every day, and it will affect future generations in ways that we cannot even imagine.”

On never dishing out any personal revelations in the press: “I never talk about my private life to journalists. Never. I have a total right to protect it, and I never mess with that.”

On rumored boyfriend Javier Bardem: “I think he’s the best actor alive. I think he has an amazing talent.”