WITH A MILESTONE BIRTHDAY AHEAD OF HER PENELOPE CRUZ ON THE SECRETS OF HER HAPPY MARRIAGE AND WHY SHE'S EMBRACING GETTING OLDER

"My relationship rules? Having a rule not to talk about my relationship'

-  KATIE ELLIS

She plays a disillusioned housewife with a cheating husband in her new film L'Immensità but in reality Penélope Cruz's life couldn't be more different.

The actress has been married to fellow Oscar winner Javier Bardem whom she first met on the set of 1992's Jamón Jamón since 2010 and she attributes the secret of their happiness to a few simple rules.

"It probably helps that we've actually known each other for more than 30 years, so we had a very long friendship together before we were married.

"Really good communication is key," she continues, adding with a smile: "The other is having a rule not to talk about my relationship. That is probably what's really helped us also."

The couple, who started dating in 2007 after starring together in the romantic comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona, tied the knot in an intimate wedding ceremony in the Bahamas and now have children Leo, 12, and Luna, ten.

SETTING PRIORITIES

Despite her prolific career - her film credits include Pirates of the Caribbean and Zoolander 2Penélope puts family first.

"I have a rule to only make one movie per year because my priority is my family and my children," she says. "I feel very blessed to have a situation like this.