Cruz Named Esquire’s Sexiest Woman Alive

Penelope Cruz has beat out a world of competition to earn a special honor.

The 40-year-old Spanish actress and Oscar winner has been given the title of Esquire‘s Sexiest Woman Alive.

Penelope Cruz - Esquire

Cruz, who stars in the upcoming Spanish-language film Ma Ma and Grimsby with Sacha Baron Cohen is the 10th honoree and the first Latina ever to earn the annual title.

“I’ve played a lot of tricks on myself,” she says in the magazine’s cover story. “I’ve made it hard for me sometimes, especially in my teens and 20s. I had an attraction to drama. Most of us have that, especially if you are an artist — you feel like you are tempted to explore the darkness. I could not be less interested now. For me, the most attractive, charming, cool, fun, interesting thing — how could I call it? A plan.”

Penelope Cruz - Esquire

Previous recipients of the magazine’s Sexiest Woman Alive title include Scarlett Johansson, Mila Kunis, Rihanna, Minka Kelly, Kate Beckinsale, Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, Jessica Biel and Angelina Jolie.