The film entitled “Ma Ma” by director Julio Medem's opens at cinema screens across Spain on Friday.
“This is one of the most wonderful characters that I will ever be offered to play,” the 41-year-old actress said during an interview with radio Cadena Ser on Wednesday ahead of the film's release.
“I fell in love with the story of this woman, who is like a goddess, a sage,” Cruz said, before adding that at first the role “frightened” her.
The Oscar-winner was in Madrid on Wednesday for the premiere, along with her husband, fellow Oscar-winning Spaniard Javier Bardem.
The Spanish actress plays Magda in the movie, a gutsy unemployed teacher with a young son who faces her cancer diagnosis with optimism and courage.
“It was very important to me to take risks and at no time did I worry if I looked beautiful, was ugly or very ugly,” said Cruz who was named the “Sexiest Woman Alive” by Esquire magazine last year.
“It is a tribute to all women who face this disease,” she added.
Cruz rose to international prominence in 2001 with roles in Hollywood films “Vanilla Sky” and “Blow”.
Penélope Cruz gets a helping hand from her adoring husband, Javier Bardem: http://t.co/ds7lEj1et8 pic.twitter.com/BZZIUEA3CU
— POPSUGAR (@POPSUGAR) September 10, 2015
She won a best supporting actress Oscar for her role as an impetuous artist in Woody Allen's 2008 comedy “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”.
The actress last made a movie in Spain in 2009 when she starred in Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's “Broken Embraces”.
She also made a very brief appearance in Almodovar's 2013 “I am So Excited” alongside Antonio Banderas.
Cruz is married to fellow Oscar winner Javier Bardem. The couple have two children.
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