Penélope Cruz Reveals Why She Ditched Method Acting to Save Her Sanity

Penélope Cruz is opening up about how she guards her sanity on set these days, admitting that her old habit of staying in character for months almost broke her. While discussing her new thriller project, the Oscar winner revealed that she used to throw herself into intense emotional states for long stretches of time when preparing for roles. But after realizing how damaging that practice was to her personal well-being and her work, she completely changed her approach to acting. Speaking during an interview at the Toronto International Film Festival, the star explained that staying locked in dark emotional places for weeks on end proved suffocating. She credited her longtime Argentine acting mentor, Juan Carlos Corazza, with showing her a healthier way forward. Corazza taught her to seamlessly jump into a character's mindset and jump back out multiple times a day, keeping a firm boundary between fiction and reality. ## how does penelope cruz stay in character Cruz explained that learning to step in and out of heavy scenes preserved her emotional stability while making her work stronger. The shift in technique became crucial while filming her latest project, *Bunker*, directed by Florian Zeller. The psychological thriller demanded high intensity, including an exhausting three-day fight scene that tested her stamina and focus. The upcoming movie marks a special milestone for Cruz and her real-life husband, Javier Bardem. Although the Hollywood power couple has shared the screen before, *Bunker* represents the very first time they portray a solid, grounded married couple on film. Zeller specifically crafted the script with both actors in mind, putting their natural chemistry front and center in the tense story. ## who wrote the movie bunker for penelope cruz and javier bardem For Cruz, maintaining boundaries on set proved essential when sharing scenes with her spouse during demanding sequences. By leaning on her updated technique, she managed the physical and emotional demands of the shoot without taking the drama home at night. The actress emphasized that switching off at the end of a take actually elevated her performance rather than hurting it. With decades in Hollywood under her belt, Cruz views protecting her mental state as a non-negotiable part of the craft. Her journey from extreme immersion to balanced discipline shows how top performers adapt to stay sharp and healthy. Audiences can look forward to seeing the results of that balance when *Bunker* hits screens.