Oscars 2022: Every Acting Nominee Ranked

In his recent psychological drama Parallel Mothers, director Pedro Almodóvar tells the story of two women who become pregnant and, despite being at vastly different places in their lives, strike up a mysterious bond.

At the centre of the drama is Penélope Cruz, who stars as photographer Janis, a middle-aged woman whose recent twist of fate causes her to face a series of shock revelations and tragedies.

Cruz's performance is one of layers, alternating between tender, paranoid, and heartbroken, and she carries Janis's increasingly crushing journey without missing a beat or failing to keep up with Almodóvar's typically wild script.

Parallel Mothers marks Cruz and Almodóvar's eighth time working together, and this might just be their best pairing yet. Also, as an added bonus, she's nominated alongside her husband, Javier Bardem, just like Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst. Double awww.