Screen Sirens (Oscar Edition): María Elena in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

If you remember all the way back to last summer, we used a feature known as Screen Sirens to compare the lovely women of wrestling to certain female characters in film. Back then, we covered movies like Iron Man, Indiana Jones, The Incredible Hulk, and The Dark Knight. This time around, we’re taking advantage of Oscar season being in full swing, examining different Oscar-nominated roles and seeing which (if any) Divas or Knockouts match up with these critically acclaimed characters. You’ll probably never see a Diva win an Oscar (maybe a Razzie), so this is the closest you’ll get – relish it!

Today, we’re looking at Penélope Cruz’s fiery character in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”. In a role that earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination, Penélope plays María Elena, an artist with a volatile temper and a colorful past. She is at times helpful and kind, and others unstable and uncontrollable. She is the ex-wife of Juan Antonio, the seductive painter that captures the attentions of two female American tourists. María is the antithesis of them, despite her claims that Juan is always looking for a duplicate of her. Their relationship, it seems, never really ended – they still love one another, but cannot coexist without clashing.

Her art shows her brilliance, but it comes at a price – with her violent mood swings, María is often drawn to extremes, whether it be in harming herself or others. This temperament brings out both the best and the worst in her, making her arguably the most captivating character in the film. You wonder if María Elena really is Juan Antonio’s soulmate and if, despite everything, she a good person underneath. It’s safe to say that there’s much more to her than the “crazy chick” stereotype.

So, which Diva/Knockout/etc. would best fit this role? The one Diva that springs to mind is Melina. While Melina is of Mexican descent and that’s clearly not the same as being Spanish, she has shown the same aptitude for fiery outbursts that María Elena launches into in the film. Just take a look at Melina’s managing experience – whenever she was at ringside for MNM, you can best she’d be screaming or getting physically involved. It’s easy to picture Melina go through the highs and lows and still pull off the seductive act that draws people to her in the first place. Her look is a lot like Penélope’s too, with her tiny frame, long dark hair, and dark eyes. Add to that the fact that Melina’s fluent in Spanish and you’re good to go!

See for yourself:
• Find out more about “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”.
• Find out more about Penélope Cruz.

So what do you think? Do you disagree with my opinion? Do you think another Knockout or Diva would better fit this role? Sound off in the comments!

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