Spanish actress Penelope Cruz shows up with a camel at the premiere of her new action adventure film "Sahara" in Hollywood, April 4, 2005. (Xinhua/AFP file photo)

    BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhuanet)-- Hollywood celebrity couple Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz have split up after their year-long romance.

    A joint statement released to American magazine People reads: "(Cruz and McConaughey) have decided to take time off as a couple. Due to busy work schedules and so much time apart, they mutually decided four weeks ago that separating was the best thing to do at this time."

    The couple started a romance while co-starring in 2005's "Sahara." 

    The 32-year-old Spanish beauty Cruz recently won the Best Actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival and is currently in Spain filming bull-fighting biopic, Manolete.

    While 36-year-old McConaughey is filming sporting drama "We Are Marshall" in the U.S. Enditem

    (Agencies)