MADRID, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Movie star Penelope Cruz became the first Spanish actress to be nominated as Best Actress for an Oscar which will be presented on Feb. 25.

    Cruz, 32, played the leading role in the most recent film "Volver" directed by Pedro Almodovar and was nominated for her performance in it. The film will not compete for an Oscar as Best Foreign Film, local press said on Tuesday.

    Cruz will have to defeat some other candidates to win the prize: British actresses Helen Mirren for her role in "The Queen," Judy Dench for "Notes on a Scandal" and Kate Winslet for "Little Children."

    Penelope Cruz's role in "Volver" is considered her best performance. Her character, Raimunda, is an uneducated woman who faces life and death with kindness and limitless vitality.

    Penelope Cruz has been nominated for or has won several prizes related to Cannes Festival, the European Film Academy, the British BAFTA prize, the Spanish Goya prize, the Golden Globe and the Oscar.