Oscar Gold that is....! This is the first time that Penelope appears to be one of the favorite contenders for the best supporting actress Oscar in an English-language film.

Penelope Cruz, one of my favorite Spanish actresses, was recognized by The New York Film Critic's Circle as Best Supporting Actress for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. She accepted her award last Monday in Woody Allen's hometown, New York City.

The 34-Year-old Spanish star attended the awards ceremony in the Big Apple, along with with Sean Penn, Sally Hawkins and Josh Brolin, among others.

The star of Volver (for which she was nominated in 2007 for both the Academy Award and the Golden Globe as best actress for her work in this film by Pedro Almodovar) attracted a good amount of critical acclaim in the U.S. last year for her role as the s*xy ex-wife in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Directed by Allen in the Catalan city of Barcelona, which also gives its name to the film, and also starring the Spanish Academy Award-winning star Javier Bardem, American actress Scarlett Johansson and British actress Rebecca Hall, the film follows two girlfriends on holiday in Spain who fall in love with a painter without knowing that his ex-wife, with whom he had a stormy relationship, all of a sudden is back in his life.

In addition to a new Golden Globe nomination, this time for Best Supporting Actress, Cruz already received awards from the Film Critics Association in Los Angeles (for Vicky Cristina and Elegy, by her fellow compatriot Isabel Coixet) and the U.S. National Critics Group.

Cruz's career was launched in 1992 with films like Belle Epoque by Fernando Trueba and Jamón, Jamón by Bigas Luna. Her collaborations with Almodovar include Live Flesh and All About My Mother, plus the upcoming release Broken Hugs.

Hollywood glory appeared with titles such as Blow, All the Pretty Horses and Vanilla Sky, an adaptation of the Alejandro Amenábar film Open Your Eyes, in which she also starred.

Her crossover to English films undoubtedly took a positive turn in 2008.

Is the NY Critics' Circle the lucky charm for Spanish actors? Last year the group chose No Country for Old Men as best film and Javier Bardem as Best Supporting Actor for his work on the same film.

Bardem ended up winning the Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Will Penelope have the same Oscar luck? To be honest, Penelope has it a bit tough at this point. The ceremony for the Golden Globes was this past Sunday and the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress went to Kate Winslet.

for her performance in The Reader, and you know that legend has it that the Globe winner also goes on to get their shiny Oscar. But you never know... there could always be a spicy Spanish surprise! Penelope... We're crossing our fingers!!! I guess we'll all just have to wait and see if Penelope ends up wearing Gold on February 22, Oscar Night 2009!!

Joder... Espero que lo ganes tia!!!