Penelope Cruz was on The Late Show last night to promote her new film Broken Embraces (review here). I thought she might be on for Nine, but alas, she was not. Anyway, David Letterman was very nice to her at first, asking her about winning her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, and she says she doesn’t remember part of the night, but she remembers sitting in her seat and trying not to have a panic attack. I’m watching part of the interview now… and I have to say something. I actually really, really like Penelope, I think she’s a wonderful actress, but her accent is terribly annoying isn’t it? David even asks her about her accent and being a Spanish actress, and she says she speaks a ton of languages, so God bless. I’m just finding her kind of grating. And I like accents! I love most accents, but hers plucks my last nerve. Argh.

Anyway, David brought the conversation around to her relationship with Javier Bardem. Last month, Penelpe was flashing a big sapphire and diamond ring, and the rumor was that it was an engagement ring. But when David asked about it, Penelope avoided the questions like a champ:

Ever since Penélope Cruz wore a sapphire-and-diamond sparkler on her ring finger at the October premiere of Broken Embraces, buzz has mounted that the actress is engaged to actor Javier Bardem.

It’s a question she just won’t answer – no matter how hard she’s pushed. During her Late Show appearance, airing Tuesday night, David Letterman asked the actress, 35, point-blank if she’s engaged to Bardem, 40. “I don’t feel comfortable talking about my private life in public,” she said, laughing.

Letterman pressed and Cruz continued, “I’ve been here a few times with you, you know I’m tough. One thing I don’t do, I don’t lie about my personal life,” she said. “It’s sacred to me. It’s my life. But I don’t give details about it because I am allergic to that.”

Relentless, Letterman finally asked, “So you know, but you don’t want to tell me?” Responded Cruz, giggling, “I know, but I choose not to share some things!”

[From People]

I think she did well with those questions. In the past few months she’s had to deny rumors that she was pregnant, and that she and Javier were adopting from India, so I’ll give her some credit for not confirming or denying the engagement stuff. I get the feeling that her deal isn’t some publicist-driven “look at me no don’t look at me” crap.

Many are saying that Penelope will get another supporting actress Oscar nomination for Nine, where she’s playing Daniel Day-Lewis’s mistress. I think the chances are good that she could walk away with a lead actress nomination for Broken Embraces, though. I haven’t heard much about the film, but the Academy seems to love her in Pedro Almodovar’s films. In any case, I wish Penelope luck – who knows, if she gets nominated for some stuff, maybe she’ll walk the red carpet with Javier.

Penelope outside of The Ed Sullivan Theatre last night, November 17, 2009. I love her dress. Credit: WENN.