Penelope Cruz

Penelope Cruz had to use muscles she hadn't used since she was a teenager in new movie 'Nine'.

The Spanish actress put in weeks of training for one particular scene in the musical movie - about a film director struggling in his relationships with women, in which Penelope plays the central character's mistress - where she had to slide down a rope.

Describing the scene, Penelope said: "They mapped it out and showed me how it was done. I said I would never be able to do it but I worked and worked and regained the memory of muscles in my legs I hadn't used since I was a teenager studying ballet."

Penelope, 35, was rehearsing for the film's rope scenes for three months before they were eventually completed, and was left with calluses on her hands and bleeding digits from sliding down the ropes so often.

Penelope Cruz is rumoured to be getting married in December.

The Spanish actress is reportedly planning her wedding to long-term boyfriend Javier Bardem for next month and is shopping for a dress.

A source said: "They will marry very soon, maybe even over the holidays. Since she and Javier are from Spain, she'd love to have a Spanish designer create her dream gown."

It is believed the dress could be created by the House of Balenciaga - which was founded by Spanish designer Cristobal Balenciaga - the fashion house that designed and made Salma Hayek's gown when she tied the knot with billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault.

The source added to In Touch Weekly magazine: "Salma's dress was specifically designed for her by the company's creative director, Nicolas Ghesquiere, and it was just beautiful.