Penelope Cruz to star in new Woody Allen film

MADRID, Feb 3 (Reuters) Oscar-nominated Spanish actress Penelope Cruz is to star in the new Woody Allen film, to be shot this summer in Barcelona, a representative of the film's production company said.

''They (Allen and Cruz) met in New York a couple of months ago and the news has got out,'' Jaume Roures of production company Mediapro told state radio yesterday. ''If anyone needed a confirmation, this is it.'' Earlier, newspaper El Pais had reported, citing Cruz's agent, that the film was still without a title but that the sought-after actress would speak in Spanish and in English.

Allen shot two of his most recent features in London -- Match Point and Scoop -- and announced some time ago that he would film in Barcelona, without giving further details.

His latest film, ''Cassandra's Dream'', starring Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell, has yet to be released.

Cruz, from Madrid, is currently nominated for an Oscar for best actress for her leading role in Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's ''Volver'', for which she has won Spain's top cinema prize, a Goya.

Reuters SBA VP0428