Penelope was a dream and every inch as beautiful in the flesh as she is on film. I was all set up and ready to shoot in The Dorchester hotel, when Penelope arrived. I could hear muffled talking and laughing as she entered, and following her in the studio was her husband the actor Javier Bardem. I had shot Javier before and we got on very well so he wanted to come to the shoot to see me and say hi. My idea for Penelope was a sexy brooding shot. But every time we started shooting Javier kept making comments to her in Spanish. I've no idea what was said but each time her cheeks flushed and she burst into hysterical laughter. I took the chance to take some fun shots during their banter but when I wanted the brooding shots I made Javier stand outside like a naughty schoolboy, which actually made her laugh more. But eventually I got the shot I was after.