Penelope Cruz Thrilled With Her New Muscle Bound Body  3/27/05

The tough fitness regime Penelope Cruz undertook in preparation for her role in new movie Sahara has dramatically altered her appearance - she now boasts an impressive pair of biceps.

The 30-year-old brunette was determined to throw herself into as many dangerous stunts as possible - including camel-riding, jumping onto moving trains and fighting - so she bulked up before shooting started. And although filming has now wrapped on the action adventure, her hard work has had a lasting physical effect. 

She says, "I have muscles for the first time in my life. I'm always looking at them in the mirror."