Penelope Cruz is a Spirit Award Winner

Picking up yet another trophy to add to her collection, Penelope Cruz was one of the early winner's at the 2009 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards in Santa Monica on Saturday evening (February 21).

The Spanish sweetheart took home the award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the Woody Allen film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona".

And now Miss Cruz has her sights set of Oscar glory, as she's the favorite to take home the same award tomorrow night (February 22) - which would make her the first Spanish actress to win an Academy Award.

"I don’t want to sound like a typical actress, but I really mean it. I am so grateful for the opportunity of being here for the nomination. I am so happy to be part of a group of people that can work and make a living out of this profession that I have loved so much since I was a little girl,” Cruz says of her Oscar bid.

“I really don’t want to obsess about winning. I want to enjoy every part of this great adventure. Of course, it would make happy any of us to win. I’d be lying. Once you’ve been nominated, of course it would be so exciting. I never dared to dream about something like this in the place where I grew up.”

Gossip Girls / Dailyfill.com

To see the entire gallery from the 2009 Film Independent's Spirit Awards (February 21) - Click Here!