Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem: A courtship away from the spotlight

When the pair began filming Vicky Cristina Barcelona in 2007 reports were circulating that Javier was the real-life love of Scarlett Johansson.

But these were quashed when Scarlett's partner Ryan Reynolds turned up on set. The real behind-the-scenes love story – Javier and Penelope's romance – was confirmed when pictures of the two sharing passionate kisses in the surf on a sundrenched beach in the Maldives were published exclusively in HELLO! in October later that year