Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem's son makes acting debut in queer Netflix drama

Leo Bardem, 15, appears in small scene in his mother’s queer Spanish-language drama 'La Bola Negra'

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem’s 15-year-old son, Leo, has made his acting debut in La Bola Negra, a Spanish-language drama starring his mother that is now streaming on Netflix.

Viewers spotted Leo in a small ensemble scene towards the end of the film. Although he has no dialogue, his appearance marks his first known acting role.

The teenager's involvement also comes as his parents have continued to keep their children's lives largely private.

Cruz and Bardem, who also have a 12-year-old daughter, Luna, have previously said they want their children to decide for themselves whether they wish to pursue careers in the public eye.

During a 2024 interview with Elle, Cruz declined to confirm whether her children had inherited their parents' creative interests, saying, "It's for them to decide if they are going to have a job that is more exposed to the public or not. They can talk about that when they're ready."

Leo previously accompanied his mother to a BAFTA Q&A in 2023, where she acknowledged his presence, telling the audience, "I'm very nervous today because somebody very, very special to me is in this room, my son."

Directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, collectively known as Los Javis, La Bola Negra follows three men across three generations, with its stories set in 1932, 1937 and 2017.

The film draws inspiration from Federico García Lorca's unfinished 1936 play of the same name, as well as Alberto Conejero's 2015 play La piedra oscura. Calvo, Ambrossi and Conejero collaborated on the screenplay.

The film premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where its directors won Best Director. It has also been submitted by Spain for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2027 Oscars.

Alongside Cruz, the cast includes Spanish musician Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González and Glenn Close. Cruz also returns to singing on screen, something she last did in the 2009 film Nine.