Penelope Cruz poses for "Diva"

Even though her onscreen hook up with Scarlett Johansson in Vicky Cristina Barcelona wasn't the sexy Sapphic scene it was (overly) hyped up to be, Penelope Cruz won me (and countless other lady-lovers) over in last year's Woody Allen film. Oh, and she also won over the Academy, snagging Best Supporting Actress for the role and becoming the first Spanish-speaking actress to win an Oscar.

Personally, it was the combination of her hilariously frantic personality, big dark eyes and pouty face when she asked ScarJo, "Don't you know how much we love you?" that really sealed the deal. Nevermind that she starred alongside her real-life beau Javier Bardem.

Basically, any time a straight actress is down with playing gay (or a character with not-entirely-straight inclinations), they earn bonus points in my book — especially if it's fitting with the story and not just a gratuitous hook up.

Now, Cruz is sure to win over even more ladies, as she's on the cover of the new issue of Diva.

In the interview, she talks about the aforementioned ScarJo lip-lock (she simply said “I knew it was going to get a big reaction." Who didn't?) and her recent work, such as starring in Pedro Almodóvar’s Broken Embraces and alongside Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Judi Dench, Daniel Day-Lewis and Fergie in the musical Nine, as well as her cameo in Sex and the City 2.

When it comes to her more recent, consistent place in the forefront and being looked at as a role model, Cruz told Diva:

I’ve had a lot of strong, beautiful women in my life. And I’m grateful for that. I don’t feel comfortable giving advice, unless it’s to people very close to me. I don’t consider myself as a role model or a feminist, no. I’m kind of allergic to labels. You cannot live your life looking at yourself from someone else’s point of view.

I'm not sure how that would make her anything but a feminist, but hey, if Penelope Cruz doesn't want to be labeled, Penelope Cruz doesn't get labeled. I wonder if that means she's not "straight" after all — you know, it being a label and all. I can hope, right?

Check out the rest of the interview in the new issue, which is on stands now, and see Penelope in Nine, which opens everywhere on Christmas Day.