Gay director 'desires' Penelope Cruz

A gay film director has admitted that he was very attracted to his muse Penelope Cruz during the shooting of Volver.

Pedro Almodovar, who reunites with the 35-year-old actress in new movie Broken Embraces, said that Cruz is the first woman to create "sexual desire" in him.

The director told The Sunday Times: "Out of all the actresses I have worked with, Penelope really has been the one who has caused a sense of desire in me beyond the sensuality of a film shoot."

He continued: "Normally, as a director, you engage with your leading lady on an extremely emotional level, and there is everything but sex. But it is true that with Penelope it is different. She has caused me sexual desire."

It was recently reported that Cruz and her actor boyfriend Javier Bardem are expecting their first child.