Penelope Cruz Pregnancy

Penelope Cruz has lost it in four months. How? With ballet and diet. How can you get back in shape after becoming a proud mom? Here's how Hollywood's yummiest mummies got back into sexy shape Angelina Jolie The actress lost all the weight gained while carrying Shiloh, by doing yoga as well as drinking ginger root and garlic tea

The 37-year-old Oscar winner learned she was pregnant after signing to co-star opposite Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

It's the kind of revelation that could have easily led to her role being recast. After all, it's a sword-swinging action-adventure, not an urbane Woody Allen comedy. But Depp, director Rob Marshall and producer Jerry Bruckheimer opted to re-shuffle the complex shoot in order to keep her.

"The reaction from them I will never forget because they did everything that was necessary to keep me there and adjust a few things and keep me always safe. In a special time like that, that has big meaning. They are like family to me," says Cruz, whose son with husband Javier Bardem was born in January.

"Johnny and Jerry and Rob were very protective of me and helpful in every way. We never did anything dangerous, of course. Things were planned. Whatever was dangerous, I didn't do."

Marshall had previously directed Cruz in the 2009 musical Nine, for which she received her third Academy Award nomination.

"We found out she was pregnant prior to the movie and quickly made the decision that she needed to stay, as complicated as it was to make work," he says.

"It was challenging, no question, but it was worth it. We re-arranged her schedule so she did most of her work upfront before she started showing. Her corset, which was tied in back originally, became elastic, so she could get a little bigger. We were just careful how we shot her ... and she was game. We had to say, 'No, no, no' a few times because she really wanted to do it."

The sequel introduces Cruz as Angelica, a femme fatale from Capt. Jack Sparrow's past who's in pursuit of the legendary Fountain of Youth alongside the notorious Blackbeard (Ian McShane). It's not long before both Sparrow and his old foe Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) are also drawn into the treasure hunt.

"It's not normally the type of movie I make," she concedes. "But it's a humongous movie with characters that are interesting. It had both things. It was a great opportunity. It was like being at Disneyland everyday."

And it marked a reunion for her and Depp, who starred in the 2001 coke-dealer epic Blow.

The toughest thing about working with him again, she says, "was not laughing. It's so brilliant, what he's created. He knows the character so well. It was the biggest challenge, not to laugh at some things because it was impossible. He goes back and forth so easily (between himself and Sparrow).

"We all know how talented he is, but he's also so clever, so smart and so funny. And he has a very kind heart. He's always kind to everybody. He doesn't treat people differently because of who they are ... He makes me laugh non-stop and he's always playing tricks on me.

"You never know what he's going to do to you that day."

Such as? Cruz recalls that after she lost a bet with Depp, he made her dress up as South Park's Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo on the last day of filming. Then he took photographs.

"I hope those pictures never come to light."