Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem become parents

Spanish stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem are now proud parents following the birth of their first child together on Tuesday (January 25th), it has been revealed.

According to Spanish newspaper El Pais, the baby was born at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, although the gender and the name are yet to be announced.

Cruz and Bardem started dating after starring together in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona and the couple went on to exchange vows at a low-key ceremony in the Caribbean in July 2010.

The news comes in the wake of Bardem's best actor Academy Award nomination yesterday for his role in the film Biutiful, which is also in line to pick up an award for best foreign film.

If he wins, this will be his second Oscar following his victory in 2008 with No Country for Old Men, which landed him an Academy Award for best supporting actor.