Penelope Cruz's blistering dance

Penelope Cruz was left blistered and bruised after performing a sexy dance.

The actress was forced to push through the pain while doing a rope routine for new musical film 'Nine' - because she was worried she would lose her grip and fall.

She said: "When something like that happens, you just have to keep going and forget about any physical pain. I was dancing in the dark with one spotlight on me, so I had to be extremely alert and focused.

"There were other things to think about, so I was not in pain while dancing - I was just praying not to fall!"

However, the star soon learned to love the raunchy moves and was left in tears on her last day of filming when she realised her hard work had paid off.

She added: "You carry on and forget the pain, and at the end of the day you see all the blisters and bruises.

"I couldn't stop crying, because I had been doing dance classes and rehearsals for so many months. It's in the film and it will be there for ever, but I don't get to do it again. I was addicted to it!"

'Nine' - which also stars Daniel Day-Lewis - is due for release in November.