Geoffrey Rush has describes Penelope Cruz as 'amazing'.
The pair team up for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which has stormed the global box office over the weekend.
The movie has so far topped the U.S. and UK box office and has taken a staggering $384 million worldwide.
Cruz joined the cast list in her first big budget blockbuster and Rush had nothing but praise for her.
Speaking to Parade: "She is such an amazing actress. You look at Vicky Cristina Barcelona and that's one of the high comedy acts onscreen. It certainly deserves an Academy Award.
"And you see her in a Pedro Almodovar film as a great dramatic actress. So to have that come in and raise the bar as a principal character, and with Ian McShane, it kept us on our toes.
"It was great for Jack Sparrow to meet his match. It sharpened his wits because I think their dialogue is very sharp and very funny."
Rush is having a superb year after all of the adulation that came his way for his role in The King's Speech.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is out now.
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