• Lily Collins Shows Off Her Figure in a Striking Swimsuit During French Getaway

  Lily Collins showed off her enviable figure in a revealing swimsuit during a brief getaway to France. The actress shared the photo as part of a new collection of snapshots on Instagram...

• Cows, Gold Mines and $1: The Crazy Offers a Billionaire Is Getting for His “Island”

  A billionaire who made his fortune in bitcoin is trying to sell his private island in Africa and has already received a flood of “hilarious” offers — ranging from gold mines and houses to cows. There is just one problem: technically, the island does not belong to him...

• “Even Dog Shit Deserves More Respect”: Elon Musk Brutally Slams Film About His Life

  Elon Musk has lashed out at Alex Gibney’s four-hour documentary about his life, calling the film a “hit job” and describing the director as a “terrible person.”..

• “I’m Bored With It”: 68-Year-Old Sharon Stone Reveals She Has Been Living Without Sex for Years

  Sharon Stone has made a candid revelation about her personal life. The 68-year-old actress said she has been celibate for quite some time and no longer wants casual relationships — she is no longer looking for a partner simply for sex, but for a true life companion...

• Sydney Sweeney Goes Naked and Covers Her Intimate Areas With Footballs — Fans Go Wild

  Sydney Sweeney has stripped off again. This time, the actress went naked for an advertisement for sports prediction platform Novig — but her eye-catching figure proved so distracting that viewers found it difficult to focus on the actual ad...

• “Naked Audacity”: Bianca Censori Shocks the Public Again

  Bianca Censori has once again decided to dramatically reinvent her look...

• 24-Year-Old Mukbang Star Dies After Extreme Eating

  Twenty-four-year-old mukbang star Ganfang Yingying has died following health problems that were reportedly linked to extreme eating challenges...

• He Called the Mothers of His Children “Breeders”: Elon Musk’s First Wife Opens Up About Their Marriage

  A new documentary is shedding light on Elon Musk’s private life...

Acclaimed Hollywood actress Penelope Cruz has revealed that at 52 years old, she is seriously considering getting her driver's license for the very first time. The ultimate catalyst behind this major step is a lavish and unexpected gift from her close friend, U2 frontman Bono.

A Decisive Push from a Rock Star

Appearing on the popular YouTube show Hot Ones, the actress shared that the 66-year-old musician gifted her a car for her birthday this past April. While the star chose to keep the vehicle's make and model a secret, she admitted the gesture forced her to re-evaluate her life. "My friend Bono gave me a car, and I think that was the push I needed. I mean, you get a car from Bono and you don't get your license? That’s crazy! So now I’m thinking about it again, even though the fear is still very deep," Cruz shared openly.

The reason the Hollywood diva has avoided getting behind the wheel until now stems from a severe childhood psychological trauma. When Penelope was around eight years old, she witnessed her younger sister, Monica (now also a well-known Spanish actress), get hit by a car right in front of her.

Monica went on to make a full recovery, but the horror of that moment remained permanently etched in Penelope's memory. According to the star, she still experiences severe anxiety simply being inside a vehicle.

Understanding the Fear

An intense, persistent fear of traveling in or operating a vehicle has clear medical definitions:

• Amaxophobia: A panic-inducing fear of being inside a moving vehicle, whether as a driver or a passenger.

• Vehophobia: The specific fear of the act of driving itself. This phobia typically develops in individuals who have survived a car accident or witnessed a traumatic crash.

Now, thanks to a unique bit of shock therapy from Bono, it looks like Penelope Cruz has the perfect opportunity to leave her childhood fear in the rearview mirror and finally take to the open road on her own.

Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram