Helen Mirren: Penelope Cruz is stunning in slinky swimwear on holiday with baby son Leo and husband Javier Bardem

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Water baby: Cruz takes a swim with her hair flowing loose

There's nothing mumsy about Penelope Cruz, even in the dowdiest of roles the actress simmers with a unique elegance and beauty that just can't be disguised.

So it's interesting to see that the role she refers to as her 'biggest transformation yet,' that of being a mother to seven-month-old Leo, hasn't extinguished that trademark flame.

In fact, the 37-year-old has never looked more beautiful than in these shots of her relaxing with her son and husband, fellow Oscar winner, Javier Bardem, 42.

Just beautiful: Cruz looked stunning in her one-piece

Wearing a stunning white one-piece swimsuit, reminiscent of Italian pin-up Sophia Loren, the new mother left her envy-inducing tresses loose while she doted on Leo, and took a swim.

The family relocated to Southern Italy at the weekend after enjoying a trip to Roses on their native Spain's Costa Brava with Penelope's 26-year-old brother Eduardo and his girlfriend Eva Longoria.

The Desperate Housewives actress, 36 , and Penelope's younger brother have been dating since early this year, not long after Eva's divorce from ex-husband Tony Parker was finalised.

They seemed particularly happy in each other's company, with Eva throwing an arm around Eduardo as they lunched outside.

The look of love: Cruz smiles happily at Bardem as they securely place Leo into his pushchair

But Penelope and Javier, who married in July 2010 in the Bahamas, obviously wanted some time alone with their beautiful young son.

Both parents are understandably besotted and took turns to dote over their beautiful boy, later Penelope tied her hair into a loose chignon and threw on a white beach dress to tackle the little one's push chair as they returned to their lodgings.

But that wonderful hair was free again after the couple changed their clothes to take Leo on a stroll of the surrounding countryside, this time Penelope in vibrant green and Javier in blue.

The couple are based in both Madrid and Los Angeles, but Penelope has spent much time in Italy recently while she shoots a new Woody Allen film in Rome.