the good life.

Byline: Anna Wintour

Red and green are the traditional hues of Christmas, and it is only fitting that they should color this issue. Their significance this December, however, is less a matter of holly leaves and poinsettias than of global well-being. Penelope Cruz, our cover girl, who graciously allowed us into her Madrid home (see Gaby Wood's "Made in Spain," an intimate profile of an actress who has stayed close to her roots), has distinguished herself by her impassioned work for Red. Red, here, refers to Bobby Shriver and Bono's attempt to raise awareness and money to rid Africa of its most destructive diseases. Cruz's efforts on behalf of this campaign have awarded her, from Bono, the nickname "Cruz Missile"; speaking for myself, I've always been struck by Cruz's constant commitment to using her considerable celebrity and beauty to further her causes, which always focus on the least fortunate among us-and have earned her the _sobriquet, from her greatest collaborator, Pedro Almodovar, of "a member of the proletariat."

Damien Hirst is another international star who has, as it were, gone red. On Valentine's Day, at Sotheby's in New York, numerous works of art in shades of red will come up for auction. The funds raised will benefit AIDS relief in Africa-$46 million, if all goes well-and it could prove to be the largest-grossing contemporary-art charity auction of all time. In this issue, we bring you an exclusive preview of stunning offerings from the likes of Cecily Brown, Takashi Murakami, Marc Quinn, Andreas _Gursky-and, of course, Hirst _himself-that will be on exhibit at Gagosian Gallery prior to the Sotheby's sale (see "Big Love"). Hirst handwrote letters to his ...