Salma Hayek (born September 2, 1966) is a Mexican actress. Considered by many to be one of the most successful Latin American actress in Hollywood since Dolores del Río, Hayek has appeared in more than thirty films, has been nominated for an Oscar, and is arguably the most important Mexican star in Hollywood today.
Early career in Mexico
Hayek was born in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico to a Lebanese father and a Mexican mother. Raised in a devoutly Catholic family, she was sent to a Catholic boarding school in Louisiana, USA, at the age of 12. After leaving the school due to alleged behavioral problems with the religious sisters who ran the school, Hayek returned to Mexico for a period, but then she was sent to Houston, Texas, to live with her aunt, where she stayed until she was 17. She subsequently moved to Mexico City for college, where she studied International Relations. To the chagrin of her family, she decided to drop out in order to pursue a career as an actress (see [1]).
At the age of 23, Salma landed the title role in Teresa (1989), a successful telenovela (Mexican soap opera) which earned her star status in her native country. Later, in 1994, Salma starred in El Callejón de los Milagros, which would later become the most awarded movie in the Cinema of Mexico.
Career in Hollywood
Despite not being too fluent in English, Hayek moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1991: at the time, the Mexican tabloids speculated about an alleged affair with Mexican President Carlos Salinas, something she persistently denied-- to study acting with the hopes of starting a career in Hollywood. Robert Rodriguez and his producer wife Elizabeth Avellan soon gave Hayek the break she needed, starring opposite Antonio Banderas in 1995's Desperado. This movie brought Hayek to Hollywood's attention, as moviegoers proved to be as dazzled with Salma as Rodriguez had been.
She followed her success in Desperado with a brief but memorable role in From Dusk Till Dawn. In 1999 she co-starred in Will Smith's blockbuster Wild Wild West as well as a role in Kevin Smith's Dogma.
Frida, co-produced by Hayek, was released in 2002. Starring Hayek as Frida Kahlo, and Alfred Molina as her unfaithful husband Diego Rivera. The film also featured an entourage of stars in supporting roles, including Antonio Banderas, Ashley Judd, Geoffrey Rush, Edward Norton and Valeria Golino. Her performance won her a nomination for the 2002 Academy Awards, although some have suggested that the nomination was more a credit to her perseverance in seeing the film made than in her performance.
In 2003 she reprised her role from Desperado by appearing in the final film of the Mariachi Trilogy, Once Upon a Time in Mexico.
In December 2005 she directed a music video for Prince, titled "Te Amo Corazon" ("I love you, sweetheart").
Personal life
Hayek [2] dated fellow actor Edward Norton for four years, between 1999 and 2003, and then Josh Lucas from 2003 until 2004.
Salma is now fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Filmography
Telenovelas
Other appearances
External links
