Passion, talent and beauty: what do we know about the amazing Salma Hayek (10 photos)

Salma Hayek is undeniably one of the most successful and recognizable Latin American actresses in the world, and she has long proven that her talents are not limited to the big screen. Outside of the film industry, Hayek is also known for her philanthropic work, businesswoman acumen, and activism. What else is known about this lady, repeatedly voted “the sexiest celebrity”?





1. Movies that everyone knows



Over more than 34 years of acting career, Salma Hayek has managed to star in both box office hits and modest films that have become cult classics. Fans of Mexican telenovelas of the late 80s and early 90s will probably remember Hayek as Teresa in the telenovela of the same name (1989–1991). Hayek is perhaps best known for her roles as Frida Kahlo in the 2002 biographical drama Frida, Carolina in Robert Rodriguez's Mexican Trilogy, and Rita Escobar in The Wild Wild West (1999) with Will Smith. But is it possible to forget her short but incredibly effective role as a vampire in the cult “From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996)? And the muses of Serendipity in the no less cult Dogma (1999)? Over the past couple of decades, Hayek has not been bored either and has starred in a number of major projects, such as “Bandits” (2006), “Odnoklassniki” (2010), “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” (2017), “The House of Gucci” (2019) and “The Eternals” ( 2021).

2. Salma Hayek in Mexico





Salma Hayek began her acting career in Mexico at the age of 22. She made her television debut in 1988, playing Fabiola in the Spanish-language telenovela Un Nuevo Amanecer (A New Dawn). The very next year, she received the main role in the telenovela Teresa, which brought her incredible popularity on Mexican television. For her outstanding performance in the series, Hayek received the TVyNovelas Award in 1990.

3. Salma Hayek studied with the great Stella Adler



Hayek always dreamed of going to Hollywood. Having achieved success in Mexico, Hayek decided to move to Los Angeles in 1991. Alas, no miracle happened right away, and the young actress could not get even the smallest role - mainly because, due to dyslexia, learning English was difficult for her.

To “pump up” her language, and at the same time her acting skills, Hayek went to Stella Adler’s studio. Adler was one of the famous Hollywood acting teachers - many famous students passed through her school. The most striking examples are, of course, Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro.

4. The role that changed everything



Although Salma Hayek achieved fame and success relatively quickly in Mexico, it took her years to achieve the same in Hollywood. But four years after moving to Los Angeles, Hayek finally landed the role every new actress in the Hollywood hills dreams of: Caroline in Robert Rodriguez's neo-western Desperado. Having played the leading role in the company of Antonio Banderas, Hayek instantly broke through to the very top of Hollywood. With a budget of just $7 million, Desperado earned $58 million at the box office.

5. The most successful film in Salma Hayek's career



What are your bets? "Frida", "Desperado", "Eternals"? But no: oddly enough, the highest-grossing film in Hayek’s rich career is the 2011 animated film “Puss in Boots.” Hayek voices a savvy street cat with the flirtatious name "Pussy Softpaw." The film earned $555 million at the box office against a budget of $130 million.

With such success, it's no surprise that its 2022 sequel now ranks as Hayek's second-highest-grossing film, earning $475.4 million. And yes, “The Eternals” really closes this list: Hayek’s debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe did not earn as much as the studio’s other projects, but still brought in $402.1 million at the box office.

6. Salma Hayek recently received a star on the Walk of Fame



Salma Hayek was awarded the coveted star on November 19, 2021. Her star is the 2,709th on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is located in the Motion Pictures category at 6901 Hollywood Boulevard, directly in front of the box office at the famous TLC Chinese Theater.

7. Nominations and awards



Salma Hayek has been nominated for prestigious awards more than once. The actress received her first major award in 1996 at the Saturn Awards for Best Supporting Actress. She has also been nominated for awards such as the MTV Movie Awards, ALMA Awards, Critics' Choice Awards, BAFTA Awards, SAG Awards and, of course, the big three: Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy. Alas, things did not go further than nominations.

8. Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas



Often in cinema there are acting duets that return to the screens together again and again: for example, to count all the common projects of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, there are barely enough fingers of both hands. One such union in Hollywood is Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas. Hayek first starred with Banderas in the cult film Desperado (1995). Then, although uncredited, Hayek appeared as a dancing girl on TV in Four Rooms (1995), another film starring Banderas.

In 2003, they reunited again in the film Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. In the same year, the acting duo played the main roles in the final part of Rodriguez’s “Mexican Trilogy” - “Once Upon a Time in Mexico.” Their combined filmography also includes Frida (2002), Puss in Boots (2011) and its 2022 sequel, and The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard (2021).

9. Salma Hayek Owns Her Own Film Production Company



Salma Hayek's film and TV production company is called Ventanarosa, which means "Rose Window" in Spanish. The company was founded in 1999, at the same time its first project was released - the film “El Coronel No Tiene Quien Le Escriba” (“Nobody Writes to the Colonel”) in Spanish. Salma Hayek's company also produced the films Frida, The Miracle of Maldonado, which she directed, and the TV series Ugly Betty (in partnership with Reveille Productions) and The Monarch.