Salma Hayek (born September 2, 1966) is a Mexican actress. The most successful Latin American actress in Hollywood since Carmen Miranda, 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 life and career in Mexico

Hayek was born in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico to a Lebanese father and a Mexican mother of Spanish descent. Raised in a devoutly Catholic family, she was sent to the Academy of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau Louisiana, at the age of 12. She was also an accomplished gymnast, with aspirations of becoming an Olympic competitor.

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.

At the age of 23, Hayek 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, Hayek starred in El Callejón de los Milagros, which has won more awards than any other movie in the history of Mexican Cinema.

Career in Hollywood

Despite limited fluency in English, Hayek moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1991 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 Hayek 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 big-budget Wild Wild West and played a supporting 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, not to mention Hayek's most copious nudity to date. Her performance won her a Best Actress Academy Award nomination.

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 is now fluent in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Portuguese.

Filmography

• Lonely Hearts (2006)
• Bandidas (2006)
• Ask the Dust (2006)
• Sian Ka'an (voice) (2006)
• After the Sunset (2004)
• The Maldonado Miracle (2003) (Director)
• Once Upon A Time In Mexico (2003)
• Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)
• Frida (2002)
• In the Time of the Butterflies (2001)
• Hotel (2001)
• Traffic (2000)
• La Gran Vida (2000)
• Chain Of Fools (2000)
• Timecode (2000)
• Wild Wild West (1999)
• El Coronel No Tiene Quien le Escriba (No One Writes to the Colonel, 1999)
• Dogma (1999)
• The Faculty (1998)
• The Velocity Of Gary (1998)
• 54 (1998)
• Sistole Diastole (1997)
• Breaking Up (1997)
• The Hunchback (TV) (1997)
• Fools Rush In (1997)
• Fled (1996)
• Follow Me Home (1996)
• From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
• Fair Game (1995)
• Desperado (1995)
• El Callejón de los Milagros (Midaq Alley, 1995)
• Roadracers (TV) (1994)
• The Sinbad Show (series) (1993)
• Mi Vida Loca (1993)

Telenovelas

• El Vuelo del Águila (1996)
• Teresa (1989)
• Un Nuevo Amanecer (1988)

Other appearances

She co-hosted the annual Nobel Peace Prize concert with Julianne Moore in Oslo, Norway on 11 December 2005.

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