Salma Hayek is a Mexican actress. Considered by many as the most succesful latin actress in Hollywood since Dolores del R?o, Hayek, with a repertory of more than twenty films and a nomination to the Oscar, walks with the status of the most important Mexican star in Hollywood.
At the age of 23 Salma Hayek landed the title role in Teresa (1989), a successful telenovela which earned her star status in her native Mexico. Few years later, in 1994, Salma starred in El Callej?n de los Milagros, which would later become the most awarded movie in Mexican history.
In 1991, not fluent in English, Salma has moved to Los Angeles, United States, to study acting with the hopes of starting a career in Hollywood. Robert Rodriguez and his producer wife Elizabeth Avellan were immediately smitten with the intelligent, opinionated young woman. He soon gave her her big break. To star opposite Antonio Banderas in Desperado which put her on Hollywood's map. The moviegoers proved to be as dazzled with Hayek as Rodriguez had been.
After her break, she was cast again by Rodriguez to star in his From Dusk Till Dawn. Although her vampy role opposite George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino was a small one, it was a good credit to her box office name. Hayek continued to rise her star in both commercial and artistic films.
The new millennium started out quietly around Salma as she was preparing to produce and star in her dream role. The role was that of Frida Kahlo, the legendary Mexican painter whom Salma had been admiring her entire life and whose story she wanted to bring to the big screen ever since her arrival in Hollywood.
In 2002, Frida, co-produced by Hayek, was released, starring Hayek as Kahlo, and Alfred Molina as her cheating husband Diego Rivera. On the side was an entourage of stars including Antonio Banderas, Ashley Judd, Geoffrey Rush, Edward Norton and Valeria Golino. Her appearence won her a nomination to the 2002 Oscars although many have mentioned it the nomination was a credit to her perseverance in making the film.
Hayek was also on Punk'd after being tricked by Ashton Kutcher and Pen?lope Cruz for the mess that she made in the bathroom. She became the second non-Canadian/non-American star ever to get Punk'd.
Hayek speaks Spanish, English, Arabic, and Portuguese. Her father is of Lebanese descent. Her name Salma is a Spanish name which came from Arabic word of "peace" and "calm".
Hayek is currently working on her latest production Bandidas with Pen?lope Cruz.
