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Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek Jiménez de Pinault (born September 2, 1966), known professionally as Salma Hayek, is a Mexican-American film actress, producer, and former model. She began her career in Mexico starring in the telenovela Teresa and starred in the film El Callejón de los Milagros (Miracle Alley) for which she was nominated for an Ariel Award. In 1991 Hayek moved to Hollywood and came to prominence with roles in movies such as Desperado (1995), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), Dogma (1999), and Wild Wild West (1999).

Her breakthrough role was in the 2002 film Frida as Mexican painter Frida Kahlo for which she was nominated in the category of Best Actress for an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Golden Globe Award. This movie received widespread attention and was a critical and commercial success. She won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Children/Youth/Family Special in 2004 for The Maldonado Miracle and received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2007 after guest-starring in the ABC television comedy-drama Ugly Betty. She also guest-starred on the NBC comedy series 30 Rock from 2009 to 2013.

Hayek’s recent films include Grown Ups (2010), Puss in Boots (2011), Grown Ups 2 (2013), and Tale of Tales (2015).

Hayek was born Salma Hayek Jiménez in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico. Her younger brother, Sami (born 1972), is a furniture designer. Her mother, Diana Jiménez Medina, is an opera singer and talent scout. Her father, Sami Hayek Domínguez, is an oil company executive and owner of an industrial-equipment firm, who once ran for mayor of Coatzacoalcos. Her father is a Mexican of Lebanese descent, with his family being from the city Baabdat, Lebanon, a city Salma and her father visited in 2015 to promote her movie Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. Her mother is a Mexican mestiza of Amerindian and Spaniard descent, with her grandmother/maternal great-grandparents being from Spain. Raised in a wealthy, devout Roman Catholic family, she was sent to the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, USA, at the age of twelve. In school, she was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD. She attended university in Mexico City, where she studied International Relations at the Universidad Iberoamericana.

At the age of 23, Hayek landed the title role in Teresa (1989), a successful Mexican telenovela that made her a star in Mexico. In 1994, Hayek starred in the film El Callejón de los Milagros (Miracle Alley), which has won more awards than any other movie in the history of Mexican cinema. For her performance, Hayek was nominated for an Ariel Award.

Hayek moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1991 to study acting under Stella Adler. She had limited fluency in English, and dyslexia. Robert Rodriguez, and his producer and then-wife, Elizabeth Avellan, soon gave Hayek a starring role opposite Antonio Banderas in 1995’s Desperado. She followed her role in Desperado with a brief role as a vampire queen in From Dusk till Dawn, in which she performed a table-top snake dance.

Hayek had a starring role opposite Matthew Perry in the 1997 romantic comedy Fools Rush In. In 1999 she co-starred in Will Smith’s big-budget Wild Wild West, and played a supporting role in Kevin Smith’s Dogma. In 2000 Hayek had an uncredited acting part opposite Benicio del Toro in Traffic. In 2003, she reprised her role from Desperado by appearing in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, the final film of the Mariachi Trilogy.

round 2000, Hayek founded film production company Ventanarosa, through which she produces film and television projects. Her first feature as a producer was 1999’s El Coronel No Tiene Quien Le Escriba, Mexico’s official selection for submission for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars.

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 was directed by Julie Taymor and featured an entourage of stars in supporting and minor roles (Valeria Golino, Ashley Judd, Edward Norton, Geoffrey Rush) and cameos (Antonio Banderas). She earned a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her performance.

In the Time of the Butterflies is a 2001 feature film based on the Julia Álvarez book of the same name, covering the lives of the Mirabal sisters. In the movie, Salma Hayek plays one of the sisters, Minerva, and Edward James Olmos plays the Dominican dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo whom the sisters opposed.

In 2003, Hayek produced and directed The Maldonado Miracle, a Showtime movie based on the book of the same name, winning her a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Children/Youth/Family Special. In December 2005, she directed a music video for Prince, titled “Te Amo Corazon” (“I love you, sweetheart”) that featured Mía Maestro.

Hayek was an executive producer of Ugly Betty, a television series that aired around the world from 2006 to 2010. Hayek adapted the series for American television with Ben Silverman, who acquired the rights and scripts from the Colombian telenovela Yo Soy Betty La Fea in 2001. Originally intended as a half-hour sitcom for NBC in 2004, the project would later be picked up by ABC for the 2006–2007 season with Silvio Horta also producing. Hayek guest-starred on Ugly Betty as Sofia Reyes, a magazine editor. She also had a cameo playing an actress in the telenovela within the show. The show won a Golden Globe Award for Best Comedy Series in 2007. Hayek’s performance as Sofia resulted in a nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards.

In April 2007, Hayek finalized negotiations with MGM to become the CEO of her own Latin-themed film production company, Ventanarosa. The following month, she signed a two-year deal with ABC for Ventanarosa to develop projects for the network.

Hayek played the wife of Adam Sandler’s character in the buddy comedy Grown Ups, which also co-starred Chris Rock and Kevin James. At his insistence, Hayek co-starred with Antonio Banderas in the Shrek spin-off film Puss in Boots as the voice of the character Kitty Softpaws, who serves as Puss’s female counterpart and love interest. In 2012, Hayek directed Jada Pinkett Smith in the music video “Nada se compara.” She reprised her role in Grown Ups 2, which was released in July 2013.

Hayek has been a spokeswoman for Avon cosmetics since February 2004. She was a spokeswoman for Revlon in 1998. In 2001, she modeled for Chopard and was featured in 2006 Campari adverts, photographed by Mario Testino. On April 3, 2009, she helped introduce La Doña, a watch by Cartier inspired by fellow Mexican actress María Félix.

Hayek has worked with the Procter & Gamble Company and UNICEF to promote the funding (through disposable diaper sales) of vaccines against maternal and neonatal tetanus. She is a global spokesperson for the Pampers/UNICEF “partnership” 1 Pack = 1 Vaccine to help raise awareness of the program. This “partnership” involves Procter & Gamble donating the cost of one tetanus vaccination (approximately 24 cents) for every pack of Pampers sold.

In 2011, Hayek launched her own line of cosmetics, skincare, and haircare products called Nuance by Salma Hayek, to be sold at CVS stores in North America. Hayek was also featured in a series of Spanish language commercials for Lincoln cars.

In spring 2006, the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center in San Antonio, Texas displayed sixteen portrait paintings by muralist George Yepes and filmmaker Robert Rodriguez of Hayek as Aztec goddess Itzpapalotl.

Hayek is a naturalized United States citizen. She studied at Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment and is a practitioner of yoga. Hayek, who was raised Catholic, said she is not very devout anymore and does not believe in the institution [Church], but still believes in Jesus Christ and God.

On March 9, 2007, Hayek confirmed her engagement to French billionaire and Kering CEO, François-Henri Pinault, as well as her pregnancy. She gave birth to daughter, Valentina Paloma Pinault, in September 2007 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. They were married on Valentine’s Day 2009 in Paris. On April 25, 2009, they had a second ceremony in Venice.

In July 2011, Hayek’s husband was named in a paternity case. According to reports, Pinault is the father of supermodel Linda Evangelista’s son, Augustin James, who was born in October 2006. He denied all allegations, although he later reached a settlement with Evangelista.

Hayek’s charitable work includes increasing awareness on violence against women and discrimination against immigrants. On July 19, 2005, Hayek testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary supporting reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. In February 2006, she donated $25,000 to a Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, shelter for battered women and another $50,000 to Monterrey based anti-domestic violence groups. Hayek is a board member of V-Day, the charity founded by playwright Eve Ensler. Nonetheless, Hayek has stated that she is not a feminist. She later revised her stance on this, stating: “I am a feminist because a lot of amazing women have made me who I am today. (…) But – it should not be just because I am a woman.”.

Hayek also advocates breastfeeding. During a UNICEF fact-finding trip to Sierra Leone, she breastfed a hungry week-old baby whose mother could not produce milk. She said she did it to reduce the stigma associated with breastfeeding and to encourage infant nutrition.

In 2010 Hayek’s humanitarian work earned her a nomination for the VH1 Do Something Awards. In 2013 Hayek launched with Beyoncé and Frida Giannini a Gucci campaign, “Chime for Change”, that aims to spread female empowerment.

For International Women’s Day 2014 Hayek is one of the artist signatories of Amnesty International’s letter to UK Prime Minister David Cameron campaigning for women’s rights in Afghanistan. Following his visit to Lebanon in 2015, she criticised the discrimination against women there.

Honors and awards

  • Recipient of Glamour magazine Woman of the Year Award in October 2001.
  • Recipient of Producers Guild of America Celebration of Diversity Award in 2003.
  • Recipient of Harvard Foundation Artist of the Year Award in February 2006.
  • Recipient of Time magazine 25 Most Influential Hispanics in 2005.
  • Knight (Chevalier) of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (France, December 30, 2011)

In July 2007, The Hollywood Reporter ranked Hayek fourth in their inaugural Latino Power 50, a list of the most powerful members of the Hollywood Latino community. That same month, a poll found Hayek to be the “sexiest celebrity” out of a field of 3,000 celebrities (male and female); according to the poll, “65 percent of the U.S. population would use the term ‘sexy’ to describe her”. In 2008, she was awarded the Women in Film Lucy Award in recognition of her excellence and innovation in her creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television In December of that year, Entertainment Weekly ranked Hayek number 17 in their list of the “25 Smartest People in TV.”

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
1993 Mi Vida Loca Gata
1994 Roadracers Donna
1995 El Callejón de los Milagros Alma (Midaq Alley) Spanish-language
Nominated – Ariel Award for Best Actress
1995 Desperado Carolina Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (shared with Antonio Banderas)
Also sang Quedate Aquí in film
1995 Fair Game Rita
1995 Four Rooms TV Dancing Girl
1996 From Dusk till Dawn Santanico Pandemonium
1996 Follow Me Home Betty
1996 Fled Cora
1997 Fools Rush In Isabel Fuentes Nominated – Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film
1997 Breaking Up Monica
1997 Sistole Diastole Carmelita
1998 54 Anita Nominated – Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film
1998 The Velocity of Gary Mary Carmen Also producer
1998 The Faculty Nurse Harper
1999 Dogma Serendipity Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress
1999 El Coronel No Tiene Quien Le Escriba Julia (No One Writes to the Colonel)
Also producer; Spanish-language
1999 Wild Wild West Rita Escobar Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actress – Action
Nominated – Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film
Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress
2000 Timecode Rose
2000 La Gran Vida Lola (Living It Up) Spanish-language
2000 Chain of Fools Sergeant Meredith Kolko Direct-to-video
2000 Traffic Rosario Uncredited
2001 Hotel Charlee Boux
2001 In the Time of the Butterflies Minerva Mirabal Outstanding Actor/Actress in a Made for Television Movie or Miniseries
Nominated – Best Actress in a Made for Television Movie or Miniseries
2002 Frida Frida Kahlo Also producer
Golden Camera for Best International Actress
Imagen Award for Best Actress – Film
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actress
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Also sang La Bruja, a Mexican folk song, with band Los Vega
2003 Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over Francesca Giggles
2003 Once Upon a Time in Mexico Carolina Also sang Siente mi amor (Feel my love) which played over end credits
2003 V-Day: Until the Violence Stops Herself
2004 After the Sunset Lola Cirillo
2006 Ask the Dust Camilla Lopez
2006 Bandidas Sara Sandoval
2006 Lonely Hearts Martha Beck Nominated – San Sebastián International Film Festival Award for Best Actress
2007 Across the Universe Bang Bang Shoot Shoot Nurses Also sang cover of Beatles song “Happiness Is A Warm Gun” on soundtrack as duet partner of Joe Anderson
2009 Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant Madame Truska
2010 Grown Ups Roxanne
2011 Puss in Boots Kitty Softpaws (voice) Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress: Action
2011 Americano Lola Nominated – San Sebastián International Film Festival Award for Best Actress
2011 La chispa de la vida Luisa Nominated – Goya Award for Best Actress
2012 The Pirates! Band of Misfits Cutlass Liz (voice)
2012 Savages Elena
2012 Here Comes the Boom Bella Flores
2013 Grown Ups 2 Roxanne Chase-Feder Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress
2014 Muppets Most Wanted Herself
2015 Everly Everly
2015 Some Kind of Beautiful Olivia
2015 Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet Kamila (voice) Also producer
2015 Septembers of Shiraz Farnez
2015 Tale of Tales Queen of Longtrellis
2016 Sausage Party Theresa Taco (voice)
2017 Beatriz at Dinner Beatriz
2017 How to Be a Latin Lover Sara In post-production
2017 The Hitman’s Bodyguard In post-production
2017 Drunk Parents In post-production
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1988 Un Nuevo Amanecer Fabiola Spanish-language telenovela
1989 Teresa Teresa Spanish-language telenovela
1992 Dream On Carmela October 10; episode “Domestic Bliss”
1993 The Sinbad Show Gloria Contreras Recurring character
1994 Roadracers Donna
1994 El Vuelo del Águila Juana Cata Spanish-language telenovela
1997 The Hunchback Esmeralda Nominated – ALMA Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-Series in a Crossover Role
1997 Gente Bien Teresa Guest star; Spanish-language telenovela
1999 Action Herself Re-Enter the Dragon
Guest star
2001 In the Time of the Butterflies Minerva Mirabal Producer; feature
Nominated – ALMA Award for Outstanding Actor/Actress in a Made for Television Movie or Miniseries
Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association for Best Actress in a Picture Made for Television
2003 The Maldonado Miracle Feature; producer, director. Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Children/Youth/Family Special
2003 Saturday Night Live Guest host March 15
2006–10 Ugly Betty Sofia Reyes / Nurse in Telenovela Executive producer (85 episodes) and guest star
with 15 cameo episodes
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series – 2007
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series – 2007
Nominated – Producers Guild of America Television Producer of the Year Award
2009–13 30 Rock Elisa Pedrera 7 episodes
Guest star

 

 

Source: Wikipedia