Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek-9894

Mexican-American actress and producer

Salma Hayek

Name	Salma Hayek
Birth name
Birth date	Birth date -1st March 1966
Birth place	Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico
Death date
Death place
Alma mater
Occupation	Actress, producer
Years active	1988–present
Organization
Known for
Notable works
Spouse(s)	François-Henri Pinault (m. 2009)
Website

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

Early life

Salma Hayek was born in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico, to Diana Jiménez Medina, an opera singer and talent scout, and Sami Hayek Domínguez, an oil company executive and owner of an industrial-equipment firm. Her father is of Lebanese descent, while her mother is of Mexican/Spanish ancestry. Raised in a wealthy, devout Roman Catholic family, Hayek was sent to the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, at the age of 12. She later attended Universidad Iberoamericana where she studied International Relations.

Career

Early work in Mexico

Hayek's career began in Mexico with the telenovela Teresa in 1989, which made her a star in her native country. She also starred in the film El Callejón de los Milagros (1995), which won more awards than any other movie in the history of Mexican cinema.

Breakthrough in Hollywood

In 1991, Hayek moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in Hollywood. She struggled with limited English and dyslexia but soon landed a role opposite Antonio Banderas in Desperado (1995). This role brought her to the attention of a wider audience. She followed this with roles in From Dusk till Dawn (1996), Wild Wild West (1999), and Dogma (1999).

Continued success

In 2002, Hayek produced and starred in the biographical film Frida, portraying Frida Kahlo. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She has since appeared in a variety of films including Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), Grown Ups (2010), and The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017).

Television work

Hayek has also made significant contributions to television. She served as the executive producer of the hit ABC television series Ugly Betty (2006–2010), which won a Golden Globe Award for Best Comedy Series in 2007.

Personal life

Hayek married French billionaire and Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault on Valentine's Day 2009 in Paris. They have one daughter, Valentina Paloma Pinault, born in September 2007.

Philanthropy

Hayek is involved in various charitable activities. She is a board member of V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls. She also advocates for increasing awareness on issues such as domestic violence and discrimination against immigrants.

Awards and nominations

Hayek has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her career, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in Frida, a Golden Globe Award nomination, and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Ugly Betty.

Filmography

Film

• Desperado (1995)
• From Dusk till Dawn (1996)
• Wild Wild West (1999)
• Frida (2002)
• Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
• Grown Ups (2010)
• The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017)

Television

• Teresa (1989)
• Ugly Betty (2006–2010)

See also

• List of Mexican Americans
• List of actors with Academy Award nominations