Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek (born September 2, 1966, in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico) is a Mexican actress. Considered by many to be the most successful Latin American actress in Hollywood since Dolores del Río, Hayek, having appeared in more than thirty films and secured a nomination for an Oscar, is arguably the most important Mexican star in Hollywood today.

Early Career in Mexico

Raised in a devoutly Catholic family, she was sent to a Louisiana boarding school at the age of 12. After getting into trouble for terrorizing the nuns, Hayek returned to Mexico, but she was eventually sent to Houston, Texas, to live with her aunt, where she stayed until she was 17. She subsequently moved to Mexico City, where she studied International Relations as a university student, but, to the chagrin of her family, decided to drop out in order to pursue a career as an actress .

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. Later, in 1994, Salma starred in El Callejón de los Milagros, which would later become the most awarded movie in the Cinema of Mexico.

Career in Hollywood

In 1991, not fluent in English, Hayek moved to Los Angeles, California, to study acting with the hopes of starting a career in Hollywood. Robert Rodriguez and his producer wife Elizabeth Avellan soon gave her her big break, starring opposite Antonio Banderas in Desperado which brought her to Hollywood's attention. The moviegoers proved to be as dazzled with Hayek as Rodriguez had been.

In 2002, Frida, co-produced by Hayek, was released, starring Hayek as 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. Her performance won her a nomination for the 2002 Academy Awards, although some have suggested that the nomination was more a credit to her perseverance in seeing the film made.

Filmography

Sanj's Hot Lover 2 (2006)
Lonely Hearts (2006)
Bandidas (2006)
Paint (2005)
Ask the Dust (2005)
Sian Ka'an (voice) (2005)
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)