Salma Hayek Jiménez

Born September 2, 1966
Salma Hayek Jiménez is a Mexican and American actress, director, television and film producer. Hayek has appeared in more than 30 films and performed as an actress outside of Hollywood in Mexico and Spain. Hayek's charitable work includes increasing awareness on violence against women and discrimination against immigrants

“I've stolen a couple of hearts and they are in my private collection!”
- Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek is smoking. If a career as an actress didn't pan out for her, she could have fallen back on being a model (although her 5'2" frame might have hindered her success). She's hotter than a Ferrari full of Victoria's Secret models on a blazing day in South Beach. And the hot-blooded Latin passion that pours out of her sexy skin only adds fuel to the fire. From her dark hair and mysterious eyes, to her amazing lips and curvaceous figure, Salma Hayek's exotic features can be attributed to her Lebanese and Mexican heritage.

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, hoping for a career in Hollywood, despite limited fluency in English, attributed to her suffering from dyslexia. Robert Rodriguez and his producer wife Elizabeth Avellan soon gave Hayek the break she needed, a starring role opposite Antonio Banderas in 1995's Desperado. The movie caught Hollywood's attention, as moviegoers proved to be dazzled by Hayek as Rodriguez had been. Due to Hayek's loyalty to the director, she would later decline playing the role Catherine Zeta-Jones eventually took in The Mask of Zorro after Rodriguez abandoned the project. She has also appeared in the Spy Kids trilogy.

Around 2000, Hayek founded 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. This made Hayek, along with Katy Jurado and Adriana Barraza, one of only three Mexican actresses to have been nominated for an Academy Award. The film earned two Oscars.

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

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.

Pampers/UNICEF partnership 1 PacSince the birth of her daughter, Hayek has worked to help mothers in developing nations worldwide, teaming up with Pampers and UNICEF to help stop the spread of life-threatening maternal and neonatal tetanus. She is a global spokesperson for thek = 1 Vaccine to help raise awareness of the program

In spring 2006, The Blue Star Contemporary Art Center in San Antonio, Texas displayed 16 portrait paintings by muralist George Yepes of Hayek as Aztec goddess Itzapapalotl.

Honors

* 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


Filmography

* 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)
* Frida (2002)
* Living It Up: La Grand Vida (2001)
* In The Time Of The Butterflies (2001)
* Traffic (2000)
* Chain Of Fools (2000)
* Time Code (2000)
* Dogma (1999)
* Wild Wild West (1999)
* 54 (1998)
* The Velocity Of Gary (1998)
* The Faculty (1998)
* Fools Rush In (1997)
* The Hunchback (1997)
* Breaking Up (1997)
* Fled (1996)
* From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
* El Callejon De Los Milagros (1995)
* Fair Game (1995)
* Midaq Alley (1995)
* Desperado (1995)
* Roadracers (1994)
* Mi Vida Loca (1993)