Salma Hayek always fought for her dream
Salma Hayek began her career in her native Mexico where she starred in the telenovelas Teresa and El callejon de los milagros.
Salma Hayek began her career in her native Mexico where she starred in the telenovelas Teresa and El callejon de los milagros.
This last role earned her a nomination for the Ariel Award, a kind of Mexican BAFTA award. But she wanted more. She thought of taking it a step further, even if it meant risking everything, and so she arrived in Hollywood. The actress moved to Los Angeles, California, to study acting.
After a few minor appearances, she got her first starring role, along with Antonio Banderas, starring in the film “Desperado”, which was the first in a series of opportunities to work with other stars such as George Clooney, Will Smith, and Penelope Cruz.
At that time, it was not easy for Latin actresses to find their place in big productions. In an interview with actress Drew Barrymore, Salma shared that during her career she received many negative comments about her chances of getting the lead role.
A CEO once said that he could not be a star because of his Mexican origins, despite acknowledging her great talent. "No matter how beautiful someone thought you were, no matter how good an actress you are, when you open your mouth, the public will only see you as a maid," he told her.
These comments did not stop her. In 1999, she founded Ventanarosa, a production company that worked on films and television series together with other large companies. In 2002, Selma produced and starred in the film Frida, for which she won two Oscars and a nomination for Best Actress.
Selma is an advocate of breastfeeding and promotes its benefits for babies. On a trip to Sierra Leone, using the benefits of her motherhood, she breastfed an African baby. She also posted pictures on social media with captions promoting the importance of breastfeeding, all despite her busy schedule.
Hayek announced that she will play the main role in the film Eternal, where she portrays the leader of the superhero who will save humanity.
This role was a great achievement for the actress, who pointed out that then the door opened for all Latin Americans who were waiting for such a moment. In tears, she described the emotion she felt when she put on the costume.
After creating a great career as an actress, producer, activist, and entrepreneur, in November 2021, Selma discovered her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During her speech, she recalled being rejected several times for the lead roles. Despite her disappointment and sadness, she did not give up.
