Salma Hayek Biography

Salma Hayek had a privileged upbringing in Mexico thanks to her Lebanese businessman father and her Mexican born opera singing mother.

Having landed a role in the hugely popular Mexican TV soap opera, ‘Teresa’, she became an instant celebrity in her home country. However, her fans were soon to be heartbroken when she left both the soap and Mexico in 1991 to move to L.A.

While establishing herself in Hollywood, she cropped up in ‘Dream On’ and ‘Mi Vida Loca’. However, a chance outburst on a late night talk show landed her a role opposite Antonio Banderas in ‘Desperado’.

Subsequent outings in ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’, ‘Fools Rush In’ and ‘Breaking Up’ helped the young actress carve herself a name in the industry. Salma was quick to capitalise on her success and set up her own production company which went on to make ‘No One Writes to the Colonel’ - Mexico's official Oscar entry for best foreign film.

Salma’s next big project was a film about Frida Kahlo, the Mexican painter whom she had long since admired. In 2002, ‘Frida’, co-produced by Hayek, was nominated for 6 Oscars including best actress for Hayek, the first Latin actress to be nominated in the category.

With an impressive filmography under her belt, Salma Hayek is one of Hollywood’s true glamour stars.