Salma Hayek: Mexican Beauty

Born            :        September 2, 1966 (1966-09-02) (age 44)
                         Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico
Nationality   :     Mexican / Lebanese
Occupation  :     Actress, director, producer
Years active :      1988–present

Salma Hayek Jiménez (born September 2, 1966) is an Academy Award-nominated actress. Also an Emmy winning director, a film and television producer. The most successful Latin American actress in Hollywood since Carmen Miranda, Hayek has appeared in more than thirty films and worked 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.

It's hot in Mexico, which explains the South of the Border sexpot Salma Hayek. Her pint-sized, hour-glass figure first made its appearance on the short-lived TV sitcomThe Sinbad Show. But, oh, her sin is good.

Hayek dated fellow actor Edward Norton for four years, between 1999 and 2003, and then Josh Lucas from 2003 until 2004. Concerning marriage Hayek has said, "Women have been taught that in order to have a place in the world, an identity, they must marry and have children. If that's the life you truly want, great. But for many women, marriage is only about needing the world to know that someone desires them enough to say, 'Here's a contract to prove that I love you and will commit to you for the rest of my life.' For these women, no contract equals no validation - and, thus, no reason for existing." As of 2006, Hayek is single and has homes in Los Angeles and Mexico. She is best friends with Spanish actress, Penelope Cruz. The two co-starred in the 2006 film, Bandidas. She is a student of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.

she landed a role in "Teresa" a mexican soap opera that made her a star, then in 1991 moved to Los Angeles to study acting under the legendary Stella Adler. She returned to Mexico to film El callejón de los milagros which won more awards than any other film in the history of Mexican Cinema. After Robert Rodriguez cast her in Desperado Hollywood came calling and she quickly became one of the biggest stars in the world. She has appeared in From Dusk till Dawn (Juliet Lewis), The Faculty (Jordana Brewster, Famke Jansen), Wild Wild West (Frederique Van Der Wal) and Across the Universe (Evan Rachel Wood, T.V. Carpio). It is however, her career as a producer which boosted her to a 4th place ranking in the Hollywood Reporter’s list of the most powerful Latinas in Hollywood. Jennifer Lopez was only 10th. She produced Frida, which she also starred in and received an Oscar nomination and she is the producer of the Emmy winning show “Ugly Betty” (America Ferarra, Rebecca Romijn).

 Honors

    * Recipient of Glamour Magazine Woman of the Year Award in October 2001.
    * Recipient of Producer Guild of America Celebration of Diversity Award in 2003.
    * Recipient of Harvard Foundation Artist of the Year Award in February 2006.