SALMA HAYEK 2
Biography
Early life and career in Mexico
Hayek was born in
After leaving the school due to alleged behavioral problems with the religious sisters who ran the school, Hayek returned to
At the age of 23, Hayek landed the title role in Teresa (1989), a successful telenovela (Mexican soap opera) which earned her star status in her native country. Later, in 1994, Hayek starred in El Callejón de los Milagros ("The Alley of Miracles"), which has won more awards than any other movie in the history of Mexican Cinema. For her performance Hayek was nominated to an Ariel Award.
Career in
Hayek at the
Despite limited fluency in English, Hayek moved to
She followed her success in Desperado with a brief but memorable role in From Dusk Till Dawn. In 1999 she co-starred in Will Smith's big-budget Wild Wild West and played a supporting role in Kevin Smith's Dogma. In 2000 she had an uncredited acting part opposite Benicio Del Toro in Traffic.
Around this time Hayek founded production company Ventanarosa through which she produces film and television projects.
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 also featured an entourage of stars in supporting roles, including Antonio Banderas, Ashley Judd, Geoffrey Rush, Edward Norton and Valeria Golino and was directed by Julie Taymor. She earned a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her performance.
In 2003 she reprised her role from Desperado by appearing in the final film of the Mariachi Trilogy, Once Upon a Time in Mexico.
In that same year she directed the The Maldonado Miracle, a Showtime movie which won her a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Children/Youth/Family Special.
In December 2005 she directed a music video for Prince, titled "Te Amo Corazon" ("I love you, sweetheart") that featured Mia Maestro, with whom she is good friends.
In September 2006 Hayek added another accomplishment, that of executive producer of Ugly Betty, an American television series that has attracted a lot of attention and critical acclaim. Hayek adapted the series for American Television with Silvio Horta who aquired the rights and scripts from the Colombian Telenovela Yo Soy Betty La Fea in 2001. Originally intended for NBC in 2004, the project would later be picked up by ABC as a 2006-2007 Fall TV season entry thanks in part to the buzz and feedback Hayek's contribution has generated.



