Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek Pinault is a renowned Mexican-American actress, producer, director, and global icon, celebrated for her groundbreaking career, timeless beauty, and advocacy work. Born Salma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez on September 2, 1966, in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico (currently 59 years old), she comes from a multicultural background—her father of Lebanese descent and her mother of Mexican/Spanish ancestry. She rose to fame in Mexico starring in the telenovela Teresa (1989–1991) and films like Midaq Alley (1995), before moving to Hollywood in the early 1990s. Her breakout U.S. role came opposite Antonio Banderas in Robert Rodriguez's Desperado (1995), followed by hits like From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), Wild Wild West (1999), and voicing characters in animated films. Her most acclaimed performance was producing and starring as Frida Kahlo in Frida (2002), earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress—the first for a Mexican woman in that category. She's since starred in blockbusters like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022, voice of Kitty Softpaws), Eternals (2021, as Ajak), and more, while producing projects that amplify Latina stories. In recent years (2025–2026), Salma continues to shine: gracing the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover, embracing natural gray hair on red carpets, presenting at awards like the Golden Globes, and fronting luxury campaigns (e.g., Pomellato jewelry). She filmed a new confidential project in Veracruz in early 2026, boosting local industry, and remains active in philanthropy via the Kering Foundation for women's rights.
