MOST TALENTED AND LUCKIEST CELEBRITIES
SALMA HAYEK
Name: Salma Hayek. Birth
Name: Salma Hayek Jiminez. Height: 5'.'7". Nationality: Mexican.
Birth Date: September 2, 1966. Birth Place: Coatzacoalcos,
Veracruz, Mexico. Occupation: Actress. Education: Catholic school
in Texas National University of Mexico (dropped out), Stella Adler
Conservatory, Los Angeles, California. Relationship: Edward Norton
(actor; a couple since October 1999), Edward Atterton (actor; met during filming
of The Hunchback; dated 1997; broke up in 1999), Richard Crenna Jr. (actor; met
1991 in an acting class). Father: Sami Hayek Dominguez (Lebanese;
businessman). Mother: Diana Hayek (Mexican; opera singer and talent
scout). Brother: Sami Hayek (younger) . Claim to fame: As Carolina
in Desperado (1995). Agent: C/O William Morris Agency, 1325 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, NY 10019-4701, USA.
BIOGRAPHY SYNOPSIS: Determination, courage and style have been the keys to amazing cross-border stardom for a “Mexican goddess.”
Salma Hayek, over parental
protests, began her acting career in local theatre, bewitching a young
audience as the female lead in Aladina y la Lampara Maravillosa (Aladdin and
His Marvellous Lamp). She went on to commercial work, then joined the cast
of popular daytime TV serial Nuevo Amanecer (New Dawn) in 1988. It was her
second soap opera role, in Teresa, that shot the twenty-year-old to instant
sensational popularity in Mexico. Along with the public acclaim, she
received Premio TV y Novela (Emmy equivalent) and Heraldo awards for Best
Actress and Best Newcomer. She continued to do theatre work, with 1990's Las
Visitas Tienen Suerio, but after three years on a pedestal as a celebrated
soap queen, she left for the bright lights of Hollywood. Hayek spent 1991 as
a “nobody” learning the ropes in her new country -- taking English lessons,
acting lessons and driving lessons. In 1992/93 the newcomer appeared on the
American television shows, Nurses, Dream On, and The Sinbad Show. Also in
1993 she was cast in the movie, Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life). That role led
to Roadracers (TV - 1994) and Midaq Alley (1995). Her breakthrough came that
year with a lead role in the mainstream feature film Desperado. Her
U.S./Mexican movie career continued with Four Rooms (1995), Fair Game
(1995), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), El Jorabadode Notre Dame (voice - 1996),
and Fled (1996). Hayek was lauded as one of People Magazine’s 50 Most
Beautiful People in 1996, and, that year, received an Ariel (Mexican Academy
Award) nomination for her Midaq Alley role. She went on to The Hunchback (TV
- 1997), Fools Rush In (1997), Follow Me Home (1997), Quien Diablos Es
Juliette? (1997), and Sistole Diastole (1997). Even her wardrobe received
recognition that year when she was named to Mr. Blackwell’s 1997 list of the
Ten Most Stylish Women. In 1998, her fame was well-established, and her
movies were big ones: The Faculty, Breaking Up, 54, and The Velocity of
Gary. 1999 brought lead roles in Wild Wild West and Dogma, and a return to
Mexico for El Coronel No Tiene Quien Le Escriba. Hayek has three films set
for release in 2000 -- Chain of Fools, Shiny New Enemies and Frida -- and
her own (Ventana Rosa) production label. Predictably, the American media
describes her using their “fire” list of south-of-the-border female
entertainer labels -- “Latin firecracker”, “sultry spitfire” and “fiery
bombshell” -- but this is one star who’s anything but predictable. Who knows
what she may try (and succeed at) next?
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