Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek is an Academy Award-nominated actress, director and producer. Born in Mexico in 1966, Hayek dropped out of school to become an actress. She got her big break in Hollywood with a role in Robert Rodriguez's Desperado, eventually ascending to the pinnacle of the industry with her Academy Award-nominated turn in Frida. Hayek has also been involved in TV work, notably serving as executive producer of the hit series "Ugly Betty," which won a Golden Globe in 2007.

Hayek's increasingly intellectual and passionate approach to filmmaking culminated in her dream role in 2002's Frida, which she both produced and starred in as Frida Kahlo. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including a best actress nomination for Hayek—making her the first Latin actress to be nominated in that category. Large-scale projects followed the success of Frida, including directing 2002's The Maldonado Miracle; starring in the final episode of the Desperado trilogy, Once Upon a Time in Mexico; and appearing in the heist thriller After the Sunset with Pierce Brosnan.

Hayek proved that she could hold her own as a voice actor as well after appearing in Puss in Boots. She also reprised her role as Adam Sandler's wife in Grown Ups 2. After starring in the violent action flick Everly, Hayek pivoted to more serious material with the widespread release of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet later that year. She produced and provided voiceover work for the movie, an animated retelling of Gibran's collection of spiritual essays.

In December 2017, after dozens of other women had come forth to accuse mega-producer Harvey Weinstein of rape, harassment and other disturbing behavior, Hayek penned an op-ed piece for The New York Times titled, "Harvey Weinstein Is My Monster Too."

Hayek gave birth to daughter Valentina Paloma Pinault in 2007, after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. She has since become a role model for pregnant women and an advocate for eating healthy to prevent gestational diabetes that is characterized by high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.