Trivia

Has dyslexia and combined type attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Salma's paternal grandparents, Elias Hayek Labahi and Adela Dominguez, were both of Lebanese descent (Adela's family's surname was originally "Hid"). Salma's mother's family is of Mexican / Spanish descent.

She was sent to the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, Louisiana at age 12, but was soon sent back home after getting into trouble for frequently terrorizing the nuns.

Frequently collaborates with Antonio Banderas and Robert Rodriguez, and is godmother to Rodriguez's children.

She and Francois-Henri Pinault renewed their vows at Venice's Teatro La Fenice opera house on April 25, 2009 with 150 guests present. Among them were Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Charlize Theron, Stuart Townsend, Woody Harrelson, Hayek's ex-boyfriend Edward Norton, French president Jacques Chirac, Lucy Liu, Ashley Judd, Antonio Banderas, Anna Wintour, Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Bono and Stella McCartney.

She played a (mythological creature disguised as a) stripper twice: in From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) and in Dogma (1999) (a vampire and a muse respectively).

As the announcer for the 2007 Academy Awards, she was able to announce her best friend Penélope Cruz' nominations for Best Actress for Volver (2006).

In 1999, she founded her own production company, Ventanarosa, through which she produces film and television projects. In July 2020, the production company signed a two-year first-look deal with the over-the-top streaming service HBO Max.

Returned to work five months after giving birth to her daughter Valentina in order to begin filming Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009).

Good friends with Penélope Cruz, Ashley Judd and Valeria Golino.

Studied drama at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City.

Member of the jury at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.

Is the second Latin American actress to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, for her performance in Frida (2002). Brazilian veteran Fernanda Montenegro was the first Oscar nominee, for Central Station (1998).

Donated $25,000 to a Coatzacoalcos, Mexico shelter for battered women and another $50,000 to Monterrey based anti-domestic violence groups. (February 2006)

Her younger brother, Sami Hayek, designs custom chairs. His celebrity clients include Jennifer Aniston and her ex-husband, Brad Pitt.

In 2009, musician Prince included a song on his CD "Lotus Flow3r/MPLSound" that is about Salma Hayek. The song shares the same name as her daughter, Valentina.

They called off their engagement in July 2008, but then after months of speculation about whether they were still a couple, Salma and Pinault married in a secret ceremony on Valentine's Day 2009 in the city hall of the Second Arrondissement in Paris.

Her parents are Sami Hayek Dominguez (oil company executive) and Diana Jiménez Medina (opera singer).

E! Entertainment voted her look at the 1997 Academy Awards one of the five most memorable in Oscar history. At the event, she wore a beaded Armani gown complemented by a 1920s diamond tiara.

Studied international relations and drama at the Universidad Iberoamericana, a prestigious university in Mexico City, Mexico.

Was named one of the ten most stylish women in the world by Mr. Blackwell (aka Richard Selzer) in 1997. InStyle named her the most stylish celebrity of 2003 and Eonline.com ranked her as the best dressed female celebrity.

On March 9, 2007, she announced her engagement to François-Henri Pinault, chairman and chief executive officer of the luxury goods company PPR SA.

Was in attendance at the wedding of Reese Witherspoon to Jim Toth on March 26, 2011.

Visited Guatemala from 2 May 2005 to 5 May 2005 as an ambassador to Youth/AIDS, to promote the prevention of the mortal disease. Good friend Ashley Judd and Colombian pop singer Juanes also came with her.

Has three stepchildren: François Pinault (born 1998), Mathilde Pinault (born 2001) and Augustin James Evangelista (born October 11, 2006) and one daughter: Valentina Paloma Pinault (born September 21, 2007) with husband François-Henri Pinault.

Was ranked #8 of the 100 Sexiest Women in the World by FHM Taiwan. (2001)

Ranked #31 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World". (2002)

Ranked #34 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women in 2005, then #90 in 2007. She was also ranked #12 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World" in the 2005 special supplement, and then #36 the following year.

Speaks Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese and English fluently.

Salma is an Arabic name that means "peace" or "calm".

Has appeared with Danny Trejo in five films: Desperado (1995), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), Spy Kids 3: Game Over (2003), Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) and Muppets Most Wanted (2014).

Has worked with director Robert Rodriguez in six films: Desperado (1995), Four Rooms (1995), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), The Faculty (1998), Spy Kids 3: Game Over (2003) and Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003).

Has appeared with Antonio Banderas in eight films: Desperado (1995), Four Rooms (1995), Frida (2002), Spy Kids 3: Game Over (2003), Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), Puss in Boots (2011), The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard (2021) and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022).

During the making of Desperado (1995), she said filming her sex scene took them eight hours, rather than the one hour the crew were scheduled for. But this was mainly on account of her being extremely nervous about her being nude for the first time and asking them to stop filming to calm down several times through the shooting.

During the making of From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), she has a deep fear of snakes and had always refused to be near them. Naturally when she read the screenplay, she knew her fear would prevent her from taking the role. Robert Rodriguez conned her into thinking that Madonna was ready to grab the role instead so Hayek spent two months with therapists to overcome her fear.

During the making of From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), she did not have a choreographer for her dance, because, according to her, you can't choreograph the live snake she wore around her neck. So director Robert Rodriguez simply ordered her to feel the music and dance to the music.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6901 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on November 19, 2021. Adam Sandler and director Chloé Zhao were guest speakers at the ceremony. Her Walk of Fame star is located in front of the Chinese Theater Box Office.

Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World (1996, 2003 and 2008).

Was on the Time 100, a list of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. (2023)

Her spokesperson is Jillian Roscoe.

She was awarded Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour by Nicolas Sarkozy (President of the French Republic) in 2012 for her services to the film industry; the highest French order of merit.