Salma Hayek is definitely a dynamic and well-loved figure in Hollywood. Starting her career in Mexico, she quickly made a name for herself internationally with roles in films like “Desperado” and “Frida.”
Hayek is recognized not only for her acting but also for her work advocating for women’s rights and other important causes.
Salma Hayek is familiar to all of us but there are some things we’re certain you might not know about this actress. Read this article to find out what they are.
As a child, Salma Hayek dreamt of being a gymnast
In a 2017 interview on “Live With Kelly and Ryan,” Salma revealed her deep passion for gymnastics, even though she initially had to teach herself.
At just 9 years old, she persuaded her father to enroll her in a gym in Mexico City for the summer. During those two months, her dedication and talent shone through, catching the attention of Olympic scouts. However, her dream of joining the Olympic team was cut short when her father declined the opportunity due to the commitment required.
She shared, “At that age, I got drafted for the Olympic team. However, that would mean that I would have to be in a boarding school, six hours a day of gymnastics and they do the studies. And I would have to be away from my family because it’s in Mexico City, and my father said no.”
At 12, Hayek got expelled from a Catholic boarding school in New Orleans for pulling pranks
Everyone knows Hayek has a sense of humor but before that, she was really naughty.
In a 2014 interview with The Wrap, Hayek revealed her mischievous side, reminiscing about her school days.
She shared how she would often prank her classmates, especially enjoying the chaos she caused by adjusting the clocks to wake her peers up early. The American students, who spent hours perfecting their morning routines, were none too pleased when they discovered they’d been tricked.
“I laughed for about two hours,” she said, adding that she got detention and “got creative” there too.
Hayek’s first audition was for the role of Jasmine in a children’s play of “Aladdin” in Mexico
“I was 18. I had to sing and I have stage fright,” she told W magazine of playing the Disney princess. “It was a horrible experience – I got the job, but the work was a nightmare. I really suffered every day.”
She wore temporary tattoos to the 1998 MTV Music Video Awards because designers wouldn’t lend her jewelry
In an interview with Vogue India, Salma Hayek talked about how hard it was to get designers to dress her or lend her jewelry for events when she was starting out.
“I had on a very simple black dress and I knew all the other girls were going to have fabulous dresses, beautiful jewelry,” she said. “And can I tell you something? Instead of giving me a complex and saying that I don’t have the best dress or they don’t know who I am, I was like, ‘I am fabulous.’ I painted some butterfly tattoos on myself and I felt happy about myself.”
She’s never gotten Botox
On an episode of the Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast, host Kelly Ripa discussed beauty and aging with Salma Hayek. The inevitable question came up: Have you ever used Botox?
Hayek was quick to answer, “No Botox!” The actress shared that she had never tried the popular injections. “You’re amazing,” Ripa, the Live with Kelly and Mark co-host, said.
She is really good at Sudoku
“I breastfed for 14 months, and my God, that baby could not get enough all night. I didn’t sleep for like a year,” Hayek, who has a daughter named Valentina, told W magazine.
“While she was breastfeeding, it was boring,” the actress said. “So, I started doing Sudoku, and I think I’m really good. I can do it sometimes in four minutes. The machine tells me I’m good at Sudoku, that’s how I found out.”