Mexican heat
I’ve always wanted a daughter
Women work harder than men
For Mexicans, blood is not water
Children do not need smartphones
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At 55, Salma Hayek is a Mexican muse for millions. She continues to inspire with gorgeous physical shape, and is now filming in the sequel to “Profession Stripper”, which should be ready next year. And a few days ago, Salma rose with her 14-year-old daughter Valentina on the cover of the Mexican edition of Vogue fashion magazine.
Hayek is one of the biggest Latin American stars in Hollywood. She broke into the big screen with roles in “From Dusk Till Dawn” and “Desperado” by Robert Rodriguez. In the 90’s she became a global sex icon and is one of the most desired women in public. Salma has established herself as a quality actress with dramatic performances in films such as “Frida” and “Savages” by Oliver Stone.
Today, she continues to be considered one of the most beautiful and attractive women in the entertainment industry and participates in prestigious projects for film and television. Personally, she has been with French billionaire Francois Henri-Pino for 15 years, from whom Valentina is already breaking into the fashion industry.
– Salma, are you happy with the first joint photo session with your daughter Valentina for a fashion magazine?
-It was a wonderful and early gift for Mother’s Day. The photos became very beautiful and captured a special moment with Valentina. I became a mother quite late. But that’s because I found my partner late in life. He had a solid career, and I wanted a daughter more than anything in the world.
“You’re on top in Hollywood today.” But how was it in the beginning?
-First I was told that a Mexican woman would never break into Hollywood, because at that time it was really almost impossible for a Mexican actor to get a leading role in a film.
Then they explained to me that my career in Hollywood would be over when I was 30. Well, I’m very proud that I succeeded because I fought tooth and nail against all those who discouraged me and didn’t believe in me. They kept telling me so many times that it couldn’t happen that I almost believed them. But I fought.
I fought and won. And I want other women to know it, to know that there are no impossible things. Women still think that we are not good enough at work, good enough for the man who cheats on us, for our children who always want more than what we give them. Women work harder than men, they are more demanding of themselves and yet they constantly feel that it is not enough. For this reason, they do not have the confidence and self-confidence to ask for a better job, better conditions, better pay, better attitude.
– What inspires you to continue playing after such a long and successful career?
“I’m very lucky.” I have achieved many things at my age. But the discovery of love brings me the greatest happiness. I found love and that makes me consider myself extremely lucky.
– How did the love of your husband Francois Henri-Pinot change you?
– Finding love in his face is my greatest achievement. Sharing my life with him is an experience that constantly inspires and changes me. I have a fantastic partner next to me, with whom I am still madly in love. He supports me, inspires me, stimulates me to grow as a person.
I am also lucky because I had the opportunity to have a child. It came late in my life and it was quite possible that I would not be able to have children of my own, but it did happen. My husband Francois has three children from another relationship and now we both have four, and I love children very much. At the moment, I can have a career and a big family at the same time, which is great.
I love cooking for my husband and our daughter. Because women my age often have problems in Hollywood, I’ve been told I can’t work here, unfortunately in the entertainment industry there’s something like the expiration date for women, and it often expires when they’re 30. And you don’t have to so. It is never too late to make a career, to find love, to flirt, to be yourself, to discover new things. Age should not stop us.
– What role does Mexican origin play in your life?
– There is something really beautiful in Latin American culture. With the film “How to be a Latino lover”, for example, we tried to recreate it through my character, to embody it in the image. We do not like to betray our people, we have a strong sense of community. We care a lot about the family. We have the capacity to forgive. We are always ready to open our doors and support our people in good times and bad.
For us, the blood connection is especially strong and Mexicans care very much about it. This makes me proud of my Latin American background. We respect the elderly. In America, I notice a lot of people who just give up on their aging parents and loved ones because at some point they become an obstacle for them, they become an obstacle, they spoil the comfort.
– What is the situation of Latino communities in the United States today?
– I am very happy to be living in an age that has brought so many changes to the Latin American community. We have to work constantly. Now everything is different. When I started my career, it was incomparably harder to break through and succeed. The situation of women has also changed. Life has offered me terribly interesting situations and events, I have witnessed so many wonderful things and changes.
Also, my philosophy of life, now half a century old, dictates that I relax more. It’s not a problem not to be the most beautiful or the sexiest. Do you understand what I mean? Now people can look into other parts of my personality, because they will not be so distracted by youth and beauty. I feel comfortable in my age and skin. Even white hair is not a problem for me, I let them go some time ago, but I had to dye them for a movie.
– Are you planning any rejuvenating changes?
– For now, I limit myself to hair coloring and the use of quality cosmetics. I do not have Botox and other interventions. Maybe at a later stage I will change my mind, but so far I have no problem with being a woman in her 50s. I want to look good, but I’ve never had the body of a super model. I’m not thin or muscular. I’m not into diets and sports. I have always had gorgeous shapes.
– You played a mother in “How to be a Latino lover”. How close was the role to reality?
– I would say that there are parallels. I also didn’t let my daughter use a smartphone when she was younger, for example.
It is important for children to be taught early on that there are things they cannot and sometimes should not have. They need to know that they will get some of the things they want now, only in years to come. It is important to realize that not every whim of theirs will be fulfilled automatically, mechanically and instantaneously.
I believe that the balance between rules and personal freedom is crucial for children’s development and is not easy to achieve. The individuality of each child is very important, because not all children are the same and a parent should never forget this.
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