Salma Hayek
Salma started as a soap actress in Mexico. She gained special recognition for her appearance in "Teresa," but it wasn't what she wanted to do. She wanted to make movies. She wanted to be famous. So she packed her bags and came to the United States. She didn't even speak English, but that wouldn't stop her. As everyone knows, it ain't that easy for a common person to make it in Hollywood that fast. Salma spent three years trying to find something to do. She landed a small role in "The Sinbad Show," but she hated it. She then had the smallest cameo you can imagine in La Vida Loca, a movie that, to be fair, no one saw. Tired of this lack of recognition, she returned to Mexico and filmed El Callejon de los Milagros (Midaq Alley). This movie, ironically, became a worldwide success. It still is one of the best movies Salma has ever done. But it wouldn't be until Robert Rodriguez put an eye on her that her smashing rise to fame in Hollywood would start...
Salma appeared in a talk show where she talked about how hard it was being for her to succeed in Hollywood. Coincidentally, Robert Rodriguez was watching the show and immediately called her for some auditions. That's how the bond between them actually started. Eventually, Salma made two movies for Rodriguez: Roadracers and Desperado. This one became the breakthrough movie for its two rising stars: Antonio Banderas and herself. Since then, Salma has appeared in almost every Rodriguez film, from Four Rooms, her memorable turn in the cult movie From Dusk Till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and Once Upon a Time in Mexico.
After Desperado, Salma landed roles in so-so action movies such as Fair Game and Fled. This would do nothing for her career.
But finally, after all those years, Salma got her first starring role in Fools Rush In. Her costar was "Friend"'s Mathew Perry. And while at first the movie was made as a chance to prove that Perry could also make it in movies, it was Salma who got all the accolades. The movie didn't become a hit, but it made modest business at the box office. Besides, it received great notices for its star. Salma was better known now, and she had officially entered the Hollywood elite. Her role as a Mexican-American girl who gets pregnant after a one night stand would prove one of her best as well and would also give us a hint of the comedic talent she possesses.
She's amazing 🙂