One of the most magnetic women of our time, Salma Hayek, turns 60 today. Her life can certainly be described as one marked by success, both professionally and personally. But to focus solely on her success, beauty, international fame, or marriage to one of the most powerful men in the world would be reductive. Because Salma Hayek’s story is also that of a woman who, over the years, has sought to carve out a space of her own—both in front of and behind the camera, in film and television, in the arts and in social activism, and in her private life.
Born in Mexico to a Lebanese father, a businessman, and a Mexican mother, an opera singer, Hayek grew up in a culturally rich environment shaped by diverse influences. She traveled extensively and, even as a young girl, realized that acting would be her calling. In Mexico, she began her career as the lead in the telenovela *Teresa*, gaining widespread popularity. She then made her film debut in *El Callejón de los Milagros*, for which she received an Ariel Award nomination. Her big break came—as it did for many young actresses in the 1990s—when she moved to Hollywood in 1991. It was not an easy choice: for a Mexican actress, it meant entering an industry where Latin American actresses are often confined to stereotypical roles. Hayek, however, gradually managed to carve out a space of her own. Her true breakthrough came with Robert Rodriguez’s *Desperado* in 1995. From that moment on, her presence on the big screen became increasingly recognizable, and Rodriguez symbolically adopted her as his favorite actress, casting her on several occasions: he cast her again in *Four Rooms*, *From Dusk Till Dawn*, *The Faculty*, *Game Over*, and *Once Upon a Time in Mexico*. But it was with *Frida*, directed by Julie Taymor in 2002, that Hayek perhaps reached the pinnacle of her film career. Portraying Frida Kahlo meant not only stepping into the shoes of one of the 20th century’s most celebrated artists, but also striving to bring to the screen a complex, passionate, tormented woman capable of transforming pain and her own body into art. Hayek’s performance was acclaimed by critics and earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, as well as nominations for the Golden Globes, the BAFTAs, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
But there’s one aspect of *Frida* that makes that experience even more significant: Salma Hayek isn’t just the lead actress—she’s also one of the film’s producers. And this is where a facet of her career emerges that’s perhaps less well-known but nonetheless fundamental. Over the years, Salma Hayek has in fact built a significant career behind the camera as well. In 1999, she founded Ventanarosa, her own production company, and began taking charge of everything that happens behind the camera, choosing which stories to bring to the screen and how to tell them. It’s a substantial difference. Being a lead actress means lending one’s talent to a story; producing, on the other hand, means participating in decisions, taking on creative responsibilities, and helping to determine which projects will reach the audience.
Her work as a producer has also expanded into television. Hayek is one of the executive producers of *Ugly Betty*, a lighthearted and entertaining series that was a huge hit in the United States and allowed her to once again work on a story rooted in Latin American culture. And she doesn’t stop at production. In 2003, she directed *The Maldonado Miracle*, a television movie that earned her a Daytime Emmy Award for directing. This is a key element in understanding her professional journey: Salma Hayek has made cinema her world, embracing its various dimensions and not limiting herself solely to the role of actress, delving deeply into what is, to all intents and purposes, a complex and multifaceted discipline. And in my opinion, it is her curiosity—linked to her understanding of the complexity of cinema—that makes her a great actress, as well as a producer. My favorite role of hers is the queen in Matteo Garrone’s *Tale of Tales*, in which Hayek portrays a woman consumed by an all-consuming desire for motherhood, willing to do anything to have a child. In that role, Hayek manages to be at once maternal, unsettling, fragile, and incredibly powerful, embodying a humanity that rises to mythological proportions.
In addition to her film career, Salma Hayek brings the same dedication and curiosity to her personal life. For many years, Hayek has been actively involved in campaigns against gender-based violence and discrimination: she has supported humanitarian initiatives, collaborated with UNICEF, and publicly taken a stand on issues related to the rights of women and the most vulnerable communities. In 2005, she testified before the U.S. Senate Committee in support of the Violence Against Women Act, and in subsequent years she has provided financial support for initiatives combating violence against women in Mexico and served on the board of directors of V-Day, the organization founded by playwright Eve Ensler. On a personal level, she has been married since 2009 to François-Henri Pinault, a French entrepreneur and leading figure in the luxury industry, who long headed Kering and serves as chairman of the family-owned Artémis Group. This marriage has inevitably brought her even closer to that international world of fashion, art, collecting, and great wealth. But even in this case, it would be too easy to focus solely on the glamour. Because the impression left by Salma Hayek’s life story is that of a woman who has certainly had a great deal in life—beauty, talent, success, fame, wealth—but who has chosen not to let her existence be defined solely by the celebration of all these things. She has continued to be involved in film and television, taking on increasingly important roles even behind the scenes. She has produced, directed, selected projects, and cultivated a deep connection with art. And she has used her visibility to speak out against violence against women, discrimination, and for women’s rights.
Behind the public figure is a woman who has used her fame as a springboard, exploring various fields and putting her resources and opportunities to work for others as well. So today, with warm regards, we are happy to wish you a happy 60th birthday, Salma.
[📷 IPA]
