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Actress Salma Hayek was born in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, and she began her career in Mexican telenovelas before taking a big leap by moving to Los Angeles in the early ’90s.
Her big break came with Desperado, starring alongside Antonio Banderas, but it was Frida that truly set her apart. Hayek starred in the 2002 biopic about artist Frida Kahlo and she fought for eight years to get the movie made, overcoming countless challenges along the way.
5 lesser-known facts about Salma Hayek: Dyslexia, being bitten by a monkey, and more
1) She was attacked by a monkey
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Salma Hayek has shared an intriguing experience from the set of Frida involving her monkey co-star, Tyson. In a 2020 interview with People, she revealed that during filming, Tyson attacked her, resulting in severe injuries.
Despite this incident, Hayek courageously continued working with the monkey and even participated in a Vogue photoshoot alongside him.
Reflecting on the experience, she humorously said:
"I was really hoping he wouldn’t go for my face."
In a 2024 interview with the Wall Street Journal, Hayek recounted another incident where Tyson bit her hand during a tug-of-war over a CD in her trailer. She described the monkey's behavior:
"They should have told me the monkey has been possessed by the devil."
This incident required Hayek to receive rabies shots.
2) Her fight for Frida was personal
Salma Hayek was determined to authentically portray Frida Kahlo, inspired by her life and art.
In a 2017 essay for The New York Times, Hayek detailed the obstacles she encountered, particularly with producer Harvey Weinstein, who she described as her "monster."
She revealed that Weinstein attempted to derail the project multiple times, demanding a "senseless" full-frontal n*de scene to continue production. Despite these hurdles, Hayek even invested her own resources to ensure the film's completion.
Her perseverance paid off when Frida premiered in 2002, earning critical acclaim and securing six Academy Award nominations, including a Best Actress nod for Hayek.
Reflecting on the experience, she wrote in the essay of New York Times:
"No to me taking a shower with her. No to letting him give me a massage. No to letting a n*ked friend of his give me a massage. No, no, no..."
3) Hayek is dyslexic
Salma Hayek was diagnosed as dyslexic as a teenager. When she moved to Los Angeles at 25, she barely spoke English and found it hard to learn due to her dyslexia.
Reflecting on that time in an interview with Oprah in 2003, she said:
"I came here and I didn't speak English, I didn't have a green card, I didn't know I had to have an agent, I couldn't drive, I was dyslexic."
Even though reading scripts takes her longer than most, Hayek relies on her excellent memory to overcome the challenge.
She once explained, "I take a long time to read a script, but I read it only once."
Her perseverance helped her learn English fluently and achieve success in an industry that wasn’t always welcoming. Hayek mentioned in the same interview:
"I have an accent, am dyslexic, short, and chubby. You name it, I have it, but I am here."
4) She’s the first Mexican actress nominated for a Best Actress Oscar in decades
In 2003, Salma earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of Frida Kahlo in the film Frida. This recognition made her the first Mexican actress to be nominated in this category.
In 2019, when Yalitza Aparicio received a Best Actress nomination for Roma, Hayek celebrated the moment. She said:
"In 2002 I became the first Mexican actress nominated for best actress... I’m very moved that today I am no longer alone."
5) She’s passionate about women’s rights
Hayek has been a strong advocate for women's rights throughout her career. In 2013, she co-founded Chime for Change with Beyoncé and Gucci's Frida Giannini, aiming to promote education, health, and justice for girls and women worldwide.
Beyond Chime for Change, Hayek has actively participated in various humanitarian efforts. In 2009, during a UNICEF trip to Sierra Leone, she breastfed a newborn whose mother couldn't produce milk, aiming to reduce the stigma around breastfeeding.
Salma Hayek starred in Without Blood, which was released in September 2024.
