Looking At Salma Hayek's Life And Achievements On Her 55th Birthday

Sep 02, 2021 by apost team

Salma Hayek is one of the most successful and gorgeous actresses on the planet and even today, as she turns 55, she keeps proving that age is nothing but a number. Although she now looks a little different than she did when she first exploded onto the Hollywood scene, Hayek is still every bit as gorgeous. 

On top of being one of Hollywood's most beautiful women, it's Hayek's personality and passions that have earned her the love of fans the world over. A vocal supporter of women, as well as her charitable work, Hayek often speaks up about the pressures that Hollywood puts on women's looks, which has endeared her to many.

Another aspect of Hayek that has made her incredibly popular is how down-to-earth she is, despite her success. In fact, before she was famous, Hayek led a rather humble life in her native Mexico — even after she became one of the country's biggest soap opera stars, which paved the way for her to pursue her dreams in Hollywood. 

Having worked on her craft since the age of 18, Hayek's passion for acting eventually propelled her into stardom and although she's at the top, she still finds time to bring attention to topics she's passionate about. From not letting racism hold her back in Hollywood to her current work as an empowered activist, Hayek gives a voice to those who don't always have one.

In honor of her 55th birthday, let's take a look back on the life and career achievements Hayek has had.

Born on Sep. 2, 1966, in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, Salma Hayek once described her childhood as being pretty idyllic but she's also aware of the privilege she had. In an interview with O, The Oprah Magazine, she described herself as "a spoiled brat," however despite this, her parents taught her the lesson of using her privilege to help others. Speaking with The Guardian, she said her mother "was devoted to helping people" and that her parents "gave away dozens of music scholarships" to those who were talented but couldn't afford to study the craft. 

Upon entering early adulthood, Hayek enrolled in university, only to drop out soon after as she knew that acting was what she was destined to do. And it didn't take long for the decision to pay off — Hayek landed her first TV gig in 1988 on "Nuevo Amanecer" before getting the titular role on "Teresa" the following year. The telenovela catapulted her to fame at the tender age of 22, making her one of Mexico's biggest soap opera stars.

Not satisfied with what she'd achieved in her native Mexico, Salma Hayek set her sights on Hollywood. Despite the odds against her as she didn't speak a lot of English and knowing that she'd have to start from the bottom again, Hayek packed up her things, landed in Los Angeles in 1991, and began acting lessons with the renowned actress and teacher Stella Adler.

In Hollywood, Hayek would do more than just become a famous actress — she would break past personal and societal barriers, proving that she's a force to be reckoned with. Although she was diagnosed with dyslexia around this time, the actress never let it hold her back.

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On top of moving to a foreign country, learning the language, and having to build her career once again, Hayek has since talked about the racism she faced upon arriving in the United States. She was told she'd never work and that she'd be limited to playing a maid. In an interview with NPR, she said, "I have had to fight, very, very hard for every little mediocre part I ever got."

Then came the issue of her being reduced to a bombshell in Hollywood. She told Oprah that "it became very depressing" before adding, "it was not my plan, and it was not exciting." 

Nevertheless, she persevered, and when she portrayed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in 2002, the public finally got to see another side of the actress, which she'd wanted to show all along. She famously produced and starred in the titular role in "Frida," telling NPR about the lengths she took to get it made:

"It took me eight years to get it off the ground, and I did it myself. Nobody wanted to do it, nobody helped me with it."

Thankfully it came to fruition and is now one of Hayek's most iconic roles. It allowed the public to see a more versatile side of her acting work and established her as a tenacious producer. 

These days, she's still acting and producing, but she also splits her time between raising her daughter Valentina and her work as a keen activist, in which she mostly works on causes that empower women and girls. And while the public doesn't hear much of her charitable endeavors, Hayek once explained why that is. According to The Wrap, she said that she'd rather "live" her philanthropic work "instead of talk about it."  

Happy 55th birthday to Salma Hayek! Did you know about all of her achievements outside of her acting work? Pass this on to those you know so they can celebrate her too!