Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek Jiménez (born September 2, 1966) is an Academy Award-nominated Mexican actress, Daytime Emmy-winning director, and a film and television producer. Hayek has appeared in more than thirty films and performed as an actress outside of Hollywood in Mexico and Spain.

Hayek was born in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico to Sami Hayek, a Lebanese Mexican oil company executive, and Diana Jiménez, an opera singer. Hayek's paternal grandparents were Mexicans of Lebanese Arab descent, while her mother is of Spanish descent. Reflecting her Arab heritage, her first name literally means ‘peace’ or ‘calm’ in Arabic. Raised in a wealthy, devoutly Catholic family, she was sent to the Academy of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau, Louisiana, at the age of 12.

Salma, an Arabic derivation that means 'peace' or 'calm', enjoyed playing pranks on school preachers and was finally sent back home. Her parents moved her out of the home again to her aunt's home in Houston, Texas. Hayek spent her adolescent years with her aunt until she reached 17. She then moved to Mexico City to study International Relations at the National University of Mexico, but later dropped out to pursue acting.

Hayek dated fellow actor Edward Norton for four years, between 1999 and 2003, and then Josh Lucas from 2003 until 2004. Hayek has homes in Los Angeles and Mexico and is best friends with Spanish actress Penelope Cruz. The two co-starred in the 2006 film, Bandidas. Hayek studied at Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.

Hayek is an executive producer of Ugly Betty, television series airing in the United States since September 2006. Hayek adapted the series for American television with Ben Silverman, who acquired the rights and scripts from the Colombian Telenovela Yo Soy Betty La Fea in 2001.