Salma Hayek Jimenez

Despite limited fluency in English, Hayek moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1991 to study acting under Stella Adler with the hopes of starting a career in Hollywood. Robert Rodriguez and his producer wife Elizabeth Avellan soon gave Hayek the break she needed, starring opposite Antonio Banderas in 1995's Desperado. This movie brought Hayek to Hollywood's attention, as moviegoers proved to be as dazzled with Hayek as Rodriguez had been.

She followed her success in Desperado with a brief but memorable role in From Dusk Till Dawn. In 1999 she co-starred in Will Smith's big-budget Wild Wild West and played a supporting role in Kevin Smith's Dogma. In 2000 she had an uncredited acting part opposite Benicio Del Toro in Traffic.

Around this time Hayek founded production company Ventanarosa through which she produces film and television projects.

Frida, co-produced by Hayek, was released in 2002. Starring Hayek as Frida Kahlo, and Alfred Molina as her unfaithful husband, Diego Rivera, the film also featured an entourage of stars in supporting roles, including Antonio Banderas, Ashley Judd, Geoffrey Rush, Edward Norton and Valeria Golino and was directed by Julie Taymor. She earned a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her performance.

In 2003 she reprised her role from Desperado by appearing in the final film of the Mariachi Trilogy, Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

In that same year she directed the The Maldonado Miracle, a Showtime movie which won her a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Children/Youth/Family Special.

In December 2005 she directed a music video for Prince, titled "Te Amo Corazon" ("I love you, sweetheart") that featured Mia Maestro, with whom she is good friends.

In September 2006 Hayek became executive producer of Ugly Betty, an American television series that has attracted both attention and critical acclaim. Hayek adapted the series for American television with Silvio Horta, who aquired the rights and scripts from the Colombian Telenovela Yo Soy Betty La Fea in 2001. Originally intended for NBC in 2004, the project would later be picked up by ABC for the 2006-2007 season. The show quickly became a hit. Hayek has guest-starred on "Ugly Betty" in two roles so far: first as Sofia Reyes, a tough-minded magazine editor, and also as an actress in the telenovela within the show.

Hayek dated fellow actor Edward Norton for four years, between 1999 and 2003, and then Josh Lucas from 2003 until 2004.

Concerning marriage Hayek has said, "Women have been taught that in order to have a place in the world, an identity, they must marry and have children. If that's the life you truly want, great. But for many women, marriage is only about needing the world to know that someone desires them enough to say, 'Here's a contract to prove that I love you and will commit to you for the rest of my life.' For these women, no contract equals no validation - and, thus, no reason for existing."^{[citation needed]} As of 2006, Hayek is single and has homes in Los Angeles and Mexico. She is best friends with Spanish actress, Penelope Cruz. The two co-starred in the 2006 film, Bandidas.

She is a student of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment..