After being told her career would never last past the age of 35, Salma Hayek is determined to prove her critics wrong – and she’s not doing too bad a job of it.
Once a popular actress in her native Mexico, Hayek moved into the big leagues at 25, and was told that because she “sounded like a Mexican maid”, her career would end before 35.
It didn’t – and that’s no big spoiler.
After a string of wildly successful movies, including Desperado, Wild Wild West and Dogma, Hayek landed her Academy Award-nominated role in Frida, for which she was also nominated for a BAFTA Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award. On top of this, the mother-of-one is also an accomplished director and producer.
And now, at 48 – 13 years after her career was due to end – Hayek is issuing a challenge to Hollywood: write more roles for older women.
“There is still an age bias when it comes to acting roles for women. When I came to Hollywood I was told my career would be over when I hit 35,” Hayek told The Mirror, “But I’m still working and I’ve been getting some good roles. But there aren’t enough roles for women.”
“Too many stories only give women secondary kinds of parts where we’re not involved in driving the story the way men are. It’s changing, though. We’re seeing more women doing comedies and in action films, so that’s a good sign.”
“I’d like to find some really great roles in the future. I still don’t think I’ve done my best work yet.”
And despite the big 5-0 approaching fast, Salma’s looks definitely aren’t holding her back.
“In the past, when I tried to imagine what I’d look like and what my life would be like at this age, I was terrified. I imagined myself looking old, but instead I think I still look OK, and I’m fine with my appearance,” she told The Mirror, “For too many generations, women have suffered from this terrible lie that age 50 is like falling off a cliff.”
“Women have believed for so long we’d act and feel as if we were finished, and we surrendered to that myth.”
“Fortunately, we’ve stopped believing that. Fifty is a great age where we can be very productive and happy and not feel limited by anything,” she continued, “I’ve realised I can still be beautiful and attractive as I approach 50. I feel very good about my life.”
Salma with husband, Francois-Henri Pinault.
Part of that ‘feel good’ lifestyle that Hayek seems to have mastered is her owed to her husband, billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, and their daughter, Valentina, 8.
“I waited a long time to have a child and now I have Valentina I feel so deeply responsible to her as a mother,” said Hayek speaking of her daughter, “I have to make sure I don’t try to do everything for her, but it’s hard. I’m the kind of mother who is always fussing over my daughter. I’ve never been away from her for more than two weeks.”
“But she keeps telling me she doesn’t want me to turn down jobs because of her. She says when I’m offered a good role, I have to take it.”
“My husband’s a strong, confident man not afraid of a strong woman. That’s been one of the great strengths of our marriage. He respects me and has always encouraged me to work and fulfil myself. I’m very lucky. But you have to find the right guy. It’s so hard because there are so few of them.
“What is important in a marriage is generosity, thoughtfulness, thinking of the other person all of the time,” said Hayek of her husband, Francois-Henri, “Spend quality time together. And don’t forget over the years.”
Salma with daughter, Valentina.
“It’s important to me I keep working and earn my own money. I like to feel independent, pay my own bills, and not turn into a society lady.
“I know how to behave if I’m invited to Buckingham Palace – but then I’ll go back to my ranch and feed the chickens. That’s important for my daughter to see too. She’s surrounded by a lot of strong women in our family and I hope she grows up to appreciate that.”
As for her career beyond 50, Salma is confident she’s still got it.
“I don’t know what my future holds. My true greatest passion is directing but I’m not in a hurry – so I’ve something really special to look forward to in my 60s. I have a great future ahead of me.”
