Salma Hayek was born on September 2, 1966, in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico. Her father is of Lebanese descent, and her mother is of Mexican and Spanish ancestry. Inspired to become an actress after watching “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” (1971) at a local theater, she pursued her dream.
At 12, Hayek attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans, Louisiana. Later, she studied at Mexico City’s prestigious Universidad Iberoamericana before deciding to pursue acting seriously.
Hayek quickly gained fame in her native Mexico with the title role in the highly successful soap opera “Teresa” (1989). However, eager to explore her talent in films, she left both “Teresa” and Mexico in 1991. Rumors swirled that she had an affair with Mexico’s president and left to escape his wife’s wrath, but Hayek moved to Los Angeles to chase her Hollywood dreams.
Upon arriving in Hollywood, Hayek faced the reality of Latina actresses being typecast as mistresses, maids, or prostitutes. By late 1992, she had only landed small roles in shows like “Street Justice” (1991), “The Sinbad Show” (1993), “Nurses” (1991), and a brief appearance as a maid on “Dream On” (1990). She also had a single line in “Mi Vida Loca” (1993). Frustrated by the lack of opportunities, she voiced her discontent on Paul Rodriguez’s late-night Spanish-language talk show.
