Virtually everyone knows of Salma Hayek.
She is, after all, one of the biggest movie stars in the world.
But before she was a household name, she was just an ordinary girl growing up in Mexico.
Hayek is one of those rare celebs who has maintained their fame without attracting much scandal or controversy.
Let’s take a closer look at how Salma Hayek has changed over the years.
She and her brother Sami had a pretty pampered childhood.
The actress described her childhood as idyllic when speaking toThe Guardian.
Hayek also grew up close to her grandmother, Maria Luisa Lopez.
She added, “I still have her inside of me and I always will.”
When you look at the trajectory of Hayek’s career, it looks like she was right.
It didn’t take long for her to start landing roles.
She was just 18 years old.
Hayek said the job “was a nightmare,” but it soon led to bigger things.
Herfirst TV acting creditcame in 1988 with the television show “Un nuevo amanecer.”
This was followed by the titular role in the 1989 telenovela “Teresa.”
By the age of 22, Hayek had become one of the biggestsoap opera starsin Mexico.
to get to pursue a film career, she decided to move to the United States.
People thought that Hayek was being foolish.
Relocating to a new country would mean that Hayek would have to start from the bottom again.
Still, Hayek was determined.
Hayek took the diagnosis in stride.
Hayek admitted that she reads rather slowly, but her reading comprehension is quite good.
“I don’t think people with dyslexia should think it’s an impediment,” noted the actress.
“They told me: You’ll never work,” she said.
The audition process was grueling.
Hayek toldW Magazinethat she had to audition several times fordirectorRobert Rodriguez before landing the role.
Once she was on set, things didn’t exactly go smoothly.
Hayek obviously wasn’t fired and “Desperado” was a success.
While it didn’t pay much, it still got her established in Hollywood.
“It was not my plan, and it was not exciting,” she admitted.
Hayek both produced and starred in the film and getting it off the ground was an arduous task.
She toldNPRthat it took eight years to get the film made.
“Nobody wanted to do it,” the actress revealed, “nobody helped me with it.”
While it may have been a struggle to get Frida made, it was well worth it.
In fact, becoming famous has actually made her more laid-back.
She continued, saying, “If anything, I’m a lot more relaxed.”
That doesn’t mean that fame didn’t change Hayek’s life at all, though.
“Life itself is more important,” she said.
“And I’m enjoying it.”
The then-39-year-old Hayek fell head-over-heels for the French entrepreneur and the couple tied the knot in 2009.
Prior to meetingher husband, Hayek thought that she would never find the right man.
Hayek’s relationship with Pinault is a strong one.
“I think I’m a better mother because I had [Valentina] later,” she said.
Hayek always wanted a big family, but was unable to have any more biological children.
She revealed that having stepchildren has been a “huge blessing.”
She continued, saying, “So I have four [children].
And they are all so different.”
Hayek has alsoworked with UNICEFand isa strong supporter of the Me Too movement.
But if you haven’t heard much about it, there’s a good reason for that.
She added, “I am comfortable in my own skin.”
“It has been really, really sad,” she admitted.
“Theeyes, for me, that’s worse than themenopause.”
Whileageism still runs rampant in Hollywood, Hayek isn’t letting that stop her.
Fans can’t help but notice that she looks younger than her years, too.
Has she somehow discovered the fountain of youth?
USAthat the key to her youthful looks is the fact that she meditates regularly.
“When I put [my costume] on, I burst into tears.
Not like in telenovelas, but the tears came out and I said, ‘What happened here?'”
she said (viaBuzzFeed).
