From telenovelas to Hollywood superstardom, Salma Hayek’s trajectory has been a fascinating one. Born in Coatzacoalcos, in southern Mexico, the actor found her feet in her early 20s, in soap operas Un Nuevo Amanecer and Teresa, winning fans and a spate of awards. But Hayek had her sights set on Hollywood, and soon moved to Los Angeles, took English lessons, and battled it out in auditions at a time when there were shockingly limited opportunities for Latina actors.
Success eventually came in the form of the Robert Rodriguez-directed, Antonio Banderas-led Desperado, in which she was a sultry scene-stealer, followed by From Dusk till Dawn, Fools Rush In, and Wild Wild West. Then her magnetic turn in Frida brought her a best-actress Oscar nomination, the very first time a Mexican woman was recognized in that category. (Only one other has ever been nominated for this prize in almost a century: Roma’s Yalitza Aparicio.) It cemented her as an industry power player—and she hasn’t stopped working since.
Now, as she celebrates her 60th birthday, we revisit the earliest years of Hayek’s career through the most stunning throwback photos of the certified bombshell. A 30-year-old Salma Hayek—all smiles a year after her Hollywood breakthrough in Desperado—at the LA premiere of Barry Levinson’s Sleepers. Striking a pose in red at a Versace runway show. With a fresh new bob during a portrait session in LA.
At the LA premiere of her rom-com Fools
At the LA premiere of her rom-com Fools Rush In, with co-star Matthew Perry. Glamorous as ever, at Elizabeth Taylor’s 65th birthday party in LA. A pearlescent vision at the Vanity Fair Oscar party. At the LA premiere of Batman & Robin with George Clooney and his then-girlfriend, Celine Balitran. The 1997 Met Gala called for a thigh-high slit and a dark red lip. Hugging Giorgio Armani backstage at his show during Milan Fashion Week.
In a little black dress for the NATO ShoWest convention in Las Vegas—now better known as CinemaCon. Another day at ShoWest, with her friend George Clooney. With Michael Douglas at the party after the White House Correspondents Dinner. It doesn’t get more 1998 than this: wearing a strapless black dress with sparkly eye shadow and temporary butterfly tattoos at the MTV Video Music Awards with Rupert Everett,
All dressed up for a White House state dinner for the president of Argentina with British actor Edward Atterton, her then-partner.
In a spectacular naked dress for a taping of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Waving to the crowds at the Cannes Film Festival the year her film Dogma, also starring Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Alan Rickman, premiered at the showcase out of competition. The living definition of va-va-voom at the LA premiere of the Tommy Lee Jones movie Double Jeopardy. Sporting a very ’90s two piece for the American Cinematheque Award’s Moving Picture Ball in LA.
In all black for the 57th Golden Globes nominations announcement. Backstage with Yves Saint Laurent in Paris. With her friend Penélope Cruz at the Oscars, where Hayek presented the segment honoring the winners of the Academy Awards for technical achievement.
Source: www.vogue.com
