ctress.
Determination, courage and style have been the keys to amazing
cross-border stardom for a “Mexican goddess.” Salma Hayek, over parental
protests, began her acting career in local theatre, bewitching a young
audience as the female lead in Aladina y la Lampara Maravillosa (Aladdin
and His Marvellous Lamp). She went on to commercial work, then joined
the cast of popular daytime TV serial Nuevo Amanecer (New Dawn) in 1988.
It was her second soap opera role, in Teresa, that shot the
twenty-year-old to instant sensational popularity in Mexico.Along
with the public acclaim, she received Premio TV y Novela (Emmy
equivalent) and Heraldo awards for Best Actress and Best Newcomer. She
continued to do theatre work, with 1990's Las Visitas Tienen Suerio, but
after three years on a pedestal as a celebrated soap queen, she left for
the bright lights of Hollywood. Hayek spent 1991 as a “nobody” learning
the ropes in her new country -- taking English lessons, acting lessons
and driving lessons. In 1992/93 the newcomer appeared on the American
television shows, Nurses, Dream On, and The Sinbad Show.
Also in 1993 she was cast in the movie, Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life).
That role led to Roadracers (TV - 1994) and Midaq Alley (1995). Her
breakthrough came that year with a lead role in the mainstream feature
film Desperado. Her U.S./Mexican movie career continued with Four Rooms
(1995), Fair Game (1995), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), El Jorabadode
Notre Dame (voice - 1996), and Fled (1996). Hayek was lauded as one of
People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in 1996, and, that year,
received an Ariel (Mexican Academy Award) nomination for her Midaq Alley
role. She went on to The Hunchback (TV - 1997), Fools Rush In (1997),
Follow Me Home (1997), Quien Diablos Es Juliette? (1997), and Sistole
Diastole (1997).
Even her wardrobe received recognition that year when she was named
to Mr. Blackwell’s 1997 list of the Ten Most Stylish Women. In 1998, her
fame was well-established, and her movies were big ones: The Faculty,
Breaking Up, 54, and The Velocity of Gary. 1999 brought lead roles in
Wild Wild West and Dogma, and a return to Mexico for El Coronel No Tiene
Quien Le Escriba. Hayek has three films set for release in 2000 -- Chain
of Fools, Shiny New Enemies and Frida -- and her own (Ventana Rosa)
production label. Predictably, the American media describes her using
their “fire” list of south-of-the-border female entertainer labels --
“Latin firecracker”, “sultry spitfire” and “fiery bombshell” -- but this
is one star who’s anything but predictable.
Who knows what she may try (and succeed at) next?
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