Salma Hayek and Adam Sandler have worked together on several films, and have been praised for their on-screen chemistry. But as it turns out, it wasn’t always easy for Hayek. Recently, the actress opened up about her journey and how life-changing it was for her when she met Adam Sandler. “Let me tell you something,” says Salma.
Salma always dreams big.
Salma Hayek’s journey to Hollywood was truly a testament to her ambition and determination. Despite being at the peak of her success in Mexico, she was not satisfied with just being a local star. She had a bigger dream: to conquer the world of international entertainment and showcase her talent on a global stage.
So, with the courage and determination of a true trailblazer, she set her sights on Hollywood and never looked back. Her journey was not without its challenges, but she persevered and eventually made a name for herself in the industry, starring in hit films and TV series like Desperado, Frida, and Ugly Betty.
“Hollywood said I’d be ‘expired’ by my 40s.”
But as we said above, it wasn’t always easy for her. Hayek stated that she always wanted to do comedy but was typecast as only a hot actress: “My entire life I wanted to do comedy and people wouldn’t give me comedies.”
It wasn’t until she met Adam Sandler and starred in Grown Ups (2010) that she finally got a chance to show off her comedic abilities. She shared that in the 1990s, it was believed that a hot actress couldn’t be both smart and funny. But with Sandler’s support and belief in her talent, Hayek was able to break through that stereotype.
“I couldn’t land a role until I met Adam Sandler, who put me in a comedy, but I was in my forties!” she explained. Hayek is grateful for the opportunities she has received and the diverse roles she has been able to play in Hollywood. Despite facing challenges early in her career, she is now able to work in multiple genres, even in her later years in the industry, which was previously thought to be a time when actors were no longer in demand.
“I was sad at the time, but now here I am doing every genre, in a time in my life where they told me I would have expired — that the last 20 years I would have been out of business. So I’m not sad, I’m not angry — I’m laughing,” Hayek admitted.
And that’s not all.
When she first moved to Hollywood, she faced numerous obstacles in establishing herself as a leading actress. She struggled with language barriers, cultural differences, and a lack of representation for Latin American actors in Hollywood.
In addition to these challenges, Salma also faced discrimination and prejudice based on her ethnicity and gender. She often had to fight for roles that were originally written for non-Latina actresses and had to overcome stereotypical casting expectations.
She is so far from retirement.
Hayek has proven that age is just a number, and she continues to shine in various genres, including her latest role in Magic Mike’s Last Dance. She has shown that her career is far from over, and she continues to break down barriers and defy expectations in Hollywood.
