Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek Biography -

Name :	Salma Hayek
Real Name :	Salma Hayek Jimenez
Date Of Birth :	September 2, 1966
Place of Birth :	Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico
Height :	5'2''
Weight :	115 lbs
Eyes :	Dark brown
Hair :	Black
Occupation :	Actress
Education :	College dropout
Companion :	Edward Norton
Fan Mail :	C/O William Morris Agency 151 El Camino Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90212 USA

Early life

Hayek was born (September 2, 1966)  in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico, the daughter of Diana Jiménez, an opera singer and talent scout, and Sami Hayek, an oil company executive. Hayek's father is Mexican of Lebanese descent while her mother is Mexican of Spanish descent. Her first given name, Salma, is Arabic for "safe". Raised in a wealthy, devoutly Catholic family, she was sent to the Academy of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau, Louisiana, at the age of twelve. While there, she was diagnosed with dyslexia. She was also an accomplished gymnast aspiring to compete in the Olympics, but her father prevented her from being recruited by the Mexican national team. The religious sisters running the Academy ejected Hayek, citing behavioral problems, so she returned to Mexico. She was later sent to live with her aunt in Houston, Texas, where she stayed until she was 17 years old. She attended college in Mexico City, where she studied International Relations at the Universidad Iberoamericana. To the surprise of her family, she dropped out to pursue a career as an actress.

Career

Salma Hayek in Mexico

At the age of 23, Hayek landed the title role in Teresa (1989), a successful Mexican telenovela that made her a star in Mexico. In 1994, Hayek starred in the film El Callejón de los Milagros (Miracle Alley), which has won more awards than any other movie in the history of Mexican cinema. For her performance, Hayek was nominated for an Ariel Award.