Her real name is Salma Hayek-Jimenez. She has a brother named Sami. Her father Sami Hayek, is a well-to-do Lebanese-Mexican businessman while her mother Diana Jimenes, is a Mexican-born opera-singer.
Her first soap opera entitled, "Teresa" has catapulted her to fame in her native Mexico. But in 1991, she left Mexico to pursue her acting dream in Los Angeles at the age of 24. She had a 4-year relationship with Edward Norton.
Her biggest break was when Robert Rodriguez and his producer wife Elizabeth Avellan, made her to star opposite Antonio Banderas in the movie, Desperado in 1995. This has made her become one of Hollywood's important names in the entertainment industry.
Her movies include:
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996
Fled (1996)
Fools Rush In (1997)
Breaking Up (1997)
Dogma (1999)
Butterflies (2001)
Wild Wild West (1999)
Frida (2002)
Once Upon A Time in Mexico (2003)
After The Sunset (2004)
Ask The Dust (2006)
Bandidas (2006)
Her movie Frida was a hit where she was nominated for six Oscars, including as best actress. She was the first Latin actress to be nominated in this category
