PROFILE

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Salma Hayek

Already a superstar in her native Mexico, the fiery beauty Salma Hayek picked up her life and left it all behind to start all over again in the cruel world of Hollywood. But unlike most who never find happiness along the boulevards of broken dreams, Hayek found the path to success, gracing several films of the past decade with her sexy, talented presence.

Born and raised in Mexico, Hayek began her acting career in local theater productions before landing on a popular Mexican soap opera. Shortly after getting that part, she was cast as the lead in another Mexican soap, Teresa, an incredibly successful series that made Hayek the most popular star in Mexico. Riding high on her celebrity in that country, the Spanish-speaking Hayek gave it all up to pursue a career in Hollywood -- a town where her fame in Mexico did nothing to help her.

Taking over a year off from acting in order to learn English, Hayek returned to bit parts in films and television before an appearance on a talk show caught the attention of director Robert Rodriguez. Planning to remake his international success El Mariachi into an American film, Rodriguez was watching television one evening when he came across Hayek's guest spot. Immediately taken with the actress, Rodriguez convinced a reluctant studio to allow him to cast Hayek in the part of the leading lady.

Renamed Desperado and starring Antonio Banderas, Rodriguez's film featured a memorable performance from Hayek, who garnered strong reviews and public acclamation for her efforts. Hayek would go on to star in Rodriguez's next film, the vampire film From Dusk Till Dawn starring George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino. Though this film was not as well received, Hayek nonetheless gave a good performance.

Hayek's next string of films fared poorly at the box office and were not well-reviewed by critics. Among these, her best efforts were probably seen in Fools Rush In, co-starring Matthew Perry. That same year, though, Hayek gave a strong performance in the television miniseries The Hunchback of Notre Dame, in which she played the gypsy Esmerelda. The series marked a highlight in what was otherwise turning out to be a rather lackluster Hollywood film career, something that was not helped by the debacle of her next movie effort.

Hayek had a major role as a disco lounge singer in the misfortune that was Mark Christopher's 54. Released through Miramax and co-starring Ryan Phillippe, Mike Myers, and Neve Campbell, 54 was supposed to be an ode to one of the most titillating, decadent places on Earth in the late '70s. Yet, Miramax inexplicably screened the film for test audiences who reacted poorly to the film's seedier themes.

Seeking a more audience-friendly cut, the studio re-edited the film, thereby allegedly twisting director Mark Christopher's original vision. As a result, the entire cast (which included Breckin Meyer in the role of Hayek's husband) came out looking bad. Moreover, Hayek and Meyer found their roles severely reduced from the film's original screenplay. Not surprisingly, 54 failed both with critics and at the box office. But later that year, Hayek finally found a minor box office hit with Robert Rodriguez once again in the Kevin Williamson-penned horror/sci-fi flick, The Faculty, in which Hayek played a teacher who turns into an alien.

Though Hayek's career has fallen short of the potential she showed in Desperado, her upcoming projects promise to turn it all around. Included in that group is a surefire summer blockbuster with the Men in Black team of director Barry Sonnenfeld and star Will Smith in Wild, Wild West. Hayek also stars alongside Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Alanis Morrisette in Kevin Smith's highly anticipated Dogma. With her beautiful, movie-star looks, her strong, commanding talent, and her dynamic screen presence, it should only be a matter of time before Mexican superstar Salma Hayek finally finds the role that will make her the American superstar she deserves to be.

Next up for Salma Hayek -- Hayek will star with Will Smith, Kevin Kline, and Kenneth Branagh in the big-budget action film, The Wild, Wild West. She will then be seen later in the fall in Kevin Smith's Dogma with Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Alanis Morrisette. Hayek will then produce and star in Frida, based on the life of painter Frida Kahlo.

ESSENTIAL SALMA HAYEK

Desperado -- Hayek heats up the screen in this western film.
Fools Rush In -- Hayek shows off her lighter side in this romantic comedy.
54 -- As an aspiring singer at the famous '70s nightclub, Hayek manages to be memorable in this otherwise forgettable film.