Salma Hayek Pinault

Academy Award Nominee Salma Hayek has proven herself as a prolific actress, producer and director, in both film and television. She was nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and a BAFTA award for her leading role in Julie Taymor’s Frida.

Hayek’s other film credits include: Alex de la Iglesia’s La Chispa de la Vida; Mathieu Demy’s Americano; the Academy Award-nominated Puss In Boots with Antonio Banderas; Paul Weitz’s The Vampire’s Assistant, released by Universal;Todd Robinson›s Lonely Hearts,opposite John Travolta and James Gandolfini; Robert Towne’s Ask the Dust, alongside Colin Farrell and Idina Menzel; Luc Besson’s Bandidas, opposite Penelope Cruz; Brett Ratner’s After the Sunset; Robert Rodriguez’s Once Upon a Time in Mexico; Mike Figgis’ Hotel and Timecode; Kevin Smith’s Dogma; From Dusk Till Dawn, directed by Robert Rodriquez and written by Quentin Tarantino; and Robert Rodriguez’s Desperado

Born and raised in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, Hayek studied International Relations in college in Mexico. Her additional Mexican credits include, Midaq Alley, based on a novel by Nobel Prize recipient Naguib Mafouz.

Noted for her acting career, Hayek has also dedicated much of her time to social activism. Hayek served as spokesperson for the Pampers/UNICEF partnership worldwide, to help stop the spread of life-threatening maternal and neonatal tetanus. She also served as the spokesperson for the Avon Foundation’s Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program, which focuses on domestic violence education, awareness and prevention, as well as support for victims. In 2005, she spoke in front the US Senate, encouraging its members to extend the Violence Against Women Act. In January 2006, the legislation was passed, ensuring that 3.9 billion dollars will be allocated to thousands of domestic violence crises and intervention agencies throughout the US. In April of 2005, Hayek visited the Arctic Circle for the celebration of Earth Day, in an effort to bring attention to the dangers that global warming is putting on the lives of the Inuit people and the rest of the world. In November 2005, she served as co-host, alongside Julianne Moore, at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, which honored Nobel laureate Mohamed el-Baradei and the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency. She was also part of the One campaign that singer and activist Bono created, as well as a member of Global Green, and Youth Aids.

In 2013, Hayek, alongside Beyonce Knowles-Carter and Frida Giannini, the then creative director of Gucci, co-founded CHIME FOR CHANGE, an organization dedicated to improving the education, help and welfare of women and girls around the world.