Salma Hayek Talks Donald Trump, Ageism And Proving Hollywood Wrong
Away from the silver screen, the red carpets and social media, Salma Hayek is a woman who, at 53 years of age, has reached fulfilment. Bazaar’s Pedro Aguilar Ricalde meets the multi-faceted icon
ON CHOOSING HER PROJECTS AROUND HER DAUGHTER VALENTINA PALOMA:
“If I have to go [on location] for more than two weeks and I’m not going to be able to see her, I don’t do it.”
ON REVIEWS:
“I don’t look at the reviews, and I don’t think about what they will say.”
Dress, Dhs65,050, Gucci. Earrings, her own
ON HER RED CARPET STYLE:
“At a certain age one wears what one can fit into. You go on growing and then realise that you’ve had a belly for quite a while. I now try to dress in clothes that are comfortable, pretty and appropriate.”
ON THE PRESSURE NOT TO AGE IN HOLLYWOOD:
“The pressure exists, but now I feel it less because I have other things to think about. It’s eight or nine years since I stopped living in Hollywood and I’m completely disconnected. I believe that I have a double life: I negotiate almost everything by telephone, I make the films that I want to make and afterwards I help with the promotion.”
Dress, Dhs11,600, Alexander McQueen. Rings, her own
ON DONALD TRUMP:
“I have been very vocal about this subject, but you have to know what to say. If you talk too much, in the end nobody will listen. Gael [Garcia Bernal] appeared before me and made an incredible speech [criticising Trump’s planned border wall]. I’d already spoken about this on the red carpet and I gave my recognition to the heroes who risk their lives without being paid a penny [saving lives in Syria as the White Helmets rescue group, the eponymous fi lm that took the award Salma presented]. For them, winning can be the only opportunity for their projects to be seen and I had to be humble enough to realise that this wasn’t the moment [for me to speak]. I went to present the awards to them and speaking about this subject would have had no impact.”
ON WHO SHE IS:
“I know the answer very clearly. I’m a curious person who has an obsession with evolution and I always want to grow and learn more about myself. I’m always searching and trying to conquer my fears.”
Dress, Dhs65,050, Gucci. Rings, her own
ON PROVING PEOPLE WRONG:
“They told me that I’d never work in Hollywood and I did it. They told me that everything would end at 30, then later at 40, and I’m still surviving. They told me that I’d ‘missed the train’ and I wouldn’t be able to have children: then came Valentina and my husband’s three children, so now I have four. For all that they told me I wouldn’t be able to do, I’ve had a very good run.”
For the full interview, pick up a copy of the May issue of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, available in-store and on iPad now.
Styling: Lorna McGee. Translation: Rachel Silvestri. Fashion director: Marco Cuevas. Hair: Daniel Martin at Bryant Artists. Make-up: Alex Babsky at Jed Root. Manicure: Pebbles at The Wall Group. Set design: Ginny Fiol at Zara Ronchi. Digital assistant: Francisco Javier Torrente. Lighting assistant: Rob Parker. With thanks to the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel, London.