Salma Hayek is one of Hollywood's most enduring sex symbols, but it turns out that the actress has had to fight for her place in the industry. In a new interview with GQ UK, Hayek revealed that she was blocked from starring in comedies for nearly 20 years because Hollywood deemed her "too sexy." Here's what she said.
Although Hayek acted in romantic comedies such as 1997's Fools Rush In and Breaking Up, she said it wasn't until 2010's Grown-Ups that she finally got the chance to flex her comedic chops. Hayek credited Adam Sandler with giving her the opportunity to show her funny side. She also shared that being typecast for so many years made her sad at the time. "I was typecast for a long time," Hayek said. "My entire life I wanted to do comedy and people wouldn't give me comedies. I couldn't land a role until I met Adam Sandler, who put me in a comedy [2010's Grown Ups], but I was in my forties! They said, 'You're sexy, so you're not allowed to have a sense of humor.' Not only are you not allowed to be smart, but you were not allowed to be funny in the '90s."
Despite these setbacks, Hayek is now thriving in Hollywood. She is currently starring in Steven Soderbergh's Magic Mike's Last Dance as Maxandra Mendoza, an older woman who falls in love with Channing Tatum's eponymous stripper character. The movie marks the final installment of the popular Magic Mike franchise. "More than being a movie about an older woman falling in love with a younger guy, it's about a middle-aged woman that has a lot of potential and is sick of being undermined her entire life," Hayek told GQ UK about the movie.
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Hayek also discussed how she manages to stay relevant and successful despite Hollywood's tendency to favor younger actresses. She credits her success to always staying true to herself and never compromising on what she believes in. "I think when you're true to yourself, things will come your way," she said. "I've never done anything because somebody told me that was what I had to do or that was what would make me successful." We couldn't agree more!
