Salma Hayek
Short Bio: Salma Hayek was born in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico, to Lebanese-Jordanian father Sami Hayek, an oil company executive, and Mexican mother Diana Jimenez, an opera singer. Raised in a wealthy, devoutly Catholic family, she was sent to the Academy of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau, Louisiana, at the age of 12. She was also an accomplished gymnast, with aspirations of becoming an Olympic competitor.
After leaving the school due to alleged behavioral problems with the religious sisters who ran the school, Hayek returned to Mexico for a period, but then she was sent to Houston, Texas, to live with her aunt, where she stayed until she was 17. She subsequently moved to Mexico City for college, where she studied International Relations at the Universidad Iberoamericana. To the chagrin of her family, she decided to drop out in order to pursue a career as an actress.
Hayek dated fellow actor Edward Norton for four years, between 1999 and 2003, and then Josh Lucas from 2003 until 2004.
Honors
* Recipient of Glamour Magazine Woman of the Year Award in October 2001.
* Recipient of Producers Guild of America Celebration of Diversity Award in 2003.
* Recipient of Harvard Foundation Artist of the Year Award in February 2006.
