Determination, courage and style have been the keys to amazing cross-border stardom for a “Mexican goddess.”

Salma Hayek, over parental protests, began her acting career in local theatre, bewitching a young audience as the female lead in Aladina y la Lampara Maravillosa (Aladdin and His Marvellous Lamp). She went on to commercial work, then joined the cast of popular daytime TV serial Nuevo Amanecer (New Dawn) in 1988. It was her second soap opera role, in Teresa, that shot the twenty-year-old to instant sensational popularity in Mexico. Along with the public acclaim, she received Premio TV y Novela (Emmy equivalent) and Heraldo awards for Best Actress and Best Newcomer. She continued to do theatre work, with 1990's Las Visitas Tienen Suerio, but after three years on a pedestal as a celebrated soap queen, she left for the bright lights of Hollywood.

Hayek spent 1991 as a “nobody” learning the ropes in her new country -- taking English lessons, acting lessons and driving lessons. In 1992/93 the newcomer appeared on the American television shows, Nurses, Dream On, and The Sinbad Show. Also in 1993 she was cast in the movie, Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life). That role led to Roadracers (TV - 1994) and Midaq Alley (1995). Her breakthrough came that year with a lead role in the mainstream feature film Desperado. Her U.S./Mexican movie career continued with Four Rooms (1995), Fair Game (1995), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), El Jorabadode Notre Dame (voice - 1996), and Fled (1996). Hayek was lauded as one of People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in 1996, and, that year, received an Ariel (Mexican Academy Award) nomination for her Midaq Alley role. She went on to The Hunchback (TV - 1997), Fools Rush In (1997), Follow Me Home (1997), Quien Diablos Es Juliette? (1997), and Sistole Diastole (1997).

Even her wardrobe received recognition that year when she was named to Mr. Blackwell’s 1997 list of the Ten Most Stylish Women. In 1998, her fame was well-established, and her movies were big ones: The Faculty, Breaking Up, 54, and The Velocity of Gary. 1999 brought lead roles in Wild Wild West and Dogma, and a return to Mexico for El Coronel No Tiene Quien Le Escriba.

Hayek has three films set for release in 2000 -- Chain of Fools, Shiny New Enemies and Frida -- and her own (Ventana Rosa) production label. Predictably, the American media describes her using their “fire” list of south-of-the-border female entertainer labels -- “Latin firecracker”, “sultry spitfire” and “fiery bombshell” -- but this is one star who’s anything but predictable. Who knows what she may try (and succeed at) next?