In the '90s, Salma Hayek took a leap of faith and left her booming career in Mexico to pursue stardom in Hollywood. Fans were worried about the actress' decision — starting from scratch in an industry notorious for not casting Latinas in major parts. But the Eternals star was determined. "I'm going to change it," she said. And that she did as she landed a lead role in the 1995 film, Desperado — her Hollywood debut co-starring Antonio Banderas.
Hayek's breakout role as Carolina remains iconic to this day. It's one of the most popular GIFs on the internet — that scene where her character stops traffic after walking by in a white cropped blouse and skirt. When asked how it was like doing that scene, Hayek told Elle: "I was terrified. There are two cars coming my way, they're going to crash right behind me, and I have to not look afraid." And that wasn't the only part of the film that traumatized the actress.
Traumatic Experience Filming A Scene With Antonio Banderas
For Hayek, filming a love scene in her first Hollywood film "was a very difficult thing," especially since it wasn't originally written in the script. When she dropped by Dax Shepard's podcast Armchair Expert, the Frida actress shared her traumatic experience in shooting an intimate scene with Banderas. It was in a closed set with director Robert Rodriguez and his then-wife, producer Elizabeth Avellán.
"So, when we were going to start shooting, I started to sob," Hayek said. She also revealed that she kept saying: "I don’t know if I can do this. I’m afraid." It was her first time doing something so daring on camera. Luckily, everyone in the closed set was supportive and understanding. However, the Grown Ups star said that although Banderas was very nice through it all, his confidence scared her.
"He was an absolute gentleman and super nice and we’re still very close friends. But he was very free. So, it scared me that for him…it was like nothing," Hayek said. "And that scared me because I’ve never been in front of someone like that in that situation. And I started crying and he’s like, 'Oh my God, you’re making me feel terrible.' I was so embarrassed that I was crying."
The Bandidas star said Avellán would try to make her laugh so she'd feel comfortable taking off the towel. However, she said she kept crying shortly after each attempt. They succeeded after numerous tries, thanks to the patience of her "amazing" co-workers.
According to the actress, they did it in quick cuts, taking the best she could do after two hours of "still not [working] up the courage." In the end, it all worked out. In 2006, the actress even won a Best Nude Scene award for a scene in Ask the Dust with Colin Farrell.
Another concern Hayek had about that scene in Desperado was what her family would think. "When you’re not you, then you can do it. But I keep thinking of my father and my brother," she said. "And are they going to see it? And are they going to get teased? Guys don’t have that. Your father will be, ‘Yeah! That’s my son!'" The Like a Boss actress ended up taking her father and brother to see the film. Theyleft the theater during the "embarrassing" part and returned once it was over.
Salma Hayek And Antonio Banderas' Close Friendship
Hayek and Banderas have remained good friends since Desperado. They would continue to work together in projects like Puss in Boots, Frida which earned Hayek an Oscar nomination, and the 2021 action comedy Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard. During the height of the Weinstein scandal in 2018, the Mask of Zorro star personally called Hayek after hearing that the Hollywood pariah had sexually harassed her on the set of Frida.
"When the issue of Salma came up, the first thing I did was call her to ask, 'Why didn't you tell me anything?'" said Banderas in a telephone interview with AFP. He added that he'd worked with the producer for years but was completely unaware of his abusive behavior.
Hayek explained to him that she was only "trying to protect us" because "he was a very powerful character and that if she said something to us and we confronted him, we would pay a very high price." The actor couldn't believe the revelations. "It's unacceptable," he said. "These people should be brought before a jury." Weinstein, 69, was sentenced to 23 years in prison back in February 2020.