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Salma Hayek explains the wholesome reason that she doesn't usually star in the movies and shows she produces

Outside of Frida, Salma Hayek has never starred in a project that she's produced herself

Salma Hayek in Eternals
Image credit: Marvel Studios

Of course, you know Salma Hayek for her acting roles - she was the Eternal Prime in the MCU for good reason - but she has also built up an extensive résumé as a producer. After all, she was an executive producer on Ugly Betty. 

While speaking about her career on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Hayek explained why she's comfortable with staying only behind the camera on the projects that she produces.

"Most of the things I've produced, except for Frida, I'm not in it. I do, like, a guest star - but I like to produce things for others to have the opportunities that they didn't give to me. So I like to give them to others," Hayek said. 

Considering her role as an executive producer on Ugly Betty, this makes sense. The show expanded the career of America Ferrera, who played the lead and won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for her performance. Ferrera went on to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Greta Gerwig's Barbie. Ugly Betty is also credited with forging representation for Mexican Americans in television.  

Hayek's recent work as a television producer has been on shows like Santa Evita, a mini-series about Eva Perón, a Netflix show called Monarch, and a TV adaptation of Like Water for Chocolate on HBO Max. We can only imagine that Salma Hayek has much more in store for us, as she works to elevate other onscreen talent. 


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Jules Chin Greene

Jules Chin Greene: Jules Chin Greene is a journalist and Jack Kirby enthusiast. He has written about comics, video games, movies, and television for sites such as Nerdist, AIPT, Multiverse of Color, and Screen Rant.

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