She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role as Frida Kahlo in the film Frida

Hayek was born Salma Hayek Jimnez in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico, the daughter of Diana Jimnez Medina, an opera singer and talent scout, and Sami Hayek Dominguez, an oil company executive who once ran for mayor of Coatzacoalcos.

Hayek's father is of Lebanese ancestry, while her mother's ancestry is Spanish. Her first given name, Salma, is Arabic for "safe".

Raised in a wealthy, devoutly Roman Catholic family, she was sent to the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, at the age of twelve.

While there, she was diagnosed with dyslexia.

She attended university in Mexico City, where she studied International Relations at the Universidad Iberoamericana.

At the age of 23, Hayek landed the title role in Teresa (1989), a successful Mexican telenovela that made her a star in Mexico.

In 1994, Hayek starred in the film El Callejn de los Milagros (Miracle Alley), which has won more awards than any other movie in the history of Mexican cinema. For her performance, Hayek was nominated for an Ariel Award.

Hayek has been credited as a song performer in three movies. The first was Desperado for the song Quedate Aqu. In Frida she performed the Mexican folk song La Bruja with the band Los Vega. She also recorded Siente mi amor, which played during the end credits of Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

Hayek has been a spokesperson for Avon cosmetics since February 2004. She formerly was a spokesperson for Revlon in 1998.

In 2001, she modeled for Chopard and was featured in 2006 Campari adverts, photographed by Mario Testino. On April 3, 2009, she helped introduce La Doa, a watch by Cartier inspired by fellow Mexican actress Mara Flix.

In 2011, Hayek launched her own line of cosmetics, skincare and haircare products called Nuance by Salma Hayek, to be sold at CVS stores in North America. She was inspired to create a cosmetic line from her grandmother, who used to make her own facial care products.

Hayek was also featured in a series of Spanish language commercials for Lincoln cars.

Hayek is a naturalized United States citizen.

She studied at Ramtha's School of Enlightenment, and is a practitioner of yoga. Her brother, Sami Hayek, is a designer with his own line of products at Target and clients that include Louis Vuitton, Brad Pitt, and the Mexican Government.

In 2010, Hayek's humanitarian work earned her a nomination for the VH1 Do Something Awards.

In July 2007, The Hollywood Reporter ranked Hayek fourth in their inaugural Latino Power 50, a list of the most powerful members of the Hollywood Latino community.

In 2008, she was awarded the Women in Film Lucy Award in recognition of her excellence and innovation in her creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television In December of that year, Entertainment Weekly ranked Hayek number 17 in their list of the "25 Smartest People in TV."

Hayek is not the only Mexican actress to succeed in Hollywood. Others include Dolores del Ro, Lupe Vlez, and Katy Jurado.