Lessons I've Learned

Seven of Hollywood’s most celebrated heavy-hitters reflect on the experiences that have changed them and what matters now.

- Laura Brown

Salma... on fighting back and taking risks

What I remember most about my 20s is that I didn’t want to be 30 [laughs]. In America, they used to tell actresses they expired [then]. That’s why I was scared. Now I don’t care about getting older. When I turned 40 and then 50, I didn’t mind at all.

In 2003, I was nominated for an Oscar for my performance in Frida. I had to fight for eight years to get [that movie] off the ground. Nobody wanted to make a story about a Mexican communist artist with one eyebrow. It was really hard. But I had a vision for it. And I’m proud that I produced it too. There was no, “Oh, can I please have a credit?”. No, no, no. I made that shit happen.

I’ve been an activist for women for more than 25 years. A long time ago, it was not a popular thing to do. It was hard to raise money or to get anything done. Things have changed a lot for women in Hollywood since then. We are still getting paid less than men by a lot. But it’s getting better little by little. Now, at 53, I’m getting to play the best parts of my life.

Looking back at my career, I realize how big of a risk it was to come to the United States in the first place and start again as an actress. I could have stayed doing soaps in Mexico—I was doing really well there. But my dream was to do a film. And I’m a big risk-taker. I’ve learned that when you have clarity about what you really want in life and you commit to giving it your best, things usually work out for you in the end.

GWYNETH

... ON THE SECRET TO WELLNESS AND GREAT MEN IN HER LIFE