In the course of one conversation, Salma Hayek Pinault mourns the death of her pet rescue owl, reveals that she never signed a prenup in her marriage to French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault and bemoans the obnoxiousness of certain wealthy people who assume they're interesting just because they're rich.
But ask about her typical day, and she has no words.
"Nothing in my life is typical," she says, her smoky voice filling the low-ceilinged room in a London pub, where she shows up on an overcast Monday afternoon awash in head-to-toe Gucci and perfume drawn from ingredients that include Mexican tuberose and queen of the night, an opulent cactus with flowers that each bloom just once a year in the dark.
The Mexican-born actress, 58, famous for her curves and sultry accent, took the objectification of Salma Hayek and bent it to her will: She used her Hollywood clout to create roles for Latina women that defy ethnic stereotypes and channeled her influence into a decadeslong fight against domestic violence. She defied the odds to become one of a tiny handful of Latina leading ladies in the 1990s, and then, while working to preserve that status, developed parallel careers as a producer and a philanthropist.
"I'm talking with my mouth full," she says after dipping some crust from a sourdough boule into melted rosemary and garlic Camembert, on-brand for a person who professes no strict fitness regimen. "Emotional intelligence," she's saying of the forces that drive her. "Human, real connection."
She's got a high-drama aura but she's also pragmatic, a trait visible in her charity work. "I'm passionate," she says, "but I'm a strategist."
Denne historien er fra October 31, 2024-utgaven av Mint Mumbai.
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Denne historien er fra October 31, 2024-utgaven av Mint Mumbai.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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India's economic performance is pretty robust on most counts
The economy's back on its high-growth path and fiscal consolidation is on track but our labour market remains a concern
We should be more receptive to paradigm-shifting ideas
Do we really have free will? Our brains are not wired to accept radical thoughts easily but we must try
We need to invest in nature for the sake of humanity's future
Money must flow into what saves rather than harms biodiversity
Is gold worth its weight amid our demat assets?
It has been a buzzy buy in recent times, with its price soaring over the past year. Investors, however, are likely to be better served by going for intangible forms of this precious metal
The country needs to map its informal economy better
We need more accurate data on enterprises that play a major role in employing people
Some states have started to slip off their fiscal correction paths
Populist outlays and capital expenditure have widened their budget deficits. They must tighten up
How a businessman in his 50s went gung-ho on MFs
From telecom retail to mutual fund: SIPs have bridged Singh's post-covid business slowdown
Principal disabled? Know your PoA rights
My father has been in coma following an accident. He had granted me a power of attorney (PoA) to manage his money, but the PoA has no specified duration. Is it legally valid for me to withdraw funds or conduct other transactions on his behalf for his medical treatment? -Name withheld on request
HOW SALMA HAYEK IS REDEFIMNG PHILANTHROPY
In the worlds of Hollywood, fashion and activism, there's never been anyone quite like Salma.
WORLD SAVINGS DAY: A REALITY CHECK ON INDIA'S DWINDLING HOUSEHOLD SAVINGS CRISIS
High inflation and easy credit lead to financial instability due to overspending and rising debt
