If she was over 50, why did her character have to be a 40-year-old woman? Salma Hayek was not willing to accept Hollywood continuing to put limits on women because of their age. ❤️
In June 2021, during an interview on Red Table Talk, the Mexican actress, who was then 54, spoke about aging, menopause, and the prejudices women still faced in the film industry.
As an example, she said her character in The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard was originally intended to be a woman around 40. However, she suggested that she be over 50 and going through menopause. The idea surprised the producers, but Salma insisted it was a natural process that deserved representation in film.
The actress also shared her own experience and recalled the questions she was asked when she began experiencing menopause symptoms in her mid-40s. She even addressed rumors about her supposed cosmetic surgeries and explained the changes her body had undergone.
For Salma, the problem goes far beyond Hollywood. So she used the conversation to defend women’s right to make decisions about their bodies and pointed out that neither motherhood nor youth should determine what they can do with their lives.