Salma Hayek is here to slay!
The actress is opening up about her transition from Oscar-nominated films to becoming a butt-kicking action star in her 50s.
The "Frida" actress, 54, who started her US film career in 1995’s “Desperado,” told USA Today Entertainment that her new work in action films is “exciting and shocking.”
"I did some action movies, but as the damsel in distress," she said. "Here and there, I got to be a little tough."
Hayek is currently showing off her adrenaline side starring in her latest film, “Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.” The movie is a sequel to “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” and stars Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Antonio Banderas, and Morgan Freeman.
The film finds her shooting guns and engaging in serious combat scenes.
"I hit my 50s and suddenly it's all happening," said Hayek. "Like everything in my life, it makes no sense."
"Salma hadn't played front and center in action films in a while," added "Hitman’s Wife's Bodyguard” director Patrick Hughes. "But if anyone's going to kick anyone's (butt) around in this film, it was going to be Salma. And she just got right into it."
Hayek referred to a full-choreographed fight scene filmed on a yacht as her most complicated.
"I was kicking some (butt), fighting with like four or five guys, taking them all on," Hayek continued. "That was my best action. But that's OK, you cannot fit everything in a movie."
The Mexican-born actress will continue to take no prisoners starring in Marvel's “Eternals” as Ajak, a superhero character originally written as male in the comic books. When the $200 million movie completed filming, Hayek admitted to feeling overwhelmed with emotion.
"Something strange happened. I teared up a little bit. But it was not about my dreams to be a superhero," Hayek shared.
"It was because it means so much to so many people that, to think that for a Mexican girl – a Mexican woman in her 50s – was able to be a superhero. I felt a lot of pride to have my superhero outfit on. It meant something."
"Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard" is in theaters now, while "Eternals" premieres on November 5, 2021.
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