Recently engaged mommy-to-be Salma Hayek spoke to Marie Claire Magazine about her struggles as a Latina actress in Hollywood, and the unfair pressures women face to have children.
“Motherhood is not for everyone—it is for me…but society thinks if you don’t have children, you’ve failed as a woman,” 40-year-old Hayek told the magazine. “You’ve got to be beautiful, smart, skinny, tall, rich, successful at your job, married to the right guy—and have genius children.
Marie Claire hits newsstands on April 17. Here’s a quick glance at the rest of Salma’s thoughtful interview:
On being typecast in certain roles because she’s Mexican:
I started out in Hollywood at the same time as Jennifer Lopez. Before us, Latinas only had roles that were part of the backdrop, as the maid or prostitute. We changed that.
On issues with her appearance:
Especially when I have to appear in public, and there are cameras…the stress is sensational. Sometimes I don’t like the dress—the way it fits, the way I look. And there are a million people looking at me, telling me to smile, but I don’t feel like smiling. But then I have to keep everything in perspective.
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