Once a college student in Mexico City majoring in international relations studies, Hayek finally decided to dropout (to her parents' chagrin) to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an actress.

Hayek started out doing local theater, including a role as the female lead in Aladdin and His Marvelous Lamp. Theater work eventually led to commercials, which finally led to a part a popular daytime soap called Nuevo Amanecer. Hayek was considered a goddess in Mexico for her role as Teresa in the serial of the same name. This was, however, not enough for this ambitious beauty who had set her sights on the big leagues: Hollywood.

Hayek moved to Los Angeles in 1991, a complete unknown in a city full of aspiring actors. Foreign to the English language, Hayek spent the next 18 months taking English lessons, while perfecting her acting skills with a drama teacher. Although Hayek spent four months auditioning for a leading role that finally went to another actress, the director, impressed by her determination, cast her in a smaller role in the film so that she could become a member of the Screen Actors Guild. More...