Salma Hayek Pinault and Penélope Cruz share a long-standing friendship that has grown over the years. Two powerhouse actresses, as stunning as they are talented, teaming up and taking the entertainment world by storm. And now for the May 2024 issue of Vogue Arabia, Hayek plays cover star while Cruz interviews her for this month’s cover story.
Photo: Getty
In the interview, Salma Hayek Pinault and Penélope Cruz discuss everything, from the first time they met, to the time their plane almost crashed. “The Spanish press asked me who I would like to work with, and I said, Penélope Cruz,” Hayek Pinault recalls. “We started talking and you were supposed to come to Los Angeles to do auditions and meet agents. We were starting out in our careers, and I said ‘Why don’t you just stay in my house? I can come and pick you up at the airport.’ I went to pick you up and I remember the first time I saw you, we smiled. And it’s been more than 20 years of a solid friendship. We clicked instantaneously. It felt like we had known each other for a lifetime.”
Photo: Getty
Over the years, the two women have collaborated on several different projects. Salma and Penelope both starred in the 2006 film Bandidas and the 2011 animated film Puss in Boots together. What makes their friendship remarkable is its authenticity. The stars’ relationship has remained refreshingly genuine in an industry known for its competitiveness. Their bond is not just for show; it’s a real connection that runs deep, built on a foundation of trust and understanding. And this factor is something the two discuss in depth this month. “It was hard for people to understand how two women, who on the outside would look like competition, were so close. And we still are! We never lie to each other. When it came to work, we always told each other what we were doing,” Hayek Pinault said. “And we said, OK, we want to get this movie, but if I’m not going to get it, I hope you do. It allowed us to navigate the hypocrisy and fakeness of Hollywood. There were some projects that you wanted more than me and I wanted other ones more than you. We were able to negotiate it. I always call you to work on a character because there is no one else in the world that could understand me better.”
Photo: Getty
Despite their busy schedules, Salma and Penélope have seemed to always find the time to be there for each other and support one another. In Hayek Pinault’s words, “We have gone through different stages of life together. Dating, trying to have a career, dreaming together, falling in love, getting married, having children. I have had a partner all along for all the stages in life.” If you follow the stars on Instagram, you’ll often see them supporting each other through milestone moments, or sharing hilarious behind-the-scenes moments from their daily lives. In Salma Hayek Pinault’s latest Instagram update for Penélope Cruz’s birthday, she spoke about Penélope Cruz’s unwavering loyalty, expressing, “All of us whose crossed paths with her know that she’s made our life crazy, exciting, meaningful, inspiring and taught us the meaning of solidarity and loyalty with so much love.”
Salma Hayek Pinault and Penélope Cruz stand as examples of what it means to support, uplift, and love each other unconditionally in the Hollywood industry. As they continue to navigate the highs and lows of life in the spotlight, one thing is certain, Salma and Penélope will always have each other’s backs. Below, a closer look at some of their sweetest moments together.
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