Since the 2010s, Salma Hayek has starred in a plethora of comedy movies, but the actress revealed that it was a long wait for her to garner her first comedy flick. The actress stated that at the beginning of her career, Hollywood prohibited her from being funny and was only allowed to be the eye candy for the audience.
The Eternals actress also opened up about her experience with the convicted s*x offender, Harvey Weinstein, who ensured that the actress wasn’t allowed to star in comedies. But it all changed after she came in contact with Adam Sandler, who helped her from escaping the cycle.
Harvey Weinstein prohibited Salma Hayek from starring in comedies
After getting her breakthrough role in 1996’s Dusk Till Dawn, Salma Hayek soon became a victim of typecasting and wasn’t allowed to star in comedies. Even after delivering an exceptional performance in 2002’s Frida, which garnered an Oscar nomination under her belt. But the actress still wasn’t offered any comedies and one of the prime reasons was Harvey Weinstein, now a convicted s*x offender.
The actress revealed that Harvey Weinstein made sure that her choices for movies were limited, as he wanted the actress to be the eye candy for the audience and not star in any comedies. She also claimed that the former producer s*xually harassed the actress on multiple occasions and even told her that, “the only thing I had going for me was my s*x appeal”. But it all eventually changed after she came in contact with Adam Sandler, who helped her in fulfilling her dream to star in a comedy.
Adam Sandler offered Salma Hayek her first comedy movie
Although the actress struggled for a long time to find herself starring in a comedy, it eventually changed after she met up with Adam Sandler. The actress revealed that Adam Sandler was the first person who was able to look past her sexuality and offer her an opportunity to star in the 2010’s comedy Grown ups, which launched the actor into the world of comedy.
In an interview with GQ UK, the actress revealed that after being typecast for a substantial period of her career, Adam Sandler was the one to help her in breaking the cycle. And even though the movie, Grown Ups wasn’t cherished by critics, it did open the gate for her as she was no longer a victim of typecasting and was able to do whatever genre she liked. The actress stated,
“My entire life I wanted to do comedy and people wouldn’t give me comedies. I couldn’t land a role until I met Adam Sandler, who put me in a comedy [‘Grown Ups’], but I was in my forties!”
The actress shared her happiness as she is now able to choose whatever genre she wants and is delighted that her sexuality isn’t the only thing anymore that she is appreciated for. And since starring alongside Adam Sandler in Grown Ups, Salma Hayek has been a part of numerous comedy flicks, including Sausage Party, Bliss, and Drunk Parents.
Grown Ups is available to stream on Netflix.
Source: GQ UK
