Salma Hayek has been making headlines for identifying as a feminist in a recent interview with The Guardian. Hayek is the co-founder of Chime for Change, a charity dedicated to advancing women and children’s health and education across the globe. The Oscar-nominated actress has also worked to raise awareness of domestic violence.
Given Hayek’s activism, her decision to define herself as a feminist doesn’t come as much of a surprise. But just last year, she distanced herself from the F-word, telling People, “I’m am not a feminist. If men were going through the things women are going through today, I would be fighting for them with just as much passion. I believe in equality.” She has since changed her public stance, clarifying to The Guardian:
“I am a feminist because I love women, and I am ready to fight for women. I am a feminist because I am proud to be a woman, and I am passionate about making the world a better place for women. I am a feminist because a lot of amazing women have made me the woman I am today. I am inspired by women every day, as friends and as colleagues.”
Hayek stars in the recently released “Everly,” which we identified as one of this month’s most noteworthy VOD releases. The film’s director has described the film’s premise as “’Die Hard’ in an Apartment” — with Hayek playing Bruce Willis’ character. The actress herself isn’t a big fan of the action flick — “It’s not what I thought it would be. I want it to go away, that one,” she told The Guardian in the same interview — but her performance has been receiving rave reviews nonetheless. As Indiewire observed in their review of the film, “Throughout her career, Hayek has played the types of characters who are perpetually surrounded by guns, yet rarely wield one themselves…. But in ‘Everly,’ Hayek finally gets to take action, and the film is that much better for allowing its heroine to do so in a fun, believable way.”
Hayek is currently filming the romantic comedy “How to Make Love Like an Englishman.”
[via The Guardian]