Few actors navigate the duality of control and raw emotion quite like Salma Hayek. Her filmography is a testament to an artist who refuses to be typecast and brings a personal brand of gravitas to all the roles she plays. Her range of characters includes creative geniuses, crime bosses and even comic relief at times and no matter what, she finds a way to make sure audiences don’t forget her performances.

Swipe ahead to see nine standout roles where Salma Hayek made her mark.

Desperado (1995)

Carolina

In her breakout American role, Hayek stars alongside Antonio Banderas as Carolina; a woman who runs a quiet bookstore stuck in the middle of a gun war. Through it all, Carolina manages to stay completely composed, even while the world around her explodes. Her scenes with Antonio Banderas display an intense chemistry and she doesn’t play second to the action—she becomes part of it.

Photography: Columbia Pictures

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Santanico Pandemonium

As Santanico Pandemonium, Hayek appears as an exotic dancer in the middle of a horror movie disguised as a crime film. Her hypnotic dancing carries a certain eerie feeling behind it, drawing the audience in before she’s suddenly revealed to be a vampire. Hayek’s brief appearance became one of the most talked-about parts of the film.

Photography: Miramax Films

Beatriz at Dinner (2017)

Beatriz Blanco

In this film Beatriz is a working-class immigrant who finds herself surrounded by smug, self-congratulatory wealthy people. Hayek never overplays the moral tension in these scenes, but instead lets it build through her tight smiles and long pauses. The performance poses questions about civility, power, and what happens when patience runs dry. By the end, Beatriz becomes a symbol of restraint stretched to its limit.

Photography: Roadside Attractions

The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017) & The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (2021)

Sonia Kincaid

As Sonia Kincaid, Hayek’s supreme comedic timing is on full display in this pair of popular action-comedy movies. In the first movie, Sonia’s scenes are explosive. She curses out guards, threatens cellmates and,while she’s in prison, tells the love story of her and her assassin husband Darius (Samuel L. Jackson), like a violent fairytale. Hayek’s role was expanded to a lead role in the sequel where she’s central to the plot and participates in way more action sequences.

Photography: Lionsgate

Savages (2012)

Elena "La Reina" Sánchez

As Elena Sánchez, the head of a dangerous drug cartel, Hayek portrays a villain that shows a side not often seen in her other films. She plays Elena as a savage, ruthless leader with a penchant for bloodshed that sees her kindnap the third member of the two main characters’ polyamorous relationship. Hayek’s performance in this action thriller is a must-watch for fans of the genre.

Photography: Universal Pictures

Tale of Tales (2015)

Queen of Longtrellis

Salma Hayek delivers a compelling performance as the Queen of Longtrellis, a monarch consumed by a ferocious desire to bear a child. Her obsession sets her on a dark journey that begins with her consuming the heart of a sea creature, that her husband died retrieving for her. The queen’s emotions unravel scene by scene as she slowly descends into a madness that eventually leads to an attempt to murder a child born from the same magical circumstances.

Photography: 01 Distribution

House of Gucci (2021)

Giuseppina "Pina" Auriemma

Pina Auriemma is a television psychic who becomes the trusted confidante and accomplice to Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga). Hayek plays this role with a quirky energy that fits right into the film’s chaotic story. Auriemma’s loyalty to Patrizia somehow feels both genuine and completely transactional, which creates a striking on-screen tension during their shared scenes. As with many of her supporting roles, this character is also considered a scene-stealer who injected just enough levity to balance the heinous crime that Reggiani was planning.

Photography: MGM

Bandidas (2006)

Sara Sandoval

This action comedy, set in 1880’s Mexico, features Salma Hayek as Sara — the sophisticated, European-educated daughter of a wealthy landowner. After her father is murdered by a greedy, American land baron, Sara sets out to avenge her father’s murder. She teams up with a working class woman named Maria Álvarez (Penelope Cruz) and the two go on a bank-robbing spree seeking vengeance along the way. Hayek’s character uses her intellect to pull off heists, outsmart the opposition and even convince a criminal investigator that worked against them to join their cause.

Photography: 20th Century Fox

Frida (2002)

Frida Kahlo

Years of hard work went into producing Hayek’s Magnus opus, Frida.. As star and co-producer, she doesn’t shy away from the pain and hunger that defined Frida Kahlo’s life. Her accent, mannerisms and emotional tone fall in step with the film’s surreal visual style. Hayek carries the story with grit, fury, and tenderness, all without reducing Frida to a tragic figure. Her performance transformation for this role led to much critical acclaim.

Photography: Miramax