Salma Hayek: Harvey Weinstein Berated Me for Looking ‘Unattractive’ in Frida Biopic

Salma Hayek, the talented actress known for her role in the 2002 biopic Frida, recently shared her experience of being berated by Harvey Weinstein for making herself look “ugly” in the film.

Hayek's portrayal of artist Frida Kahlo received critical acclaim and earned her an Oscar nomination for best actress.

However, the Mexico-born actress revealed that Weinstein, who was convicted of rape and sentenced to 23 years in prison last year, was far from impressed when he saw her in costume as Kahlo.

In an interview with The Guardian, Hayek disclosed that she would “shake” after enduring Weinstein's bullying.

She admitted to normalizing his behavior to cope with the situation.

Hayek said, “I did feel all right [when he bullied me].

OK, I would shake [afterwards] and it did depress me, but there was a cartoon aspect about the whole thing.”

Weinstein would call her and shout, questioning her decision to have a unibrow and mustache for the role.

Hayek countered by asking him if he had ever seen a picture of Frida Kahlo.

She compared the situation to a man playing Cyrano de Bergerac, stating that no one would question the actor's prosthetic nose.

Hayek also emphasized that Weinstein was not the only man who sought reassurance by belittling women.

His behavior reflected a larger issue within society.

Weinstein, who is currently facing 11 counts of s**ual assault in California, was extradited to the state in July.

He pleaded not guilty, and a hearing is scheduled for December 8.

In a powerful op-ed for The New York Times in 2017, Hayek detailed her experiences working with Weinstein.

Miramax, Weinstein's company, was involved in producing and distributing Frida.

According to Hayek, Weinstein told her that her s** appeal was the only thing she had going for her and threatened to shut down the film.

Hayek reluctantly agreed to a s** scene in the movie, hoping it would save the project.

However, the experience led to a nervous breakdown on set.

She explained that her aversion to the scene was not due to being n^ked with another woman but rather because it was for Weinstein.

She couldn't express her true feelings at the time.

Following the publication of Hayek's article, a spokesperson for Weinstein denied the allegations, claiming that he did not recall making such demands.

The spokesperson stated that Weinstein supported Hayek's work and regarded her as a talented actress.

Hayek also revealed in her piece for The New York Times that Weinstein s**ually harassed her for years, but she consistently rejected his advances.

Weinstein's representative disputed these claims and asserted that other witnesses had a different account of events.

Reflecting on her experience, Hayek emphasized that women faced the brunt of Weinstein's bullying.

She highlighted her strength and resilience in dealing with him, stating that he never saw her weak side.

Despite any fear she felt, Hayek projected a calm strength that could be intimidating.

Salma Hayek's revelations shed light on the abusive behavior and power dynamics prevalent in the entertainment industry.

Her courage in speaking out is essential in creating a safer environment for all individuals involved in filmmaking.