She finally breaks the silence and unveils the untold story behind their relationship! 🧐😲 It was back in 1️⃣9️⃣9️⃣5️⃣ during the filming of the film «Desperado» that chemistry happened between these two when they starred in a passionate love scene! 😏❤️🔥 Since then, Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas have been close friends about which hardly any of you might have known! 🤫🙌 It’s nearly 3️⃣0️⃣ years that they share a special bond the details of which can be found in this article! 👇
Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas share a bond that spans over two decades, forged on set and strengthened by their personal and professional collaboration. Their friendship began with the iconic 1995 film Desperado, where the two starred in a passionate love scene that left Hayek feeling vulnerable. Reflecting on that moment in a 2023 interview on the “Armchair Expert” podcast, Hayek confessed that she was initially intimidated by Banderas’ calm and easygoing nature. “I was afraid of Antonio — he was so kind and gentlemanly, but he was also incredibly free,” she said. “For him, it was nothing, but I started crying, and he felt terrible about it. I was embarrassed that I was crying.”
The actress revealed that both Banderas and director Robert Rodriguez helped her navigate through the emotionally charged scene, encouraging her to keep going. “We made the best of it, and we got through it,” she added.
Years later, Hayek reflected on the kindness Banderas showed her in another instance, during the filming of the 2011 Puss in Boots movie. Banderas, who voiced the titular character, had noticed that Hayek was upset over the fact that two live monkeys she had taken care of were cut from the film. “I tried to buy the monkeys, but I couldn’t afford them,” Hayek admitted. “I was really upset about it, and Antonio could afford them at the time. He gave them to me, and it was the most generous thing ever.”
Banderas, ever the jokester, laughed, “I didn’t know giving monkeys to a woman would have such an effect. Maybe I should do it more often.”
The Desperado duo went on to work together again in a series of films. In 1995, they followed Desperado with Four Rooms, an anthology film that released the same year. Their professional partnership continued with the 2002 biographical drama Frida, where Hayek not only starred as the legendary artist Frida Kahlo but also co-produced the film. Banderas played fellow painter David Alfaro Siqueiros in the movie.
In 2003, the two reunited for Once Upon a Time in Mexico, the sequel to Desperado, once again directed by Rodriguez. They also appeared in Spy Kids 3: Game Over that same year.
Their next major collaboration came in 2011 with Puss in Boots, where Banderas reprised his role as the swashbuckling cat, and Hayek voiced Kitty Softpaws, his cunning partner in crime. During promotional interviews for the movie, Hayek couldn’t help but praise Banderas for his perfect portrayal of the feline character. “Antonio was born to play this cat,” she said with a laugh. “We’ve worked together for so long, and it’s always a joy. I know him so well that even when recording my lines without him in the room, I could almost hear him like a ghost, knowing exactly how that cat would sound.”
Their enduring friendship continues to be a testament to their professional chemistry, mutual respect, and shared history in Hollywood. Through laughter, support, and countless collaborations, Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas have become one of the most cherished on-screen partnerships in the industry.
