Salma Hayek’s last role on a prime-time series was on “The Sinbad Show” in 1993. She was a regular for about a month before her character was written out of the sitcom. Things have worked out okay for her since then, what with her being an Oscar nominee and one of the most famous actresses in the world and all. And, because of that, she’s now returning to TV as an Executive Producer with “Ugly Betty” (TV Land 20:00 KSA every Monday) the adaptation of the Latin American telenovela “Yo Soy Betty La Fea”.
Hayek has already done a cameo on the show’s pilot, appearing as an actress in a telenovela (which is how she got her start in showbiz) playing in Betty’s home. Arab News caught up with the gorgeous Mexican actress to find out more about the show that’s storming the ratings...
Salma, this must be a dream come true for you to produce a show based on the telenovela Betty La Fea?
Yes, I was a big fan because it was different than the other soaps. Very over the top and very funny while the other soaps were also over the top, but the sense of humor in this one is a little different and I always loved the underdog story and the fish out of water.
Can you elaborate a little bit on that for the people who are not from South America and don’t know much about the telenovela Betty La Fea?
It was a farce and a comedy. And it comes from Columbia. I mean, it was always that the girl was pretty and they made her look really bad. It was like really obvious and everything. But you would just love the characters they were so endearing that it would grab you. But the funny thing is that the characters were endearing but a little mean.
Tell us about re-creating a show that people are very protective of?
We’ve been trying to do television for quite a long time and we’ve been trying to bring the Latino experience to bigger audiences, so we thought this would be perfect. A show where we could bring something that all the Latin community would feel it’s something of theirs. They already identify with this as part of their culture and then bring it into the American culture and make it different from them so they wouldn’t be watching the same story, and I have to say, you know, it’s the same premise, but the writers have completely changed the characters. So people that have seen it before are still tuning in to this one because it’s different but it feels close to home.
What do you think makes the show a hit in countries all around the world?
I think that one of the things that helps something travel, it’s the cast, you know. If you can be intrigued by this cast and relate to it and feel like you want to welcome them into your home week by week and watch where they’re at. I think one of the biggest assets of the show is how lucky we got with the cast, and that makes me feel very safe like they’re going to like it around the world.
America Ferrera is fantastic as Betty — what she’s bringing to this show is unbelievable.
America, I just think she’s a monster in the good sense of the word. I think she’s just so talented and so gracious and very, very, very smart. And it’s exciting for me that we have somebody who is that talented, that has such a star quality, because her eyes and her smile devour that screen, and it just haunts you. You can’t forget that smile, braces or no braces. When she smiles, it’s like a light. We get a sense of special pride to know that somebody with that star quality has so much integrity as a woman and is smart and is socially involved, politically involved, and she’s well-read and she tries to continue to educate herself, and I think we have a fantastic role model for young girls, not just in the character.
And she’s Latino, was that important?
Yes. And it just gives us so much pride that I think the most talented and the most interesting young star out there in my taste is this girl who is a Latin that comes from a family of seven, you know, single mother, and put herself through college and has a hit television show at the age of 23. I don’t have any children, so I’m like the proud mother of this girl.
And the rest of the cast?
The rest of the cast are brilliant too and we’re so proud of them. And I love Vanessa Williams — I cannot tell you what a spectacular woman she is.
Salma, about your character, you’re going to guest star?
Yes. It was a spontaneous decision. We were in the office. You know, the outline for an episode came, you know. Silvio was telling me about, we’re going to bring a love interest, and I just said, “Well, I’ll do it.” It was never written for me. I was supposed to do a movie. They moved it. I’m here every day anyway, might as well jump in front of the camera and do a couple of scenes, you know.
Are you putting your acting career a little bit on hold now? And also, how has acting all these years served you as executive producer?
Yes, I put my career on hold this year because we’re doing a lot of things. You’ll see. It’s coming, but it takes a long time to set up, you know. But I start working again next year, and I have to work a lot next year. But I have to set myself this year for the projects of next year so that I can go do that. And how being an actress helped me be a producer? I don’t know. I guess being around the set and being with people and knowing things, just paying attention to what goes on around me besides the lines of my character has helped. But I’ve been producing for a long time now different things. This is completely different. I’ll tell you. It’s harder than anything. Well, it’s not harder than getting “Frida” made.
So, it’s a lot harder to be behind the camera?
Once you’re making it, it’s really, really hard. I don’t know how we don’t hear more news about television writers breaking down and going to the madhouse. It’s amazing because you are writing a script in one week. And if it’s good or bad, it doesn’t matter. You only have one week. You have to shoot it. With a lot of heads looking into it, everybody with a different point of view and the notes are fast, it’s a challenge!