Quentin Tarantino is one of Hollywood's most successful fiction directors, helming classic films like 1994's Pulp Fiction, 2012's Django Unchained, and the 2003 film series Kill Bill. His remarkable work in Hollywood has earned him two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, two BAFTA, and an Edgar. Even better, he has made a lasting legacy for himself.
Salma Hayek, on the other hand, a Mexican-American screen goddess has continued to keep fans in awe of her acting skills over the years. While her good looks can barely go unnoticed, there is no denying that Hayek is equally just as great an actress as she is beautiful. It goes without saying that she has rightfully earned her place on the list of A-List actresses. Though only co-actors at first, Hayek and Tarantino eventually built a friendship...one which they have maintained for over two decades. From where it all started to recent times, here’s a look inside Quentin and Hayek’s bond.
11 Tarantino and Salma Most Famous Work Together Is 'Dusk Till Dawn'
About two decades ago, Hayek and Tarantino came together to collaborate on the 1996 cult classic Dusk Till Dawn. In the film, Hayek played the role of a dancer named Santanico Pandemonium. Quentin on the other hand took on the character of Richie Gecko, a robber turned vampire.
10 'Dusk Till Dawn' Was A Big Deal For Both Hayek And Tarantino
At the time of its release, Dusk Till Dawn seemed like every other regular movie. But for Hayek and Tarantino, the film was everything but regular for them. Dusk Till Dawn was Tarantino’s first paid writing job and without a doubt, the movie launched him to a bigger level in his career. Hayek also experienced a similar fate as she soon became one of the most sought-after Latina actresses following the film’s release.
9 There Are Rumours That Hayek Satisfied Tarantino’s Fetish
A scene in Dusk Till Dawn sees Hayek performing a dance that ends with her foot in Tarantino’s mouth and pouring champagne down her leg. Though the scene is completely fictional, there are rumors that Tarantino wrote that part to satisfy his “foot fetish.” The actor has however long-debunked these rumors, explaining that the scene was only included for artistic purposes.
8 Tarantino Wrote The Snake Dance Scene In 'Dusk Till Dawn' For Hayek
The iconic scene where Hayek dances with a snake draped around her neck has to be one of the movie’s highlights. But while it seemed so seamless and natural, it would interest you to know that it was not in the initial script. Yes, Tarantino specifically wrote it for Hayek, and just like he expected, she nailed it!
7 Tarantino Helped Hayek Overcome Her Snake Phobia
Hayek’s snake dance scene might go down as one of her best so far. And even though it was all her, Hayek seemingly needed a little push initially. Upon finding out she was going to be dancing with a snake, Hayek’s phobia for snakes kicked in but with a little motivation from Tarantino, the actress overcame her fears.
6 Friendship With Quentin Saved Salma From Alleged Rape
While working with now-convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein, Hayek suffered sexual molestation. According to the actress, the molestation went on for years and could have escalated to rape if she did not have some powerful friends...Quentin Tarantino, George Clooney, and Robert Rodriguez.
5 There Were Other Movies
Dusk Till Dawn might be the pair’s most popular collaboration but before that, Hayek and Tarantino had made other movies together. A year before Dusk Till Dawn was released, the pair had worked together on two movies, Four Rooms and Desperado both of which were huge successes in their own rights.
4 Hayek Was More Than Excited To Be Reunited With Tarantino In 2020
The 2020 Golden Globes Award was graced by several Hollywood stars including Hayek and her longtime buddy Tarantino. The actress looked excited to be reunited with Tarantino and from all, we can tell, these two have a lot of love for each other.
3 The Actress Enjoys Celebrating Tarantino’s Wins
At the 2020 Golden Globes, Tarantino won the Best Screenplay Category for his remarkable work on Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Following the event, Hayek took to social media with an adorable photo of herself hugging Tarantino. “Congratulations Q on winning a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay for a Motion Picture,” Hayek captioned.
2 Birthdays Are Not Left Out
For Hayek, celebrating Tarantino’s milestones comes easy. This includes film releases, award wins, and of course, birthdays. In March 2021, the actress shared a throwback photo of herself posing alongside Tarantino. Referencing his latest movie, the actress captioned "Once upon a time in Hollywood when #tarantino and I were young-er. Happy birthday, Quentin!!"
