Mexican accent stalled my Hollywood career: Salma Hayek

Actress Salma Hayek is proud of her heritage, but admits she had a hard time in Hollywood when she first moved to America aged 22.

Actress Salma Hayek is proud of her heritage, but admits she had a hard time in Hollywood when she first moved to America aged 22.

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Hayek says she only got small roles as maids or prostitutes when she first came to Hollywood because of her accent, reported Daily Mirror.

"There were no parts for Latinas. It was very painful. People advised me to go back to Mexico, settle down and have kids. I think they felt sorry for me. I didn't get offered the parts that most people do because they are blonde and speak without an accent," Hayek said.

The actress' first break came when she landed a part in Desperado in 1995 alongside Antonio Banderas, and she earned enough money from subsequent roles to fund 'Frida' which turned her life-long passion for artist Frida Khalo into a film which she produced and starred in.

"For 18 years I worked to improve myself and fought to earn respectability as an actress, but the journey was unimaginably hard. But out of this I learned to be producer and director."