Salma Hayek Opens Up About Her Long Journey To Playing A Superhero In ‘Eternals’

"In my big dreams, I wanted to be a superhero."

Salma Hayek Eternals Ajak MCU

Salma Hayek got emotional when recalling the opportunity to play Ajak in Eternals during the film’s virtual press conference.

Chloe Zhao’s Eternals cast is one of Marvel’s most diverse to date, mainly because the filmmakers were trying to portray humanity in an accurate light. The Eternals cast is also stacked with talent like Salma Hayek leading the team as Ajak. During the film’s virtual press conference last Tuesday, Hayek talked about her dream of becoming a superhero and the long road it took to get there:

“I dream big. And if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have gotten here at all. But in my big dreams, I wanted to be a superhero. And I wanted to work with the best directors in the world, and have big blockbuster movies, and also movies that are art, that are made from a very deep place with great directors. You cannot ask for more. But it didn’t happen for me. Didn’t happen that much for me.  And so, you fight for it in your 20s, in your 30s, and in your 40s. You go, ‘Oh, screw them, they don’t get it.'”

Chloe Zhao ultimately landed on Salma Hayek and the actress sounded incredibly grateful for becoming part of the Eternals cast:

“It’s very humbling when in-in the middle of your 50s, a brilliant director gives you the opportunity to do both.  To do something that comes from a deep place.  That it’s also a big blockbuster. I was wrong. Everything is possible. It’s such a humbling sensation. And when you think about it, you know, in your 50s, Mexican, I mean, I’m short with big boobs. It’s not the normal superhero.”

Here is the synopsis for Eternals:

“The story takes place across two time periods. One storyline is set in the past when they operated as a formidable team and a close family unit. The second storyline is in the present, when the group has fractured and split apart, content to live among humans, hiding in plain sight. The prevailing threat of the Deviants, which once again threatens the existence of mankind, means the Eternals need to put their differences aside and regroup.”

Chloe Zhao directed Eternals from a script she co-wrote with Patrick Burleigh, Kaz Firpo, and Ryan Firpo. The cast of the Marvel Studios project includes Gemma Chan as Sersi, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Barry Keoghan as Druig, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Kit Harington as Dane Whitman, Salma Hayek as Ajak, and Angelina Jolie as Thena.

Eternals will hit theaters on November 5, 2021. Stay tuned for all the latest news on the upcoming MCU film and be sure to subscribe to Heroic Hollywood’s YouTube channel for more original video content.

Ryden Scarnato

Ryden Scarnato

Ryden's affection for all things DC, Marvel, and Star Wars has led him to entertainment journalism at Heroic Hollywood as a News Editor.