Salma Hayek has been in the industry for decades and she definitely had various praise-worthy films throughout her career. However, it is the first time that she will be a superhero and a movie, and while it took some years before she finally landed such a role, she is thankful that it is Eternals who knocked on her doorstep and gave her Ajak.
Currently in the center of the spotlight for Marvel is Eternals and one of its leading actresses is none other than Salma Hayek who plays Ajak. In an interview with Digital Spy, Salma Hayek revealed that she used to complain that she never landed a superhero part and that nobody called her up for such a role. Hayek felt that Eternals is meant for her.
Hayek considers Eternals special, like that is where she belongs, "I have this strange sensation that this is the film that I belong to. I don't know what it says about me, maybe because I'm a rebel and I like to fight for different things and this is so special. It's an honour.”
Hayek also shared that she never thought she would even be a superhero as no one ever called her for such, and now, she is thankful, "I used to complain like, 'How come they never call me for this film? I'm never going to be a superhero…' and I'm so grateful that nobody called me. Thank you for not thinking about me because then I wouldn't have been asked.”
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A “rare jewel” as she calls it, Eternals shows something different, from the production to the story itself, plus the fact of being really diverse. Jokingly, Hayek thought she would have a different role, "They don't show you the script. You have to sign that contract without seeing the script. When they told me first, I didn't think I was going to be one of the superheroes, I thought I was going to play someone's mother or nanny.”
Hayek had nothing but praise on Chloe Zhao, "Imagine, sitting there; this director that I really admire and respect. As an actor, you want to do something either big and epic or something that is meaningful and artful with an amazing director, and this movie is that rare jewel that has both."
In Eternals, Ajak is one of the leaders of the team, and one of the most important characters as her abilities are unlike others – she is the bridge to communicate with the creators of the Eternals, the Celestials. She also has the power to heal and all of them seem to respect her like a mother.
Salma Hayek added her personal touch to the character, even arguing with director Chloe Zhao, to have her vision of the character translated on screen. In the end, it was worth it and it was beautifully executed that even in trailers, you see how she cares for each of the other Eternals. However, some theories say that she might be the one behind the fiasco going on.
Ajak debuts in Eternals on November 5, 2021.
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