Salma Hayek Shares 2000s-Era ‘Bennifer’ Photo To Pay Tribute To Dear Friend Jennifer Lopez

Jul 25, 2023

In the glimmering world of Hollywood, two remarkable actresses, Salma Hayek and Jennifer Lopez, have risen to fame through their exceptional talents, unwavering determination and inspiring journeys. Both hailing from Hispanic backgrounds, these women shattered barriers and defied societal norms to become global icons in the entertainment industry. 

Hayek was born on Sept. 2, 1966, in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico. After finding fame in her native country as a telenovela star, she branched out to Los Angeles, California. There, she appeared in small roles before her breakout performance in the 1995 film "Desperado."

Lopez, on the other hand, was born on July 24, 1969, in the Bronx, New York City, to Puerto Rican parents. Lopez’s journey to fame commenced as a dancer on the television show "In Living Color." Subsequently, she transitioned to acting, landing her first major role in the 1997 film "Selena," which earned her critical acclaim.

Both actresses faced societal stereotypes and prejudices that threatened to hinder their rise to fame. Hayek struggled with Hollywood's narrow view of Latina actresses, often being typecast in roles as exotic or seductive characters. Lopez, too, encountered challenges as she sought to break away from the limited opportunities available for Latina actresses. Despite her undeniable talent, Lopez faced skepticism from industry insiders who doubted her ability to carry a film. Nevertheless, she remained resilient and continued to prove her capabilities on screen.

Through hard work, both these incredible women have gone on to become two of the most celebrated performers in Hollywood, with Hayek garnering an Oscar nomination for her role in “Frida” and Lopez becoming the first Hispanic actress to command over $1 million per film. 

As they both rose up the ranks together in Hollywood, Hayek and Lopez struck up an endearing friendship that has remained strong to this day. 

Hayek and Lopez exemplify the epitome of perseverance and talent in the entertainment world. From humble beginnings to global stardom, they have proven that hard work, determination and authenticity can shatter barriers and pave the way for success. 

However, that success did not come easy. In another interview with Oprah Winfrey, Hayek recounted the rough times landing work as one of the first Latin women in the mainstream Hollywood industry with Lopez by her side:

"Because there was no industry or parts for Latin women when I came here, there was really no competitiveness. Jennifer Lopez and I were the first, and I think Jennifer was my partner at the beginning," Hayek shared.

However, it comes as no surprise that the two ambitious women may have seen some tense moments competing for the same roles in a far less diverse industry back then. In a 1998 interview with Movieline, Lopez dismissed the similarities between herself and Hayek, and said they were “in two different realms.”

“She's a sexy bombshell and those are the kinds of roles she does. I do all kinds of different things. It makes me laugh when she says she got offered ‘Selena,’ which was an outright lie. If that's what she does to get herself publicity, then that's her thing,” she added.

However, it appears the rivalry of yesteryear has since ebbed away as both Lopez and Hayek cemented their A-list status in Hollywood. Not only have the pair moved further professionally, but they’ve also settled into romantic bliss with their respective partners. Hayek found love with French billionaire business magnate François-Henri Pinault, whom she married in 2009. Together, they have one daughter. Meanwhile, Lopez’s love life saw more turbulence. After three marriages, she reconnected with her former beau Ben Affleck, and they wed in 2022.  

Lopez and Affleck first became romantically involved in the early 2000s when both stars were at the peak of their careers. Using the portmanteau “Bennifer,” the paparazzi followed their every move, with public appearances, vacations and even mundane outings receiving extensive coverage in the press. The media circus reached its peak when the couple got engaged in November 2002, but the intense public scrutiny put a strain on them, and they called off their wedding. 

Both stars went on to have other high-profile relationships and marriages before finding one another again. While the pair, who are both now in their 50s, appear to have left the drama that surrounded them in their youth behind, they were cutely reminded of the good old days by none other than Hayek.

On the occasion of Lopez’s 54th birthday, Hayek shared a throwback photo that captured the essence of noughties Hollywood like no other. The snap showed Hayek in a low-cut black dress surrounded by some very famous friends, including fellow Mexican actor Gael García Bernal and Susan Sarandon. However, the highlight of the shot was seeing Lopez and Affleck back during their first romantic foray together. In the caption, Hayek paid tribute to Lopez with a touching birthday message that read:

“Happy birthday @jlo!🎂💐🥳Last night, out of the blue, I found this picture. I guess it meant I had to share it on your special day. It made me think back to a time when they said we wouldn’t make it. Then they said we wouldn’t last 😂😂😂. Keep shining chica and keep enjoying every second of it!” 

Did you know Salma Hayek and Jennifer Lopez were such good friends? Did the throwback photo of Bennifer tickle you? Let us know and pass this along to all the fans of these two superb Latina stars you know!