Salma Hayek Says She Used To Be An Illegal Immigrant

Actress and Oscar nominee Salma Hayek has recently confessed in an interview that she was once an illegal alien while living in the United States.

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The Mexican beauty also admits to having been a victim of racial discrimination during her early years in Hollywood.

Hayek's comments were made to Spain's V magazine, in which she also graced the cover seductively dressed. Of her period spent as an illegal immigrant, she says, "It was for a small period of time, but I still did it."

The actress did not provide any details as to when she lived in the U.S. illegally or for how long.

Now a U.S. citizen, Hayek also says her fight to the top of Hollywood's elite A-list was a tough one as she had to endure racial profiling. She says, "I had to endure the worst time of all in terms of racial discrimination in Hollywood when I first started out."

"It was inconceivable to American directors and producers that a Mexican woman could have a lead role," she adds.

Although she studied in the U.S. at age 12 in Louisiana, Hayek attended college in Mexico City before moving to Hollywood to try her hand at acting. Now considered to be one of the most influential Latina actresses in Hollywood, she starred in films such as "From Dusk Till Dawn," and "Frida Kahlo," in which she received an Oscar nomination.