Raised in Coatzacaolcos, Mexico

At age 12, told her father she would "go on strike" and fail all her classes if he did not allow her to go to school in America

Sent to a Catholic school in Texas; studied for two years before being expelled

Mexican TV series debut, "Nuevo Amancer"

Won stardom as "Teresa" in the hugely popular Mexican primetime serial

Left Mexico at the height of her popularity and moved to Los Angeles

Stopped acting for a year-and-a-half to study English

First US TV guest spots included "Nurses" (NBC) and "Dream On" (HBO)

Played a recurring role on the Fox family series "The Sinbad Show"

US feature debut, Alison Anders' "Mi Vida Loca/My Crazy Life"

US TV-movie debut, "Roadracers," a segment of Showtime's "Rebel Highway" series; first collaboration with filmmaker Robert Rodriguez

Returned to Mexico to play a lead in "Midaq Alley/El Callejon de los Milagros"

Breakthrough Hollywood feature role, co-starring opposite Antonio Banderas in Rodriguez's "Desperado"

Signed contract to act as spokesperson for Revlon cosmetics

Had featured role as a coat-check girl with aspirations to be a singer in "54"

Formed Ventanarosa Prods.

Signed agreement with Sony to create TV programs in both Spanish (for Telemundo) and English (for Columbia TriStar TV)

Had female lead in Barry Sonnenfeld's "Wild Wild West"

Played featured role in "Timecode," director Mike Figgis' four-screen digital feature

Made cameo appearance in "Traffic"

Executive produced and starred in the Showtime original "In the Time of the Butterflies"

Reteamed with Figgis for "Hotel"

Portrayed the title role in "Frida," a biopic of artist Frida Kahlo, directed by Julie Taymor and produced by Hayek; earned Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG and Oscar nominations for her performance

Cast as the female lead in "Once Upon A Time In Mexico"

Signed on to be the spokes woman for Avon's makeup and fragrance lines

Co-starred with Pierce Brosnan and Woody Harrelson in "After the Sunset"

Co-starred with Penelope Cruz as two bank robbers in "Bandidas"

Co-starred with Colin Farrell in the Robert Towne-directed adaptation of John Fante's Depression Era novel, "Ask the Dust"

Produced the ABC comedy, "Ugly Betty"; also guest starred in several episodes; earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Signed a two-year overall production deal with ABC in which she and partner Jose Tamez will develop new projects for the studio through their company, Ventanarosa Productions