Salma Hayek Gushed About Angelina Jolie Says 'The Best Director' As They Shoot Without Blood

Salma Hayek Gushed About Angelina Jolie Says 'The Best Director' As They Shoot Without Blood

Updated on August 25, 2023 11:40 AM by Laura Mendes

The Oscar-nominated Frida actress, 55, has high praise for her pal Angelina Jolie.  Per PEOPLE, Salma Hayek calls Angelina Jolie, who directed Hayek in the upcoming drama Without Blood, "probably the best director I've ever worked with. And I worked with some pretty good ones."

Indeed, Hayek's resume is filled with movies directed by some of the best in the business, including Oscar winners Oliver Stone, Steven Soderbergh, and Chloé Zhao, who directed her in Savages, Traffic, and The Eternals, respectively.

Other industry bigwigs Hayek has worked with include Ridley Scott (House of Gucci), Robert Rodriguez (Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Desperado, and The Faculty), and Julie Taylor (Frida).

Hayek continues, "I've always loved her as a director, but I think this might be her best or one of the best."

Jolie has directed five feature films, including the World War II film Unbroken and the drama By the Sea, which she made with then-husband Brad Pitt in 2015.

Without Blood is based on the 2002 novel by Alessandro Barrico, which has no release date scheduled.

As per a press release from the movie's production company, Fremantle, "An unforgettable fable set in the aftermath of an unidentified conflict, it explores universal truths about war, trauma, memory, and healing."

Add Block

If that sounds heavy, Hayek confirms that it is. She said that she has yet to "recover" from making the movie.

She added, "It was a tough film to do. And then somehow, it was a joy to suffer so much [because]...she was shockingly good."

Demián Bichir, her costar, agreed with Hayek and said, "He was saying to me, 'This is the hardest thing, like the most intense project I've ever done in my life, with the highest level of complexity.' And I said, 'I'm so glad you say that… me, too.'"

Hayek admits she paused before saying yes to working with Jolie, her costar from the 2021 Marvel movie, The Eternals.

She says, "There's always hesitation: Am I putting my friendship in jeopardy right now?" adding, "And wow, I have a whole other level of respect [for her]."

Even so, she's not above getting a little silly with her friend. Last year, Jolie pushed Hayek's face into the Desperado star's birthday cake, part of a Mexican tradition known as la mordida.

Hayek has yet to return the favor, "I thought about it, but we were about to shoot," she says, but Jolie better watches her back or face, for that matter. Hayek says, "I'm going to get her next. I promise you."

add Block

What's New : Entertainment