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Salma Hayek’s breakthrough in Hollywood came with her role as Carolina inDesperado. In the film, Hayek worked with Danny Trejo for the first time, who had a surprisingly weird connection to theFridaactress. Trejo led a life of crime before entering the film industry and had spent time in jail. TheMacheteactor had a tattoo, from his time in prison, of a woman who bore a striking resemblance to theBlack Mirroractress.
Even more surprising, theXXXactor once told Hayek that he was willing to go to prison again for her. As insane as it may sound, Hayek recalled this incident as one of the bizarre fan encounters involving a tattoo during one of her interviews.
Also Read:‘Spy Kids’ and ‘Machete’ Star Danny Trejo, Who Made Our Childhoods Awesome, Is Filing for Bankruptcy After IRS Forces Him to Pay $2M in Taxes
Danny Trejo Would Have Robbed A Bank For Salma Hayek
Salma Hayekappeared on an episode ofThe Graham Norton Show, where the host and guests discussed fans tattooing their bodies with celebrities’ images. WhenGraham Nortonasked Hayek if she had any strange experiences with such tattooed fans, theGrown Upsactress recounted her experience withDanny Trejo. The director ofDesperado,Robert Rodriguez, was Trejo’s second cousin, which landed him the role of Navajas.
Rodriguez was also the one who rooted for casting Hayek after the studio wanted to castCameron Diaz. On set, when Trejo met theEternalsactress, he ran toward her, claiming he knew her and had dreamt about her. TheDeath Race 2actor then went on to rip open his shirt and reveal her the tattoo of a woman whom he believed was Hayek. TheWild Wild Westactress toldGraham Norton:
“In prison, [Trejo] tattooed himself, a huge tattoo of a woman here. He learned how to act in prison and then when he got out of prison, he landed on my first movie that I did. They told me, ‘You’re gonna meet this prisoner that is now an actor’. I was a little bit afraid and when I saw him for the first time, he saw me and he ran towards me and ripped his shirt off and he said, ‘I knew you before I knew you. I dreamt you before I knew you.’”
Hayek confirmed that the woman in the tattoo looked exactly like her, joking that the tattoo might have given her a better body. She further added that Trejo was even willing to rob a bank and go back to prison if she had asked him to. TheHouse of Gucciactress shared with Norton:
“And sure enough there was a picture of a woman that looks exactly like me, the body was a little bit better but let’s pretend, exactly like me in his chest. […] He said, ‘I just got out of jail and I’m happy. But for you, I’d rob another bank if you want me to.’”
It was highly unlikely that Trejo would have kept on that promise as he had cleaned up his life by the time he started working in movies.
Also Read:10 Danny Trejo Facts To Make You A Fan Of The Machete Man
Danny Trejo Lived A Life Of Crime Until He Decided To Turn His Life Around
Trejo was introduced to drugs as early as the age of seven by his uncle Gilbert. He was first incarcerated at the age of 12 in a juvenile prison and since then spent time in and out of juvenile homes. During this period,The Big Emptyactor overdosed on heroin multiple times. Between 1959 and 1969, Trejo served prison terms for serious crimes such as drug dealing and assault with a weapon.
While in prison, theSpy Kidsactor learned boxing. A little later, he found faith and joined a 12-step program to overcome his addiction. Trejo also completed his high school diploma and even picked up some acting skills while in prison. Once released, the actor took on various day jobs, including labor foreman, gardener, salesman, and lawn care owner. He later transitioned to working in film productions, eventually landing roles in films.
Also Read:“I act comfortable, but I was not”: Salma Hayek Hated Filming a Steamy Scene With Batman Star That Made Actor Strip Naked in Freezing Cold
Salma Hayek and Danny Trejo’s first project together,Desperado, is now available for streaming on Prime Video.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3018
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
