Photo: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Salma Hayekhas high praise for her palAngelina Jolie.
In the new issue of PEOPLE, the Oscar-nominatedFridaactress, 55, calls Jolie, 47, whodirected Hayekin the upcoming dramaWithout Blood, “probably the best director I’ve ever worked with. And I worked with some pretty good ones.”
Other industry bigwigs Hayek has worked with include Ridley Scott (House of Gucci), Julie Taylor (Frida) and Robert Rodriguez (Once Upon a Time in Mexico,DesperadoandThe Faculty).
Continues Hayek of Jolie, “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 filmUnbrokenand the dramaBy the Sea, which she made with then-husbandBrad Pittin 2015.
From left: Salma Hayek; Angelina Jolie; Demián Bichir.Michael Ostuni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images; Karwai Tang/WireImage; Image Group LA via Getty Images
If that sounds heavy, Hayek confirms that it is. She tells PEOPLE she has yet to “recover” from making the movie. “It was a tough film to do. And then somehow, it was a joy to suffer so much [because]…she was shockingly good.”
Her costar in the movie, Demián Bichir, agreed with Hayek, according to the actress: “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. “There’s always hesitation: Am I putting my friendship in jeopardy right now?” she says. “And wow, I have a whole other level of respect [for her].”
RELATED VIDEO:Angelina JolieBrings Kids Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox toEternalsPremiere
Even so, she’s not above getting a little silly with her friend. Last year, Jolie pushed Hayek’s face into theDesperadostar’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 watch her back (or face, for that matter). “I’m going to get her next,” says Hayek. “I promise you.”
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source: people.com
