Salma Hayek and Edward Norton's Breakup Was Leaked By an 11-Year-Old
Matthew Petyon/Getty Images
Who: Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress and producer Salma Hayek, 53, and Oscar and Emmy-nominated actor, producer, and writer Edward Norton, 51.
How They Met: It’s been reported that the actor couple began dating in 1999 after their chiropractor set them up, and if that’s true, where’s the Hallmark movie??
By 2000, they were a red carpet standby — premieres, awards shows, sporting events … they were there, and Norton was making eye contact with the photographer.
Dave Benett/Getty Images
George Pimentel/WireImage
Why We Loved Them: Despite years of red carpet hand-holding, privacy was a priority for both parties. After their split in 2003, Hayek spoke to the Independent about how she and Norton kept the relationship away from the press. “We did thousands of things and nobody knows,” she said. “Most of what is written about me isn't true. I would get more angry if I picked up the paper and thought ‘Oh My God, how did they find out?’ No, it's almost like I have a parallel life that no one knows about.”
SGranitz/WireImage
RELATED: TBT: Eric Clapton Had Two Secret Children During His Relationship with Pattie Boyd
The closest the public got to Hayek and Norton was through the drama that seeped out of their 2002 Frida Kahlo biopic, Frida. Hayek starred in the titular role and served as a producer; Norton had a small role on screen but a large role off. As the story goes, he rewrote the film’s script “several times” and never received credit. Hayek recalled the situation in the New York Times op-ed she wrote in 2017 detailing her harrowing experiences with disgraced producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein.
After Hayek refused his sexual advances, Weinstein attempted to have her removed from the project (which she had brought to him in the first place). In order to clear himself of legal obligation, he gave her a list of seemingly untenable requirements for the film with a quick turnaround, including a rewrite of the script (for free) and the casting of four “prominent actors” in the film’s supporting roles.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Norton, whom Hayek credited among the “phalanx of angels” who came to her aid, rewrote the script and agreed to play the role of Nelson Rockefeller.
RELATED: TBT: Remember When Tom Green Convinced Everyone Drew Barrymore Had Left Him at the Altar?
When They Peaked: The pure chaos in this photo of Norton, Hayek, a cowboy hat-wearing Bon Jovi, and an introspective Hilary Swank is certainly a highlight.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
The Breakup: Little is known of the split itself, as neither Hayek nor Norton has ever publicly discussed it. As such, the breakup news wasn’t relayed with the typical PR-crafted statement assuring us “they remain close friends.” No, the announcement came from an unlikely source: Daryl Sabara. In July of 2003, the then-11-year-old Spy Kids star, who appeared in the franchise’s third installment with Hayek, went on the Today Show and told Matt Lauer that his co-star “isn’t with Ed Norton anymore.”
There doesn’t appear to be any bad blood between the actors — in fact, it seems they really did remain close friends. Norton attended Hayek’s 2009 wedding to Francois-Henri Pinault and, according to Seth Rogen, Norton later convinced Hayek to voice a character in the animated comedy Sausage Party.
Kevin Winter/ImageDirect
RELATED: TBT: Matt Dillon Said Cameron Diaz Was His "Muse"
“I dated some people I shouldn't have dated,” Hayek told Allure in 2015. “You get desperate, and you start seeing wonderful things in, like, the wrong guys. I also found some pretty good guys.” We’re willing to bet Norton falls in the good guy camp.
Where They Are Now: Hayek and Pinault welcomed daughter Valentina in 2007.
A post shared by Salma Hayek Pinault (@salmahayek) on Sep 21, 2018 at 8:29am PDT
Next up for Hayek is Marvel’s The Eternals, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, and Bliss, all expected at some point in 2021.
Norton wed producer Shauna Robertson in 2012. They share a 7-year-old son named Atlas.
The actor has a role in Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch, the release date for which is currently unknown.
#TBT: Check in every Thursday as we throw it back to some of our favorite celebrity couples of all time.
