Hayek said Cruz makes life “exciting, meaningful, inspiring” for those who know her well
Salma Hayek is celebrating her friend Penélope Cruz on a big day!
The Magic Mike star, 57, posted a tribute to Cruz on Instagram on Sunday, April 28, for the Vicky Cristina Barcelona star’s 50th birthday.
“Happy Birthday Penelope 🎂. Thank you God for sending to Earth a special number of years ago an angel,” Hayek captioned a carousel of photos of the pair together through the years.
“All of us whose [SIC] crossed paths with her know that she’s made our life crazy, exciting, meaningful, inspiring and taught us the meaning of solidarity and loyalty with so much love,” Hayek continued.
The House of Gucci star went on to praise her friend as a mother.
“Thank you, to you Penelope, for the little angels that you’ve mothered into this world. You are an extraordinary woman, and every year even more. ❤️,” she wrote, adding a Spanish translation of her message to the end of the post.
Hayek included throwback images of the duo posing together at red carpet events, as well as casual snaps they took with friends.
Cruz and Hayek have only starred in one film together, 2006’s Bandidas, but the actresses have been close friends since Cruz came to Los Angeles to film her first movie in the U.S.
“I was coming here for two months and I didn’t know anyone here,” Cruz said in 2022 on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “And [Salma] picked me up and said, ‘You’re not going to the hotel. You’re coming to my house because this is hard at the beginning and you’re going to feel very lonely.'”
Cruz didn’t mention what year she stayed with Hayek, but said they’ve been “sisters” ever since.
In 2023, Hayek even hosted a luncheon honoring Cruz for her role in Ferrari.