Salma Hayek Feels Very Optimistic After Turning 60 as She Accepts Women in Film Honor
Salma Hayek turns 60 feeling very optimistic, and she said so herself at a big night in Hollywood. On Thursday, November 5, 2026, Hayek attended the 2026 Women in Film Honors at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, where she received the Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award. The award was presented by film icon Jane Fonda herself. It recognized Hayek for her long film career and for her advocacy for the rights of women, children and immigrants. Speaking to PEOPLE at the event, Hayek said turning 60 is not scary at all. She is still doing what she loves, and she is ready for what comes next.
Quick Facts
| Detail | What We Know |
|---|---|
| Person | Salma Hayek, Mexican-born actress and film producer |
| Birthday | September 2, 2026, when she turned 60 |
| Event | 2026 Women in Film Honors, presented by Max Mara |
| Event date | Thursday, November 5, 2026 |
| Event venue | The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California |
| Award | Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award |
| Presented by | Jane Fonda |
| Recognized for | Her filmography and her advocacy for women, children and immigrants |
| Husband | Businessman Francois-Henri Pinault, 64, who attended with her |
| New family role | Grandmother for the first time, weeks before her 60th birthday |
| Next project | Arena, a romantic adventure she wrote and directed, yet to be released |
| Trending status | Top trending Google search in the United States on November 7, 2026 |
A Night at the Beverly Hilton
The 2026 Women in Film Honors brought together some of the most respected names in the film world, and Salma Hayek was at the center of the evening. The event took place at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on Thursday, November 5, 2026. It was presented by Max Mara, a brand with a long history of supporting the event and the women it honors. The room was full of actors, directors, producers and studio leaders who had come to celebrate work that often goes unseen behind the camera as well as in front of it.
Hayek received the Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award, one of the most meaningful honors of the night. The award carries the name of Jane Fonda, a film icon whose own career has combined acting with decades of public advocacy. Fonda herself presented the award to Hayek, which made the moment even more special. It was not a prize handed over by a stranger. It came from a woman Hayek admires, in front of a room full of her peers. Other attendees included Jane Fonda, Kerry Washington, Sharon Stone and Pamela Abdy, and Hayek attended with her husband, businessman Francois-Henri Pinault, 64.
Turning 60 With Optimism
The most talked about part of the night was not the award itself. It was what Hayek said about turning 60. Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the event, she discussed her birthday on September 2, 2026, with a warmth and a sense of humor that made the moment feel honest rather than rehearsed. Many people worry about milestone birthdays long before they arrive. Hayek said she did too, when she was younger. Then she got there, and the fear turned out to be misplaced.
She said she feels very optimistic. In her words, it sounded so scary in the 20s, in the 30s, in the 40s, even in the 50s. It is not scary at all. Once you get here, it is not bad at all. That is a simple message, but it is one that many people need to hear, especially from someone who has spent her whole adult life in an industry that often treats age as a problem to hide. Hayek treated it as a fact to celebrate, and she did it without pretending that the years before had been free of worry.
A New Grandmother
Just before her 60th birthday, Hayek took on a brand new role in her family life. She became a grandmother for the first time. Her stepson Francois Pinault Jr. welcomed a baby boy with his wife Lara Cosima Henckel von Donnersmarck over the summer. The baby arrived weeks before Hayek turned 60, which made the milestone birthday even more special. A new grandchild and a new decade arrived almost together, and Hayek has spoken about both with clear joy.
At the Women in Film Honors, Hayek told Us Weekly about the new baby. She said she was so ready, and she is loving it. Some people feel nervous about becoming a grandparent for the first time, or unsure how the new role will fit into a busy life. Hayek sounded ready and happy, as if she had been waiting for this moment and was glad it had finally arrived. She has said she plans to call her grandson Panchito, though he is named Francois after his father and grandfather. The nickname is affectionate and playful, and it shows the personal side of a family story that could easily have stayed private.
Her First Film as Director
Hayek is not only celebrating a birthday and a new grandchild. She is also starting a new chapter in her career. She has just directed her first film, a romantic adventure called Arena, which she also wrote. The film is yet to be released, so audiences have not seen it yet. But the fact that Hayek has stepped behind the camera as a director, after decades in front of it, says a lot about where she is in her career and where she wants to go next.
When she was asked about directing another movie, Hayek gave an answer that showed the same focus on the present that marked her comments about turning 60. She said, well, let me finish this one. Let us stay in the present. It is great. The present is great. She is not rushing to plan the next project before the current one is complete. She wants to give Arena the attention it deserves, and she wants to enjoy the process of finishing it.
A Career That Keeps Growing
To understand why this honor matters, it helps to look back at the career that led to it. Hayek is a Mexican-born actress who began as an entertainer in a 1989 telenovela series. From those early days in Mexican television, she built a career that crossed borders, languages and genres. She moved into film, took on roles in Hollywood and beyond, and kept working steadily for decades. That kind of longevity is rare in any industry, and it is especially rare in film, where careers can rise and fall quickly.
She is known for Frida and Magic Mike’s Last Dance among many films across decades. Frida, in which she played the artist Frida Kahlo, remains one of the defining roles of her career. It showed her range as an actor and her commitment to telling the stories of complex, real women. Magic Mike’s Last Dance, many years later, showed a different side of her work, and proved that she could still surprise audiences late in a long career. Hayek is also a successful film producer. Producing gave her a voice in which stories get told and how they get told, and it laid the groundwork for her move into directing.
Why This Honor Matters
The Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award is not given for a single performance or a single year of work. It is given for a pattern of choices made over a lifetime. For Hayek, those choices include the roles she has taken, the films she has produced, and the causes she has spoken up for. The award recognizes her filmography and her advocacy for the rights of women, children and immigrants, and it places her in the company of people who have used their fame to make a difference.
Entertainment news this week has also been full of big names making new moves, from comedians weighing a return to classic shows to new faces taking on major hosting roles. Readers who enjoyed this story may also like our report on Dave Chappelle considering a Chappelle’s Show revival and our story on Druski hosting Saturday Night Live as the first digital creator host. For another look at a Mexican-born star who built a lasting career in entertainment, see our profile on Eugenio Derbez.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Salma Hayek now?
Salma Hayek turned 60 on September 2, 2026. She discussed the milestone at the 2026 Women in Film Honors on November 5, 2026, where she said she feels very optimistic and that turning 60 is not scary at all. She marked the birthday with an Instagram post on September 7 captioned 60 and grateful.
What award did Salma Hayek receive at the Women in Film Honors?
Hayek received the Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award at the 2026 Women in Film Honors at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The award was presented by Jane Fonda herself. It recognized Hayek for her filmography and her advocacy for the rights of women, children and immigrants.
Did Salma Hayek become a grandmother?
Yes. Hayek became a grandmother for the first time weeks before her 60th birthday. Her stepson Francois Pinault Jr. welcomed a baby boy with his wife Lara Cosima Henckel von Donnersmarck over the summer. Hayek told Us Weekly she was so ready and she is loving it. She plans to call her grandson Panchito, though he is named Francois after his father and grandfather.
What is Salma Hayek’s new film Arena?
Arena is a romantic adventure that Hayek wrote and directed. It is her first film as a director, and it is yet to be released. She told PEOPLE at the Women in Film Honors that she just directed her first film and that is very exciting. When asked about directing another movie, she said she wants to finish this one first and stay in the present.
Sources
- PEOPLE: Salma Hayek Says She Feels Optimistic After Turning 60
- Hello Magazine: Salma Hayek Rare Appearance With Husband Francois-Henri Pinault
- Bang Premier: Salma Hayek Feels Optimistic After Turning 60
Final Thoughts
Salma Hayek turns 60 with a major award, a new grandchild, and a first film as director all in the same season. That is a lot to celebrate, and she is celebrating it with optimism rather than nostalgia. Her words at the Women in Film Honors were simple and direct. Turning 60 sounded scary when she was younger, but now that she is here, it is not scary at all. She is still doing what she loves, she has the blessing of her family and friends and health and energy and dreams, and she is ready for what comes next.
