Angelina Jolie has revealed that she had never experienced a personal connection like the one she shares with fellow actress Salma Hayek in her entire life.
The two Hollywood stars discussed their close bond during a joint interview with People magazine while promoting their new film project, Without Blood.
Hayek explained that Jolie creates an atmosphere of safety for everyone working with her on set. She noted that she appreciates how Jolie thinks and understands her, adding that feeling truly understood allows a person to feel safe and remain authentic regardless of circumstances.
Jolie remarked that it was beautiful for them to meet at this particular phase of their lives. She said they have lived through many similar experiences and, despite having gone through different situations, have arrived as mature women at a very similar point.
During the conversation, Hayek joked that she is much older than Jolie. Jolie responded that the age difference is not significant, emphasizing that she had never before encountered a friendship, bond, and level of understanding like the one they share.
Emotional Connection On Set
Hayek agreed with her co-star, stating that such a deep connection is rare to find. She observed that the difficulty of communicating and truly connecting with another person is one of the central themes explored in their new movie.
The filming process involved intense moments between the two women. Hayek recalled that they would sometimes begin shouting at each other with passion during production.
Those heated exchanges frequently ended in affection and laughter. Hayek remembered breaking into tears before Jolie embraced her in a hug, after which both women would laugh uncontrollably while surrounding crew members looked on in confusion.
The 60-year-old actress emphasized that she feels completely comfortable speaking openly with Jolie. She explained that Jolie never takes offense because she knows the comments come from a place of genuine affection.
Hayek added that their conversations cover a wide variety of topics. They often become moved to tears by deep discussions, only to quickly start laughing out loud after saying something silly.
Production And Release Details
Their collaborative drama Without Blood opened in cinemas on September 18. The story follows two individuals who must confront their painful pasts and the lingering trauma of war.
Hayek stars in the lead role alongside Oscar-nominated Mexican actor Demián Bichir. Jolie served as both director and screenwriter for the project, adapting the narrative from Italian author Alessandro Baricco's 2002 novel of the same name.
Promotional activities for the film began earlier in the summer when the official trailer was released on August 19.
Jolie also attended a screening of Without Blood in New York on September 16. She walked the event carpet holding hands with her daughter Zahara.
Background And Creative Collaboration
Both actresses bring decades of prominent film industry experience to their creative partnership. Jolie is an Academy Award-winning actress and director whose previous filmmaking projects include historical and war dramas such as In the Land of Blood and Honey, Unbroken, and First They Killed My Father.
Hayek is an Academy Award-nominated performer and producer known for her roles in Frida and numerous international film productions. The two stars previously appeared together on screen in the 2021 Marvel feature film Eternals before joining forces on Without Blood.
Baricco's original 2002 Italian novella, Senza sangue, centers on post-war reconciliation and the psychological scars left by violent conflict. Jolie's adaptation marks her latest feature directorial effort, bringing Baricco's spare narrative of memory and forgiveness to cinematic audiences.
