Leading Hollywood actresses Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek have denied any link with Mexican drug trafficker Sergio Villarreal, the owner of a ranch where the two actress have reportedly stayed while shooting the film “Bandidas” in 2004. “The production of Bandidas arranged accommodation for all the actors, which is common practice in the film industry. Penelope Cruz decided to stay in a hotel, while Salma Hayek preferred to stay in a house,” the two actresses said Thursday in a statement, EFE news agency reported Friday.

“Salma Hayek never knew who owned the house or had any contact with its owners or with anything associated with the rented place, which was paid for by the production company,” the statement said.

“Neither the actresses nor their respective film companies were involved in the film’s production,” the statement issued by Cruz’s agent concluded.

Mexican newspaper El Universal reported Tuesday that the two movie stars spent several nights at a ranch owned by Sergio Villarreal Barragan in the northern state of Durango.

The 38-year-old Villarreal is a drug trafficker who operates in Durango, Coahuila and Sinaloa, the newspaper said, citing documents from the Mexican Attorney General’s Office, known as the PGR.

The property was rented during filming to house Hayek, El Universal said, without specifying whether the actresses knew the identity of the owner.

Source: SoHood.com

Several sources claim that Salma and her businessman fiance Francois-Henri Pinault are planning to wed in St. Tropez later this summer, according to French reports.

The couple became new parents last year (2007) when baby daughter Valentina Paloma was born and now Frida star Hayek has reportedly started looking for a wedding gown.

Influmedia.com reports the 41-year-old Mexican actress has happily agreed to marry the French millionaire.

The couple met in April 2006 but their romance only became public in 2007.

Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz are being involved with a capo of drug trafficking.

According to witnesses, during the shooting of the film Bandidas in 2004, the two actresses stayed in one of the houses of the most important drug trafficker from Sinaloa, Mexico, Sergio Villarreal Barragan, “El Grande”, who is trusted lieutenant and gunman in poster of the Beltran Leyva brothers.

According to the Mexican daily El Universal, stars of the big screen stayed in one of the ranches “El Grande”, located in the Presa del Aguila, Durango.

A protected witness told the same publication that Salma and Penelope spent several nights at the ranch during their stay in the state. It also reported that night in that place was filled with festivity.

Some local journalists who covered the shooting stated that the building was guarded by security elements from many miles before the entrance. In addition, Salma mentioned that he was always accompanied by four bodyguards that protected her.

So far, Ventanarosa, producing home for Salma Hayek, has not given any statement on this information.

The Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) has already started the preliminary investigation to determine the relationship of Spanish and Mexican actresses with Sergio Villareal.

Source: SoHood.com

People Magazine has revealed their annual list of the World’s 100 Most Beautiful People, and naturally, Salma is on it!

Salma Hayek
The new mom is beautiful inside and out, having signed on as ambassador for a Pampers/UNICEF program that provides tetanus shots to babies and mothers in developing countries. (Every pack of diapers with a UNICEF logo sold pays for one shot.) “You give them the vaccine, they don’t die,” says Hayek, 41. “It’s not just about creating a better world for my daughter, Valentina, but also being more passionate about diminishing the suffering of women and children all over the world.”

Tonight’s the night, let’s hope for lots of new Salma-goodies! Stay tuned for the first photos here at Encantadora!

Madonna is hooking up with Gucci to raise money for orphans in the impoverished southern African nation of Malawi. According to a Reuters report, the singer will host a fundraising dinner with a musical performance and party on February 6, as part of the opening of the biggest Gucci store in the world, on New York’s Fifth Avenue. Madonna said the event will benefit UNICEF and Raising Malawi, a charity she co-founded in 2006 to help end poverty in the country. The event is expected to raise $2 million and will feature such co-chairs as Salma Hayek, Adrien Brody, Lucy Liu, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher and Gwyneth Paltrow.