Salma Hayek praises mature mothers

Salma Hayek says waiting to have a baby made her a better mother.

The 42-year-old actress - who has an 18-month-old daughter Valentina with husband Francois-Henri Pinault - thinks her life experience prepared her for the trials and tribulations of parenthood.

She said: "I thought I was going to need help getting pregnant, and I didn't.

"I feel that I've done enough things in life where I can appreciate the time I spend with her as my number one priority and not feel I'm missing out on something. I feel I'm a lot more patient.

"I'm a more fulfilled human being now, and I probably wouldn't have been 10 years ago. She gets a better mother for being born now."

Salma also revealed she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during her pregnancy - after 'Match Point' actor Paul Bettany advised her to see a doctor when she experienced unusual cravings.

She explained to WebMD magazine: "I was nauseous for the whole nine months, and the only thing I craved was fruit - cold mango, watermelon. And then later on, I was saying that I didn't know why I was getting so big. Paul Bettany said something about too much fruit and gestational diabetes, and I thought, 'What does he know?' "

While Salma had the support of Paul and his wife Jennifer Connelly, she admits the attitudes of other stars amazed her.

She explained: "An actress I knew said, 'You're still breastfeeding? You're crazy!' Valentina wasn't even one yet, and she was like, 'Why would you do that? That's for India!' I was shocked at the level of ignorance. The best thing you can ever do for your child in your lifetime is to breastfeed."

Salma Hayek marries French billionaire on Valentine's Day

Actress Salma Hayek arrives as a guest at the premiere of director Woody Allen's new film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" in Los Angeles Aug. 4, 2008.

Salma Hayek,a well-known Mexican actress, married French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault last Saturday, Feb. 14, in France, according to media reports.

Hayek, 42, and Pinault, 46, exchanged vows in the City Hall of the Sixth Arrondissement in Paris.

The couple first met in 2006 and quickly produced the sort of catty "what's she doing with him?". In 2007 the couple got engaged and had a baby, Valentina Paloma, but then broke up. They reconciled a few months later, but there have often been reports of rifts in the relationship and speculation that they are more pals than paramours.

This is the first marriage for Hayek, who received an Oscar nomination for playing the titular role in 2002's "Frida." Her other credits include "Desperado," "Fools Rush In," "Wild Wild West," "After the Sunset," "Bandidas" and "Ask the Dust".

She's also a Golden Globe-winning producer on ABC's "Ugly Betty," for which she made guest appearances, and has been guest starring on the current season of "30 Rock."

Pinault, 46, is chief executive of the French luxury and retail group PPR SA, which owns high-end designer labels including Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga and Puma. He has two other children from a previous marriage.

Salma Hayek to have "Cinderella wedding"

Salma Hayek is reportedly planning to spend 3.5 million U.S. dollars on her wedding.

Actress Salma Hayek arrives with Henri Pinault (R), son of billionaire French art collector Francois Pinault, at a party to commemorate the re-opening of the Palazzo Grassi gallery at the Arsenale in Venice April 29, 2006. Hayek is reportedly planning to spend 3.5 million U.S. dollars on her wedding.

The "Frida" actress - who has a nine-month-old daughter Valentina Paloma with her fiance, French businessman Francois-Henri Pinault - is set to wed Francois in a lavish ceremony in France next spring.

A source told the National Enquirer magazine: "It took Francois over a year to get Salma to agree to marry him, and he doesn't want to spare any expense. Francois basically gave her the key to the vault and said, 'Go wild.' Salma has dreamed her whole life about a Cinderella wedding."

Salma is believed to have ordered a 500,000-dollar customized wedding gown made by Nicolas Ghesquiere, who previously designed Nicole Kidman's wedding dress.

Actress Salma Hayek poses for photographers during a photocall to promote "Ask the Dust" in Rome April 26, 2006.

The couple reportedly plan to fly in 400 guests on private jets to join them for the five-day celebrations, which will be held at a chateau near St. Tropez. The source added: "The ceremony and the reception will be off the charts.

The flower budget alone is almost a million dollars. Guests will eat Beluga caviar, fresh lobster and Kobe beef from Japan. They will enjoy the finest French and Italian wines and champagne. The total food budget for food and alcohol is more than 1 million dollars." The couple are also said to have ordered an impressive seven-tier wedding cake which will cost around 100,000 dollars.

Valentina will be dressed in a handmade 50,000-dollar gown.