Salma Hayek Reveals Secret Bond with Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ Kids—And They Even Speak Spanish!

At 58, Salma Hayek is known for more than her blockbuster films—she’s also “tía Salma” to one of Hollywood’s most beloved families. The Desperado star recently revealed her close relationship with Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ four children, sharing rare insights into their friendship and family bond at the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue launch party on May 15.

“I’m close to the kids,” Hayek told E! News. “I got a chance to go play with them. They got to see the tía Salma.” Hayek affectionately refers to herself as “tía,” Spanish for “aunt,” a title the Reynolds-Lively kids—James, 10, Inez, 8, Betty, 5, and Olin, 2—have embraced. Hayek proudly notes that the children are picking up Spanish, her native language. “Especially the little one,” she said, beaming. “They understand Spanish, and they’re lovely.”

Hayek’s friendship with Blake and Ryan is no Hollywood fling. The actress first bonded with Lively while filming 2012’s Savages, later teaming up with Reynolds for the hit action-comedy The Hitman’s Bodyguard and its sequel. Their connection runs deep, with Hayek praising Lively’s character and courage: “I saw her take on one of the biggest bullies in this industry that everybody feared,” Hayek recalled at Variety’s Power of Women luncheon in 2017. “She has a great sense of family. She has a great sense of honorability, fantastic values… She is the ultimate mother—even to me.”

Motherhood is a subject close to Hayek’s heart. She and husband François-Henri Pinault are parents to 17-year-old Valentina, who is currently “completely focused on her exams,” according to Hayek. The Oscar-nominated actress couldn’t help but laugh about Valentina’s nonchalance over her mom’s recent Sports Illustrated cover: “She doesn’t really know what Sports Illustrated is,” Hayek admitted. “I love it that she’s just focused on her own destiny and her own future.”

As for her honorary aunt status, Hayek cherishes her role in the Reynolds-Lively household, helping pass on culture, language, and laughter. In a world where celebrity friendships often seem fleeting, Hayek and the Reynolds-Lively family prove that chosen family can be just as meaningful as blood ties—a sentiment that’s sure to inspire fans on both sides of the screen.