After Angelina Jolie divorced Brad Pitt, Salma Hayek knew to pick a side— and it’s become one of the strongest A-list friendships in Hollywood.

The women bonded while filming the Eternals, but instead of parting ways after the movie came out, they only grew closer. Hayek is now being credited with getting Jolie to come out of her shell after years of drama with Brad Pitt.

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“Salma is showing her how to relax, live in the moment, and stop being so guarded,” an insider told #ShuterScoop. “She’s teaching Angie how to be normal again.” The dynamic duo shocked fans by boarding a commercial flight in mid-July, flying from Mexico City to Veracruz, Mexico. They took snapshots with fans and even gabbed like two average besties would ahead of their vacation. (You can see the video here.)

Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie, Zahara Jolie during the 82nd Annual Golden Globes held at The Beverly Hilton on January 05, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California.

Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie, Zahara Jolie during the 82nd Annual Golden Globes held at The Beverly Hilton on January 05, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California.

The source noted that Jolie is “laughing more” because of Hayek’s influence. “Salma’s been her rock,” they continued. “They talk every day. They travel together. Their kids hang out. They trust each other completely. They’re not Hollywood friends. They’re real friends — chosen family.”

Hayek isn’t shy about her friendship with Jolie either. At the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, the 58-year-old actress gushed about her 50-year-old bestie. “She’s been very, very enriching in my life, in so many ways — as mothers, you know. Most of all, as artists,” she told People.

After working together on the 2022 film, Without Blood, Hayek gave kudos to Jolie for being “the best director I’ve ever worked with” — that’s some high praise. “I’ve always loved her as a director, but I think this might be her best, or one of the best,” she told the media outlet.

Jolie had equally kind things to say about Hayek, telling Mexican talk show Ventaneando in 2021, “I love Salma. She’s one of the greatest gifts that came with this movie. We’ve both been in the business a long time and hadn’t met—probably because I’m not very social. But now, we’re very close. She’s my sister. She’s brilliant, kind, and wonderful.”

It sounds like a match made in Hollywood A-list heaven.

Before you go, click here to see celebrity co-stars who allegedly hated each other in real life.

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