Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek Recall Intense Creative Dynamic on Set
The director and actress describe passionate arguments and deep connection during the filming of "Without Blood."
Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek described a uniquely intense and passionate working relationship on the set of their new film, "Without Blood," where their creative differences often led to "screaming matches" that ultimately deepened their bond.
Jolie, who directed and co-produced the film, and Hayek, who stars in it, recently shared details about their unfiltered conversations. "I haven't had that kind of connection in my life," Jolie told People magazine. Hayek echoed this sentiment, stating that their interactions were often a whirlwind of emotions, involving crying, laughter, and passionate shouting during filming in the summer of 2022.
"Sometimes we would start passionately screaming at each other," Hayek recalled. "Then I start crying and she hugs me, then we're laughing nonstop." She described their conversations as "delicious" and "very organic," emphasizing a sense of safety that allowed them to be fully themselves.
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Jolie noted that their connection stems partly from "similar" life experiences, having met later in life after navigating various personal and professional challenges. "We've both been through so many similar things, experienced different things, and somehow have landed as older women in a very similar place," Jolie explained.
Hayek added that it's rare to find such a deep level of understanding and connection. "It's hard to find that connection, and I think that's what part of the movie is also about, how difficult it is to communicate, to connect," she said.
"Without Blood," based on Alessandro Baricco's novel, follows Nina, a woman who survived a war and seeks revenge decades after a family massacre. Hayek plays Nina, opposite Demián Bechir's character Tito. The film was written, co-produced, and directed by Jolie.
"Without Blood" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024, followed by a theatrical release in Italy in April 2025, and in the United States on Friday.
