Hollywood star Salma Hayek has recalled her “rare experience” of directing music icon Prince, revealing that their time together also included the late singer sitting in her kitchen, chatting and laughing with her while she prepared his favourite scrambled eggs.
Salma shared the anecdote during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, where she spoke about working with Prince, widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians in music history.
When host Jimmy Fallon remarked, “No one directs Prince,” Salma replied, “I did.”
Describing the experience as unusual, she said Prince would listen to her direction, although he sometimes challenged her.
“He did listen to me. Sometimes he would put up a fight. But I would take him on. Oh, I got him in the pool. Swimming in the pool. I toned down the makeup, which was a whole thing,” she recalled.
Salma then spoke about an unexpected part of their interaction: cooking for the music legend.
After filming was completed, Prince asked her if she could make him some scrambled eggs, she recalled, adding that he enjoyed her cooking.
“He said, okay, now, can you please make me some scrambled eggs? He liked me cooking,” Salma said.
When Fallon asked whether Prince actually wanted her to prepare the eggs, Salma explained that the two would spend time together in her kitchen.
“He would sit in the kitchen, we would talk, laugh, and I would cook. He loved scrambled eggs. He was very picky with his cooking,” she said.
Prince, who died in 2016 at the age of 57, had a celebrated career spanning music, film and performance. His honours included multiple Grammy recognitions, American Music Awards, the Billboard Icon Award, an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and later received recognition from the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.
Prince was found unresponsive in an elevator at his Paisley Park estate in Minnesota in April 2016.