Hayek and MGM back Latino talent

Hayek has appeared in films such as Desperado and After the Sunset

Mexican-born actress Salma Hayek has formed a production company which aims to promote films with Latino themes and talent to a mass audience.

The Oscar-nominated star of Frida is working in partnership with Hollywood studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

She will be the chief executive of Ventanazul, which will release between two and four movies per year.

Hayek, who is expecting her first child, said she wanted to make Latino audiences "proud" of their culture.

She described the deal as "an amazing opportunity to draw upon the entire range of ways the Latin world can contribute to the film industry", with movies which appealed "to everyone".

The 40-year-old has already been involved behind-the-scenes on one major hit, the TV series Ugly Betty.

She is an executive producer of the comedy, which was adapted from a Colombian telenovela, in addition to her role on the show as a magazine editor.