Salma Hayek and Edward Norton's Relationship Timeline: A Look Back

Before Salma Hayek married French businessman François-Henri Pinault in 2009, the actress and producer — who can still pull off a red bikini, by the way — was getting cozy with fellow Oscar and Emmy-nominated actor Edward Norton. In fact, after meeting in 1999, the two dated for nearly four years, during which time they could be spotted anywhere from Lakers games to industry events.

Despite years of holding hands on the red carpet, privacy was a priority for both parties. After their split in 2003, the Black Mirror star spoke to the Independent about how she and Norton kept the relationship away from the press.

"We did thousands of things, and nobody knows," she said. "Most of what is written about me isn't true. I would get more angry if I picked up the paper and thought, 'Oh My God, how did they find out?' No, it's almost like I have a parallel life that no one knows about."

Here's a look back at Salma Hayek and Edward Norton's relationship.

1999: Salma Hayek and Edward Norton first meet

Vanity Fair reported that the actor couple began dating in 1999 after their chiropractor set them up. However, if that's true, why are we still waiting on the release of the Hallmark movie that borrows from their meet-cute?

March 2000: Salma Hayek and Edward Norton are first spotted together

By 2000, the Mexican-American actress and the Boston native were a red carpet standby — premieres, awards shows, sporting events … they were there. However, there was more to the couple than what the paparazzi managed to capture.

The closest the public got to Hayek and Norton was through the drama that seeped out of their 2002 Frida Kahlo biopic, Frida. Hayek starred in the titular role and served as a producer; Norton had a small role on-screen but a large role behind the camera.

As the story goes, he rewrote the film's script "several times" and never received credit, according to British GQ. Hayek recalled the situation in The New York Times op-ed she wrote in 2017 detailing her harrowing experiences with disgraced producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein.

After Hayek refused his sexual advances, Weinstein attempted to have her removed from the project (which she had brought to him in the first place). In order to clear himself of legal obligation, he gave her a list of seemingly untenable requirements for the film with a quick turnaround, including a rewrite of the script (for free) and the casting of four "prominent actors" in the film's supporting roles.

Norton, whom Hayek credited among the "phalanx of angels" who came to her aid, rewrote the script and agreed to play the role of Nelson Rockefeller.

July 2003: Salma Hayek and Edward Norton break up

Little is known of the split itself, as neither Hayek nor Norton has ever publicly discussed it. As such, the breakup news wasn't relayed with the typical PR-crafted statement assuring fans that "they remain close friends." No, the announcement came from an unlikely source: Daryl Sabara.

In July 2003, the then-11-year-old Spy Kids star, who appeared in the franchise's third installment with Hayek, went on the TODAY show and told Matt Lauer that his co-star "isn't with Ed Norton anymore," reported People.

There doesn't appear to be any bad blood between the actors — in fact, they seemingly remained close friends. Photos published by CBS News confirmed that Norton attended Hayek's 2009 wedding to Pinault and, according to a Deadline interview with Seth Rogen, Norton later convinced Hayek to voice a character in the 2016 animated comedy Sausage Party.

"I dated some people I shouldn't have dated," Hayek told Allure in 2015. "You get desperate, and you start seeing wonderful things in, like, the wrong guys. I also found some pretty good guys." 

We're willing to bet Norton falls in the good guy camp.