Salma Hayek may be married to a powerful businessman worth more than $11.5 billion, but the Hollywood star says she loves her financial independence.

The 45-year-old actress' husband is French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, the CEO of luxury goods firm PPR which owns Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent.

"I work hard, I make my own living and I love it. I like having financial independence," she told US magazine Redbook.

"I don't ever want to have to depend on anyone completely. But when I have troubles sometimes, it's nice to have someone there to help."

Salma – who was influenced to star in Shrek spin-off Puss In Boots because of her four-year-old daughter Valentina Paloma – isn't shying away from provocative roles just because she's now a mother.

"I'm playing the queen of a drug cartel in an Oliver Stone film," she continued.

"He asked if I'd gone 'all soft' because I'm a mother. I said, 'Yes, but I can be the devil if I need to, because after all, I'm an actress'."

Photo:©Getty