Salma Hayek wants the world to know that Colin Farrell was a perfect gentleman on the set of 'Ask the Dust', despite his reputation as being a lusty Irishman. Salma was extremely nervous about the required nudity in the new film, but Farrell broke the ice by running around the set naked, and he further made their steamy embraces as comfortable as possible for modest Salma by refusing to drop his gaze from her eyes. Salma admits she can't say the same - while frolicking naked in the icy ocean during a scene from the film, the Mexican beauty reveals she took a peek at her co-star's manhood.

On the set, Hayek developed a close relationship with Farrell but insists she never crossed the line when the cameras weren't rolling. She did, however, fall in love with her character, Camilla, who inspires Farrell's struggling writer, and becomes his muse - but never gets recognition. The Frida star believes that behind every successful man there is a supportive and encouraging woman, who usually never gets acknowledged for her efforts.

Can you talk about the intimacy that you created with Colin Farrell for the relationship in the film between your characters?
You simply become someone else and create a clear, healthy working relationship. I think, if you really fall in love with your character, you're too busy being that character, so it's easier not to cross the line in real life. You have it so clear when you jump into the character and then it's over for the day and then you have your own life. It's harder not to cross the line when you don't have much of a character and you're bored to death on a set.

What was the scene like frolicking in the ocean naked with Colin?
I didn't want to come out of the trailer because it was cold and I didn't want to take my clothes off. It was a nightmare of a shoot and I really didn't want to do it. They knocked on his (trailer) door and he ran out naked, running and screaming, jumping up and down. Everybody started laughing and it did relax me because I was very nervous. He did it for that reason. It was very cold to the point where we had to stop doing the scene because they took my temperature and I was in trouble. We had to take some special liquids to endure it (the cold) and a special diet because there was a risk of hypothermia, which I actually got a little of it.

For all of Mr Farrell's reputation, the man never looked at me while we were doing the scene (because his character was proper) other than in my eyes. He never once looked down and I never told him not to. I did take a look (at him naked) but I was not focusing because it was cold. I pretty much got pneumonia.

Do you believe that behind every successful man is a woman who encourages him to become that - like your character in this film?
I loved this character because of her spirit and naivete. It really got to me when she died and the movie was over. She became alive (to me) as if she was a friend or a relative of mine, who died without knowing how much she influences Colin Farrell's inspiring writer (character) to write. It made me think of all the women in the history of the world that influence and inspire a man and they (the men) never knew it and the women never got credit for it. We (as women) immediately know it and we are so eager to let men know and we don't want to just tell you; we want to show you we're doing something heroic for you and men have a different process.

Sometimes it takes men years to realise that their woman is trying to help them or sometimes it's hard for them to express it. All these men in power who have changed the world had a first girlfriend or somebody they had a one night stand with that said something (to influence them), even their wives. Their wife dies and they never get to tell them how they formed them. I became obsessed with all these women who die never feeling they did anything extraordinary with their lives. Or maybe there were many nights they felt like nobody loved them for who they were. There are some women who never tell their men (how to be successful) because they think men will think they're stupid.

You are such a role model for women. Can you talk about your involvement with domestic violence?
If you give me any problem in America I can trace it down to domestic violence. It is the cradle of most of the problems, economic, psychological, educational. Most people who are in jail come from homes with domestic violence. Even though it's not happening in your house, the person who mugs you in the street comes from it. There is a subconscious way of taking violence as a way of expression, as a normality, and it has a lot of effects in the youth in the way they absorb education and what they hope to get out of life.

It's a cycle that has been going on for many, many generations. It's a world problem and goes way deeper than your neighbours. In many states it's legal to rape your wife; as long as you have the marriage certificate, the law can not interfere. We don't talk about this. Imagine the environment that kids grow up in America where one out of every three women have been a victim of domestic violence. The percentages of the girls between 15 and 17 that have already experienced (violence) with a boyfriend is huge, but they never talk about it.

Did you read 'Ask the Dust' by John Fante, before beginning this film?
For my wrap present, Colin Farrell gave me a first edition book. I got so involved with this character and I was so sad when the movie was over that when I got home and I tried to read the book I got really emotional and I started crying. It was almost painful because it was too recent from playing the character (Camilla). I think it would be really cool to read it eventually.