Salma Hayek is determined to embrace life "to the fullest"

The brunette beauty told Sports Illustrated: "I feel so fortunate that I am part of a generation that has been able to really experience very tangible change. I could retire, but I don't want to miss out on this time."

Salma appears on the cover of the new Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and the actress relished the experience of posing for the magazine.

She shared: "I think it's really remarkable that a magazine like Sports Illustrated says that it's OK, maybe even cool, to be past 50 and still be able to feel not just sexy, but for me, to be free and not be self-conscious of your body like you have to hide.

"I don't see why, after a certain age, we have to retract ourselves from embracing life to the fullest."

Salma "didn't look like a model" during her younger years, and she never imagined appearing in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

The 'Eternals' star - who is married to businessman Francois-Henri Pinault - said: "I remember when I was young, a long, long time ago, I was always excited to see the Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated, and [thinking] 'Who's going to be in it?' Of course, I didn't look like a model, so it never crossed my mind that one day I would be in it.

"If somebody had told me I was gonna be in it at 58, I would have sent them to the madhouse, but the world has changed, and that's exciting."

Meanwhile, MJ Day - the editor in chief of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit - has heaped praise on Salma, describing the actress as a "force of nature".

MJ added: "As an actor, producer, philanthropist and champion for women, Salma is a beacon for Latinx communities, a tireless advocate and a person whose passion for art, life and humanity has few rivals.

"Her why is rooted in her ability to inspire generations to come, by showing us all that living on your own terms is the ultimate power."