Salma Hayek “camouflages” vegetables in her daughter’s food. The Puss in Boots actress has revealed her top secrets to keeping her daughter, Valentina Paloma, healthy. The Mexican actress has to be sneaky when getting her four-year-old to eat her greens.

“I camouflage them. They love pasta… [so] I put [them] in tomato sauce,” she revealed during a Friday appearance on Rachael Ray Show. “You know what you can hide really well? Aubergine, roast carrots, roast bell peppers [and] you can put a little bit of greens if you put enough of the other stuff.”

The brunette beauty admits that her acting skills come in handy when she is fooling Valentina. Salma knows the smallest hint that she is concealing something will give her away. “There’s got to be no clue that you lied because then she’ll find it, like, ‘Aha!’” she said. “You have to really purée [the vegetables]. It’s the way to do it.”

Although Salma has a heavy schedule she likes to set aside time for her family. She explained that as well as being with her husband François-Henri Pinault, she also likes to have periods which are just for her and Valentina. “We have our dates that it’s just her and I, we have to have them,” she smiled. ”They’re always at night, you know, we go to the movies or to dinner just her and I.”

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Salma Hayek is the cat's meow! The actress voices a clever feline thief named Kitty Softpaws in the animated "Shrek" spin-off, "Puss in Boots," in theaters and IMAX now. The 3-D tale follows the famous swashbuckling Puss (voiced by Antonio Banderas) on his early escapades, before he joins up with the grumpy green ogre.

The fate of the world lies in Puss's paws. Two nasty outlaws, Jack and Jill, have learned of an ancient treasure that grants unlimited power and riches, and they'll stop at nothing to get it. Now, it's up to the furry Latin hero and his sidekicks - his mischievous egg pal Humpty Alexander Dumpty and his rival/crush Kitty - to find the treasure before it's too late.

TFK spoke to Hayek about lending her voice to a crafty cartoon cat burglar. Read on to find out what the Mexican-born actress enjoyed most about being in the recording studio, and what her opinions are on Kitty's sleek style.

TFK: Were you a fan of the "Shrek" films before this?
Salma Hayek: Absolutely. Who's not? Do you know anybody who doesn't love those movies? They are just genius. But "Puss in Boots" really stands on its own. You would never know it's a spin-off. It looks different, it has a different feel, and it has a different style. It's just as funny as the "Shrek" movies, but with a little bit more action and adventure.

TFK: What was it about the Kitty Softpaws character that won you over?

SH: She's good at what she does, and she's strong and confident and fearless... and funny! I can go on forever.

TFK: What did you do to help bring out your inner feline for the role?

SH: (Laughs) Well, I have a cat. Although, she's way out-numbered by the dogs. I have one cat, 10 dogs, four alpacas, four parrots, five horses, four ducks and 20 chickens. Most of them are rescue animals. So, my cat - her name is Gypsy - is definitely not in the majority. But I adore her. She's too smart for the dogs. Also, my sister-in-law in France has three cats, and I spend a lot of time with them. I've been around cats my whole life, so I've been doing a lifetime of research.

TFK: Did you put some of your own personality into the character?

SH: I think you can't help it, you know? The character does have your voice, but it's a lot more than just that. There is a camera filming you when you're in the recording booth, and they take a lot of your real mannerisms and put them in the film. The director also gave us a lot of freedom and encouraged us to improvise. So it's very much my version of the cat.

TFK: This was the first time you've done voice work for an animated film. What did you enjoy most about it?

SH: That I didn't have to get my hair and makeup done, and that I didn't have to do wardrobe when I showed up for work! I liked having the freedom to do as many takes as I wanted. The directors, the writers, the producers and Antonio were all amazingly fun to work with. It was very different and very freeing. I really liked it, and I hope I get to do more of it.

TFK: Did you get to do any recording sessions with Antonio Banderas?

SH: Usually, you don't get to record with the other actors when you do an animated movie. In this particular case, because we are such good friends, we did have the opportunity to record together. That was amazing. When I would improvise, he would respond to my improvisation, and then, I would respond to his response. A lot of what we came up with in that session ended up in the movie.

TFK: Does your daughter, Valentina, recognize your voice in the movie?

SH: Yes, she does. We went to watch a different movie, and they were showing the previews. The trailer came on for Puss in Boots, and I didn't know how to explain it to her that I was the voice of Kitty. I didn't want to burst her bubble because she loves these characters. I got so nervous. All of a sudden, she hears Kitty talk, and she goes, "Mommy, that cat sounds just like you!" I was caught off guard with that
one.

TFK: Puss and Kitty have a dance fight in the movie. Who do you think would win in a dance fight between you and Antonio?

SH: Well, I will only tell you this answer because he's not here. I think he would definitely win. He's had a lot more training than me. But if he were here, I'd be like, "No way! It's me!"

TFK: Puss is not the only one in boots. Kitty wears a pair of boots too.

SH: I know, but I didn't get a hat! I was so upset. Valentina pointed it out at me. She said, "Mommy, how come you don't get a hat?" I said, "That's right!" There was a shortage in the hat department, I guess.

TFK: What kind of hat would you have wanted Kitty to wear?

SH: Something cool and stylish - but no feathers.

TFK: As someone who is known for having a great sense of fashion, do you approve of Kitty's boots?

SH: Yeah, they're pretty cool. She's a little bit of a tomboy, you know?

TFK: Which Puss in Boots character do you have the biggest soft spot for?

SH: Well, definitely not the egg. And definitely not Jack and Jill. They're horrible. So, I would have to say Puss in Boots. But Kitty doesn't like him right away. It was not love at first sight. She's used to working alone.

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Salma Hayek has revealed she had to pause for thought before telling her daughter about her role in Puss In Boots. The actress, who voices tough and streetsmart Kitty Softpaws in the Shrek spin-off movie, admitted her initial concerns about telling all to four-year-old Valentina were soon put aside. "You know, I was worried about that because it's like telling your child about Santa. She really thinks there are cats there," she told Collider.

"I thought I had some time, but before I could say anything, my character came on in the previews and she said, 'Oh, my gosh, mummy, that cat sounds just like you!' So, I said, 'Well, actually, it is me'. I had to explain to her that it's not real. It's drawings in the computer, and then you talk [for the character]."She added: "She was confused for a couple of days, but now she's so proud of me."Salma hopes the role will introduce her to a new generation of audiences. "I sure hope so! The ones who discovered me a long time ago, don't want to go to the movies any more. I need a new generation, or else I'll die," she joked.

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Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas offered their voices for the new "Puss in Boots" film, but the actors claim the family-friendly film is not just for kids. "It was designed like that, to give everyone in the family a thrill, in different levels," Banderas told OnTheRedCarpet.com at a recent press junket. "Never are the adult levels of the movie going to hurt the kids. It's just very well crafted - the whole entire thing."

"Puss in Boots," which opened in theaters on October 28, is a prequel to the "Shrek" movies, which gives the back-story to the sword-fighting cat known as Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas), before he's met Shrek and his friends. The film also features Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek), Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) and Jack (Billy Bob Thornton) and Jill (Amy Sedaris).

"We're working mothers, so when we have time off, we have to spend it with our kids, we want to spend it with our kids, but people have to think of us too a little bit because you want to have fun too! It's your time off!" Hayek told OnTheRedCarpet.com. "And sometimes you have to see movies where you really want to get into it, but it's hard. For this one, I'm really proud of it because for the mothers out there and for the grandparents and the cool teenage brothers and sisters, because sometimes that's hard too, if you have teenagers and little ones, for the whole family to enjoy a movie is hard - and this is one of them."

Banderas is no stranger to playing computer-generated characters, having appeared in "Shrek 2," "Shrek Forever After" and voicing a bee in Nasonex allergy medication commercials, but the actor said that "Puss in Boots" was a different experience.

"It's very strange for us, when I saw the cat for the first time and when I saw the whole, entire movie in Cannes, the experience was very rare," Banderas said of becoming Puss in Boots on the big screen. "It was weird because somehow, I don't know if it was the will that I wanted to be him, but it was like I saw a movie where I was there. It's not only the voice, it was a very weird experience, I don't know if I should go there because it's very surrealistic, but it's true. As much as we've been doing more and more movies and the technology like you said, has been advancing so much and they have been working so hard to develop a 3D that finally is something that doesn't produce a headache that you can actually get into the universe. When I saw the movie this time, you have to separate yourself from the cat, you get out of the movie theater and you may have the feeling that you have the face that he has and you can do the eye thing and stuff like that, but it's not true. Unfortunately."

Hayek was also surprised by seeing aspects of herself in her character Kitty Softpaws, that she didn't even know were her own characteristics.

"Chris Miller the director, who was just wonderful and a joy to work with, he kept a lot of secrets from me, so I didn't really understand all of the film, except maybe some of my scenes," Hayek continued. "When I saw the film, I was so stunned by the film, even the story! I didn't know all of the story! They never gave me a script, they would take me scene by scene and when I saw the character, I saw some things that are more my daughter and I get that's me, but you're not aware you're doing it, so that was a little bit of a shock, but I love the character."

Though "Puss in Boots" is a funny movie, Banderas insisted that there was also more to the film than comedy and hoped some of the messages come through.

"It's not based on gags," Banderas continued. "It's not that type of thing but the humor is produced by the story itself, the contradiction of the character, there are very emotional moments too - we also reflect about friendship, about vision, about forgiveness, which is a very important one, I think, for kids to understand. I think it actually plays, like you said at the beginning of the interview on many levels, an epic level, an adventure and a comedy, big time."

Hayek was born to a Lebanese-Mexican father and Mexican mother. The actress moved to the United States more than 20 years ago. She revealed in an interview with V Magazine Spain last year that she endured "racial discrimination in Hollywood" at the beginning of her acting career.

Hayek was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the 2002 film "Frida" and had a recurring role on the comedy series "Ugly Betty." She has also starred alongside Spanish-born actor Banderas in "Desperado" and "Friday" as well as in the movie "One Upon a Time in Mexico."

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Salma Hayek: Sultry actress Salma Hayek channels her voice into a cat in “Puss in Boots,” now in theaters. She stars as Kitty Softpaws in her very first animated movie role. Kitty’s in a love/hate relationship with Puss in Boots SEmD voiced by Antonio Banderas − and she’s a cunning thief to boot.

- On how she researched her role as Kitty Softpaws: “Well, I have a cat. Although, she's way out-numbered by the dogs. I have one cat, 10 dogs, four alpacas, four parrots, five horses, four ducks and 20 chickens. Most of them are rescue animals. So, my cat SEmD her name is Gypsy SEmD is definitely not in the majority. But I adore her. She’s too smart for the dogs. Also, my sister-in-law in France has three cats, and I spend a lot of time with them. I’ve been around cats my whole life, so I’ve been doing a lifetime of research.

- On doing animation: “You don’t have to worry about hair and makeup and what you’re wearing, and this is great.”- On her friendship with Antonio Banderas : “[It’s] the case of that thing when you don’t see someone for a long time, and then when you see them, it’s as if you just saw them yesterday. In 18 years, it’s like that, even if we don’t see each other for chunks.” (Canoe.ca)

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Our favorite deep-voiced cat is back in his own movie with "Puss in Boots" with not only Antonio Banderas in the voice cast but the talented Salma Hayek. The two actors have gained international fame throughout the years but it hasn't been a particularly easy road. I got the chance to sit down and talk to the hard-working actors about what the road was like getting to where they are now, the Latino community and, of course, "Puss in Boots."

Before Puss met Shrek and Donkey, he was a swashbuckling hero who protected the innocent. A bunch of old pub thugs tell him that two murderous outlaws called Jack and Jill have discovered an ancient power that can destroy the world. Puss then sets off on a journey with his old friend Humpty Dumpty who also introduces him to Kitty Softpaws, a sly black cat who takes an interest in Puss's journey. With his new sidekicks, Puss sets off on his most adventurous and dangerous journey ever.

Melissa Molina: Well I wanted to talk to you (Hayek) about your character Kitty Softpaws. You were talking about how you didn't have that much time, how you didn't really prepare, but she is a little femme fatale. Is there anything else you brought along to her?

Antonio Banderas: (In deep voice) Yesssss. Can you include this into your recording?

Melissa Molina: Yes, I'm recording it. (Laughs)

Salma Hayek: I think that she's very, very independent and I'm also very independent so I think I had a lot of fun with that aspect of her.

Antonio Banderas: A thief!

Salma Hayek: I'm not a thief.

Antonio Banderas: A traitor!

Salma Hayek: She's everything you need, that's it, that's for sure. So don't criticize my little cat.

Melissa Molina: Are you guys able to work together at all when you were doing the voice recordings?

Antonio Banderas: We did only one session together.

Melissa Molina: What was that like? Especially for you (Hayek) because this is your first voice acting gig.

Salma Hayek: Yes, we had a lot of practice before with the director and by the time we got there we really had the character because at the beginning the character wasn't really, really defined. By the time I got to Antonio, Chris (Miller) got me prepared enough so we were able to improvise together and come up with new things.

Melissa Molina: And I wanted to ask you about how some people are saying that "Puss in Boots" is a victory for Latinos because they're finally in the lead roles of a mainstream movie. Is it easier for you to get bigger roles now? Was it harder when you first started? What's the landscape like now when it comes to that?

Antonio Banderas: It's starting to get... normal. It started getting normal finally.

Salma Hayek: (Laughs) That's so true!

Antonio Banderas: There were some other steps along the way here to normality. When I first arrived in this country we were just destined to play drug traffickers, the bad guys. It was just difficult to find a character that we could play that was a hero. But I remember in "Zorro" the bad guy was a blonde guy while the hero was a dark-skinned Latino...

Salma Hayek: But there weren't a lot of Latinos in there.

Antonio Banderas: I'm sorry?

Salma Hayek: There were not a lot of Latinos.

Antonio Banderas: Oh, she's complaining again.

Melissa Molina: Are you talking about them casting Catherine (Zeta-Jones) in the female lead part?

Salma Hayek: And Anthony Hopkins. They're wonderful, I adore them but really the only Latino in the main group was you (Banderas).

Antonio Banderas: So little by little things are getting normal, again I think behind the effort of the community they show to the world the capacity of work that they have to actually improve in new generations, especially in their families, to send them to study and because they know that they study harder sometimes which some people may take for granted with what life has given them. They come out very prepared and there are Latinos out there now in every institution of America practically and that has a very strong effect in Hollywood. These guys are studying the demographics and you have no idea how excited somebody like Jeffrey Katzenberg, our producer, was when he was telling me the track of the Spanish community for this movie. It's beyond the charts, it's twenty percent bigger than what they expected.

Salma Hayek: I'm sorry, I told you this before Jeffrey Katzenberg gave you the results.

Antonio Banderas: Because you are very smart. (Laughs)

Salma Hayek: Because I know my people.

Melissa Molina: Well we're getting bigger too even in television. Last summer a Univision show ("Soy Tu Dueña") had one of the highest primetime ratings at a point and even beat the U.S. networks.

Antonio Banderas: And now I'm going to make a puntualization here that for me is very, very important. You know who were the first ones who did that?

Salma Hayek: We are.

Antonio Banderas: Us. Why? I have experimented in a press conference once, I'm not going to say what movie, but I have experimented with this information. A Latino journalist asked me 'Antonio, but you know you are always going to play Latinos in movies. You're never going to be able to play the characters that Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt plays, you're always going to play just Latinos.' Think about that, seriously. It's so self-racist to ask a question like that, like he was considering that we are lesser. I have always been very proud of being a Latino. I never hide what I am. I actually think a Latino is dramatically way more interesting.

Salma Hayek: And we're hot!

Antonio Banderas: But it's us, the ones who have to start to believe that. I remember when we did "Zorro" that somebody at the studio commented to me that the Latino community wasn't going to see the movie so much because the Latino community wanted to see American movies with American actors because that, in a way, was the perception that they have of what they want to be. That is changing too. That is changing too because they can start feeling proud of their representation that they may have in art in general, not just in movies. That is very important that we believe in ourselves. If we don't believe in ourselves then nobody's going to do it.

Melissa Molina: I agree. And --

Salma Hayek: And I have to say something!

Antonio Banderas: She always has to have the last word!

Salma Hayek: That's so not true! For one of two times that I do this he doesn't forgive me. I was going to say that, speaking of how we need to believe, I think that this movie is so important because our children will see that the Latinos are the heroes which will help their self-esteem. I think it's important for the children now to grow up in a different world where we're not only the servants and the bad guys but we are the heroes that fight for honor and fight for community. I think these movies are very important like that.

Antonio Banderas: I'm going to make a t-shirt that is going to say "Accents Are Cool."

Melissa Molina: I like "Puss in Boots" too because it integrates a lot of the beautiful Spanish culture and more people need to be aware of it. But another thing I liked about "Puss" was how he was animated this time around, he seemed to have more cat-like characteristics. I'm a cat person so I really liked that part too.

Salma Hayek: I love cats and I love dogs too. I love all animals but I really do love cats.

Antonio Banderas: I deeply love all animals and they play a very important role in our family. For Estella it was essential, she was totally in love with animals ever since she was born and at some point we've had six dogs in our house. We now have two cats here in Los Angeles with another three dogs and yeah... and my mother-in-law has seventy-two lions.

Melissa Molina: (Pauses) What?

Antonio Banderas: Yeah, she owns a ranch twenty-five minutes from Los Angeles and she got a preservation for animals. They are big cats, there's lions, tigers, panthers, two elephants, and snakes too... but she doesn't have those anymore. So this is a very feline family. 

Melissa Molina: So how many years have the two of you been working together now?

Salma Hayek: Seventeen, eighteen?

Antonio Banderas: Eighteen. She just reduces the years so she can feel younger.

Salma Hayek: I am just a couple of years younger!

Antonio Banderas: She's going to start saying that "Desperado" was done last year.

Melissa Molina: Now I have to admit, people have a certain list of actors they think are A-listers with like Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, blah blah. But you guys are up there too in my mind. I probably shouldn't be saying that but whatever... (Laughs)

Salma Hayek: No no, it's fine. For example, now that you've talked to us and how this interview's been... it's like this, no? (Points back and forth) So you're up there where you think we are.

Melissa Molina: (Giggles) Really?

Salma Hayek: Yeah. Are we not on the same level right now?

Melissa Molina: Yeah... yeah!

Salma Hayek: See how easy that was? (Laughs)

Antonio Banderas: We were not born stars. We ate a lot of shit. I lived on nine pensions in Madrid when I went to work there. I was just literally expelled out of each one of them because I had no money to pay. I don't know how I ate for two years but you know what? I think this is something that's interesting too: I was happy because I was exactly where I wanted to be, fighting for my life and fighting for a dream. That was it. If people think I am happier now because I have financial solutions for everything, not so much. You know, it's inside you and so --

Salma Hayek: I will tell you what, he's exactly the same as he was eighteen years ago and he has the same passion for the same dreams, it's incredible.

Melissa Molina: Wow, so do you see yourself as the same too?

Salma Hayek: No.

Melissa Molina: No? Why not?

Salma Hayek: I think I've been -- since them ten different people, my life has changed so much. I have changed so much. I probably have gone full circle to where I've gone back to some things, but I think I have changed. I will tell you, I love what I do but I envy him. I don't have the same passion as I had like when I started.

Antonio Banderas: Yep, I do.

Salma Hayek: And I don't know anybody else that does except for Antonio. It's different. I have a love for what I do but it's different.

Melissa Molina: Well now you have a daughter...

Salma Hayek: Yeah, I'm a little softer around the edges now. (Laughs)

Melissa Molina: So what do you hope not only latino audiences get but movie-goers in general get from "Puss in Boots" other than just a really cute cat?

Antonio Banderas: Besides just to have a movie that's an epic, it's an adventure and there's a lot of comedy. There are actually some beautiful messages in the movie that reflect about friendship, that reflect about brotherhood and that reflect about betrayal and forgiveness mainly. I think it proves actually after the many things he (Puss) goes through being an outcast and a noble guy, I think at the end he's got a very pure heart. I love that about him. (Laughs)

Salma Hayek: I think one of my favorite things about this, for the kids, is the subject matter of bad influences and how you have to be strong and keep your personality, do things you believe in and do not surrender to peer pressure.

Antonio Banderas: That's what you're saying? You're copying that answer from me. Salma Hayek: I know but what I'm saying is that it's come to be my favorite thing about it, it's a thing that's extremely important."Puss in Boots" arrives in theaters everywhere this Friday, October 28th.

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Reunited and it feels so good. Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas are sharing the screen yet again, this time in animated form as cats in Puss In Boots, out Friday. Banderas recreates his swashbuckling character in this Shrek spinoff, which costars his mysterious, street smart friend Kitty Southpaws (Hayek). The buddies first costarred (in the flesh) in 1995’s Desperado, then Frida in 2002, and 2003’s Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

Banderas, who is from Spain, and Hayek, from Mexico, share more than the same language. They’re friends and admirers of one another’s work. “It’s always such great fun to work with Antonio, especially with this character he’s created that I’ve adored since it began,’’ said Hayek from the Mandarin Oriental Miami Hotel. Added Banderas: “This was an opportunity to work with an actress I respect and one I practically started out with.’’

Hayek — who lives in Paris with her billionaire husband François-Henri Pinault and their 4-year-old daughter Valentina — had a guiding force for her first voice role. “It’s funny : Desperado was my first movie in America, and Antonio helped me through it,’’ said Hayek, 45. “And now it’s my first movie that’s animated and again it’s Antonio.’’Banderas, 51, loved bringing back his furry character in this Shrek prequel, and even feels a little feline affinity.

“He loves female cats,’’ said the father of one who is married to Melanie Griffith. “At the same time, he’s soft and vulnerable. I may relate to him in a certain way. I would have loved to be more like him in my single days.’’

As for Kitty Southpaws, Salma won’t be channeling her on Halloween. “It would be hard. She’s naked with just boots and a belt — that’s it!!’’ “It would be very problematic,’’ added Banderas. “We may even be arrested on the street.’’ Banderas and Hayek were happy to be on a press tour in Miami. Banderas met Griffith on the set of Two Much here in 1995 and has fond memories. “This city always brings me good luck, that’s the truth,’’ said Banderas. “But the main thing is that it’s probably the most Spanish city in the United States. The accents and the language make you very comfortable — almost like a second home.’’

Hayek shares the love. “It’s special, definitely one of a kind,’’ she said. “You look around, and you see all these buildings and stuff, but the nature around you is extraordinary. That’s the perfect combination for me.’’She throws in a little known fact: Salma’s a diver. “There are a lot of really good spots here. You can be in a big city but within 45 minutes you’re someplace else totally different.’’

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Salma Hayek visited the Late Show with David Letterman Monday night to promote her new movie, Puss in Boots. During her interview Salma revealed that she took up smoking during the filming of Frida, her biopic of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, but was able to kick the habit after falling pregnant with her now four-year-old daughter Valentina.

The sexy star also revealed than a severe injury has hampered her since July 2010 - while she was getting ready to go to a party to watch the World Cup soccer match between Spain and The Netherlands she slipped and tore two ligaments in her ankle.

"I broke two ligaments last year during the World Cup. I was actually in my bathroom, barefoot. I was not skiing or playing soccer. I don't know how you twist an ankle and I broke two ligaments,"she says. "But I had to make it to my friend's because I had run out of electricity in my house - everything was going wrong that day - and finally I made it to watch the game between Spain and Holland."

Salma says she should have sought medical attention - but she exclaimed, "I was not gonna miss that soccer game!"She made it to the party to watch the game, but her ankle has caused numerous problems since then and she refuses to have surgery.

[N]ow every six months, when I need it the most, something happens [to her ankle] again," she says. "Six months ago I was going to play this prostitute on this French movie, and of course she was a stripper also, so she needed the big high heels. Two days before we start... I twist it.

"The worst part about it is you can't wear heels. You've never been a Mexican short woman!" she said to Letterman. "This is tragic - I often say, had it not been for high heels, I would still be in Coatzacoalcos [town in Mexico] with 10 kids and this big!"

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Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas continue to be friends with career benefits. Their relationship thrives after six films, and a gruelling global promotional tour for the animated motion picture, Puss in Boots 3-D, which had them visiting the Windy City recently.

Not even jet lag could frazzle the two amigos, nor diminish their enthusiasm for the Shrek spinoff opening in theatres Oct. 28. "I think we have a great understanding and respect for each other," said Mexican-born actress Hayek, smiling at the Spaniard in a posh Four Seasons Hotel suite.

A beaming Banderas returned the grin, and the compliment. "When they said the name to me, it was an immediate, 'Yes,' because we always work beautifully together," he said. He's referring to Hayek's voice part of Kitty Softpaws, who is Puss in Boots' love interest in the new movie.

Directed by Chris Miller, who directed and co-wrote Shrek the Third, the film is a Puss in Boots origins story. It covers the stretch before we meet the master swordsman and Latin lover introduced in 2004's Shrek 2, and who shows up in 2007's Shrek the Third and 2010's Shrek Forever After.

Again voiced by Banderas with perfect irony, Puss is still a lover, occasionally succumbing to his feline ways. "It's like he never looks at himself in the mirror to see that he is a cat," said Banderas.

Hayek, as Kitty Softpaws, is a slick thief, and the object of Puss in Boots' affection while on their journey to retrieve golden eggs from a magical goose formerly owned by the dearly departed beanstalk giant. "She's an adventuress," said the actress of Kitty. "She's independent, like a good cat. And she likes danger. And, at first, she thinks Puss in Boots is highly over-rated."

Along for the ride, too, is Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis), an evil genius who might be hatching a plan more devious than expected, just as notorious killer outlaws Jack (Billy Bob Thornton) & Jill (Amy Sedaris) hunt down Puss, Kitty and Humpty.

It isn't a surprise that the cartoon includes Shrek-style sarcasms, in-jokes, post-modern referencing, gross-outs and self-effacing fairy-tale quips. (The Puss in Boots character is loosely based on a tale by 17th-century French writer Charles Perrault.)

For his part, Banderas said he was thrilled that the spinoff is finally being released after delays over the last six years. On the other hand, Hayek was never frustrated. And if she needed help in the tone or delivery of her lines, she could always turn to Banderas, who joined his co-star in as many recording sessions as their schedules would permit. "And for me, it was easier, because I am reacting to a character (Antonio) already created," said Hayek. The voicing, familiar to Banderas, turned out to be a positive learning experience for Hayek, as well.

"I loved the process of being in the studio, and the director (Chris Miller) was amazing," she said. "It was so freeing, because there were endless possibilities and no restrictions."When all else failed, they could rely on the combustible Banderas-Hayek chemistry that has served them well. "We can argue, but make it a comedy," explained Banderas.

Their connection first revealed itself with Robert Rodriguez' Desperado in 1995, and continued with Hayek's biopic of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in 2002's Frida, a title-role performance that earned Hayek a best-actress Oscar nomination. Besides Puss in Boots, they've also worked together on 1996's From Dusk Till Dawn, 2003's Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, and Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

"When I got the call to do Puss in Boots with Antonio, I got chills," Hayek said. "Every time I have done a movie with him, it has changed my life. Desperado (her breakout) changed things for good, and Frida (her Oscar nod) did it again. And now Puss in Boots is the biggest movie I've ever been in."

Good fortune makes for good friends. And their families, they said, are nearly as close as they are. Hayek has a four-year-old daughter, Valentina Paloma, and is married to French fashion billionaire, Francois-Henri Pinault. Banderas, married to actress Melanie Griffith since 1996, has a daughter Stella, 17. Chances are, they will reunite for another film, but they have no immediate plans other than being featured in separate films in stark contrast to Push in Boots.

"No specific plans," confirmed Hayek, who plays a violent drug-cartel boss in Oliver Stone's Savages, set to hit theatres by September 2012. "We'll see," cautioned Banderas, who also stars in Pedro Almodovar's bizarre R-rated thriller, The Skin I Live In, released in some North American theatres.

So perhaps there will be another Puss in Boots feature in their future? "It's a decision movie audiences around the world will decide," said Banderas.

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What: Los Angeles premiere of Puss in Boots, the cat-licious DreamWorks animated 3-D film Where: Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, Calif. When: Sunday morning. Guest list: Antonio Banderas (Puss in Boots), Melanie Griffith, Salma Hayek (Kitty Softpaws), Zach Galifianakis (Humpty Alexander Dumpty), Billy Bob Thornton (Jack), Amy Sedaris (Jill), director Chris Miller.

Kitty litter power: Rather than red, organizers went with a beautiful tan carpet for the event, giving the very distinct impression that one was standing amid a kitty litter box. Hayek promised there was not going to be any problems with the cat-friendly crowd. "There will be no accidents," she said. "It's OK, we have it under control."In fact, there were no real animals at the premiere. Hayek says that her 4-year-old daughter Valentina found out the hard way. "Valentina wanted to bring one dog. I said 'No, never to premiere,'" said Hayek. "This one especially it was a 'no.'"

The carpet stayed spotless throughout the event. Tag team: Hayek and Banderas took the unusual step of doing their voice work together for the animated film so that the Latin sparks could fly on film. And they carried the magic over to the premiere carpet, laughing it up as they did all their talking together. "We're not doing everything together," Hayek purred. "Yes, just these interviews," agreed Banderas. Amongst the laughs, there were serious, happy moments.

When Hayek ran into director Miller on the carpet, they embraced as he repeated "We made it, we made it." Miller said the trek from the beginning of the project to the actual premiere was so long that the group had to take in the moment. Later, Miller beamed: "Antonio just said to me, 'No matter what happens, they cannot take this moment away from us.'"

Banderas seemed especially reflective about the moment, saying that he was looking forward to hearing an audience filled with children watch the 3-D film. "To hear all these kids laughing with the character I have been traveling with for 10 years, it pays off for everything," he said. Not so egg-cited: Maybe the Sunday morning event was too early for Galifianakis, who voices Humpty Alexander Dumpty in the film. In fact, when asked if Humpty would have his own movie and premiere in the future, he shot down the idea.

"Oh God, selling that by having a premiere does not sweeten the deal for me," he said. "This is not my scene. I would rather be trampled by 16 horses than be here."Galifianakis did perk up when posing for pictures with Hayek. As camera bugs shot them together, Hayek began tickling him with her hand behind his back. That brought out some smiles. Regally named: Galifianakis had no explanation for why his famous character now has the middle name Alexander. It is never explained in the film.

"I kind of like it," he said. "They wanted a legitimate name between Humpty and Dumpty. It's very regal."
Cardinals fever: Cardinals fan Thornton was still beaming about his favorite team's stunning World Series victory on Saturday night, with slugger Albert Pujols hitting three home runs, tying a World Series record. "I was so nervous going into that game and just astounded by what Pujols did, " said Thornton.
But he knew that joy wouldn't last. "I'm already nervous about tonight (Sunday)," he said. "Real sports fan, we never get OK."

Suited and booted: Thornton did not follow the trend of wearing boots on the Puss in Boots red carpet. "I'm wearing some shoes from the '60s," he said. "I decided to be different today."However, his partner Connie Angland showed off some platform boots on the carpet that brought her to Thorton's eye level.

"I have no idea where she got them" he laughed, getting used to her new height. "But she's actually only about 4 feet tall."Angland made it down the carpet without boot wardrobe malfunction. Short on boots: Amy Sedaris was another one shunning the boot attire, claiming it was due to height issues of her own. "I'm not a big boot person," she admitted. "I'm just too short. They cut me in half. It's like, there go my legs."

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