Hollywood starlet Eva Mendes blasted fellow Latino actress Salma Hayek for stealing her favorite baby name, press reported Saturday. The 34-year-old actress said she was shocked when she found out that her pal Hayek, 42, had called her daughter Valentina Paloma, born September 2007. "Salma took my baby name. Valentina Paloma. I was like, 'Salma, you took my baby name!' And she's all, 'What are your other ones so that I don't take them," Mendes was quoted in Latina magazine as saying.
Mendes, however, insisted that despite the baby row she still has immense respect for the Mexican actress. "I think if there's anybody in this field that I look up to it's her. She has really done it the right way and I respect her completely. I just saw her speak, and she's the most inspirational speaker. You never want her to leave the stage," the magazine said.
Mendes, who does not have any children of her own, is in a long-term relationship with producer George Augusto.