Hayek Turned Party Planner When Assistant Quit

The actress hit the streets of Downtown Los Angeles in disguise to pick up pinatas, favours and food and then faced a frantic search for a legal Barney to perform at her daughter's party.

Hayek recalls, "I was terrified. I wanted her (Valentina) to love it and I hired somebody to plan it for me, because it's my first time and she had gone to some that I was really impressed (by) and I didn't want her to feel that I did a lesser party. She quit two days before the party, once everybody was invited. I have no idea (why)... She left me with nothing.

"And the worst part was I told Valentina that Barney was coming... and she was so excited... I invited the people, she knows the whole programme and I have nothing.

"I said, 'I'm gonna do this, I'm taking over... I decorated it myself... I got the tables and the little chairs... All the stuff we cooked in the house

"I tried to get a Barney and they told me, 'No, no, no, that's illegal... They copyright him and it's illegal to have a Barney.' And I've already told her (Valentina) and she's so excited. I'd never do anything illegal but I was so desperate to make her happy that I did try to go into the black market... These are the things you do as a mother.

"Right before, I finally got him and I said, 'Valentina, we got Barney, baby...' and she goes, 'Oh mama, I don't like Barney anymore. I want Dora or Elmo...' We fired the illegal Barney and we got Dora... There are plenty of Elmos and Doras (and) they're legal."

The party was a big success.