She continued: “I think the voice of women can change the world, but we don't know our voice. We've never really investigated. We've been too busy for many, many decades and generations trying to operate within systems that were designed by men.”

Chime for Change, which Hayek co-founded with Beyoncé Knowles, is a campaign that aims to give women and girls the world over a louder voice, raising funds for and increasing awareness of the issues affecting them via projects and special events.

In her acceptance speech at Variety's luncheon, in which she had a few choice words concerning Hollywood sexism too, Hayek, 49, said she had hope that “in a world that is coming apart, women are coming together.”

“Have the courage to be unique” Salma Hayek urges young girls to forget about fitting in