Actress Salma Hayek has reversed her views on feminists and is now proudly using the term to describe herself as she is "ready to fight for women's rights".

Just before the Frida star was honoured for her ardent support for gender equality in November (14), Hayek said in an interview that she did not consider herself a feminist.

She told People magazine, "I am not a feminist. If men were going through the things women are going through today, I would be fighting for them with just as much passion. I believe in equality.

"It should not be just because I am a woman. It should be a reflex, if someone else is being hurt, to help. It shouldn't have to be because you are being a victim too. I work a lot for domestic violence, and people often ask me if I have experienced it. And I say, no, on the contrary - my father is a great man, my husband is a great man. But we are all human beings, no?"

But in preparation for International Women's Day on Sunday (08Mar15), Hayek changed her thoughts on the term in an interview with U.K.'s The Guardian, saying, "I am a feminist because I love women and I am ready to fight for women."

She added, "I am a feminist because I am proud to be a woman, and I am passionate about making the world a better place for women. I am a feminist because a lot of amazing women have made me the woman I am today. I am inspired by women every day, as friends and as colleagues."

On Sunday, Hayek closed out London's Women of the World Festival by giving an empowering speech to women before screening her new animated film The Prophet, inspired by Lebanese author Kahlil Gibran's poetry essays.