Actress Salma Hayek was desperate to give birth to a boy - because women suffer more than men.

The star had daughter Valentia Paloma Pinault in September last year (07), but admits when she was pregnant, she was keen for the child to be male.

However, Hayek insists she was delighted when she gave birth to a girl, because Valentia was "perfect".

She tells Glamour magazine, "I have something to confess, I wanted a boy.

Probably because I was afraid. I think women suffer a bit more than boys, and there is always conflict between mothers and daughters.

"But now that she’s here, I’m so happy she’s a girl. And I can’t imagine there ever being conflict between us, because I’m in a state of innocence where I love everything she does."