The 45-year-old actress is married to French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault - with who she has four-year-old daughter Valentina - but insists she doesn`t rely on him for money, though she admits she is happy to have his support when she is experiencing "troubles".

She said: "I work hard, I make my own living and I love it. I like having financial independence. I don`t ever want to have to depend on anyone completely. But when I have troubles sometimes, it`s nice to have someone there to help."

Francois-Henri is the CEO of luxury goods firm PPR - which own fashion houses Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent - and while Salma likes to "play fashion" with him, she insists her spouse doesn`t tell her what to wear.

She told the November issue of Redbook magazine: "I like to play fashion with him, but I`m nobody`s Barbie."

The actress admits becoming a mother has had an impact on some of her career choices - such as voicing a character in `Puss in Boots` so Valentina can watch it - she insists she is not afraid of playing a "devil" if a role calls for it.

She added: "I`m playing the queen of a drug cartel in an Oliver Stone film. He asked if I`d gone `all soft` because I`m a mother. I said, `Yes, but I can be the devil if I need to, because after all, I`m an actress.` "
sections: Celebrities