Eva Longoria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eva Longoria
Longoria in 2022
Born	Eva Jacqueline Longoria (1975-03-15) March 15, 1975 (age 50) Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
Other names	Eva Longoria Christopher Eva Longoria Parker Eva Longoria Bastón
Alma mater	Texas A&M University-Kingsville (BS) California State University, Northridge (MA)
Occupation	Actress producer director businesswoman
Years active	1999–present
Spouse(s)	Tyler Christopher ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2004)​ Tony Parker ​ ​ (m. 2007; div. 2011)​ José Bastón ​ ​ (m. 2016)​
Children	1

Eva Jacqueline Longoria Bastón (born March 15, 1975) is an American actress, producer, director, and businesswoman. She became famous for playing Gabrielle Solis in the TV show Desperate Housewives (2004–2012). For this role, she won two Screen Actors Guild Awards and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

Eva has also appeared in movies like The Sentinel (2006) and Overboard (2018). She won an Imagen Award for Overboard. In 2024, she was a guest star on the TV show Only Murders in the Building.

Beyond acting, Eva Longoria is also a successful producer and director. She started her own production company, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, in 2005. She has helped create TV shows like Devious Maids (2013–2016) and directed the Oscar-nominated film Flamin' Hot (2023). In 2018, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has also worked with big brands like L'Oréal and Pepsi. She even launched her own fashion and perfume brands.

Early Life and Education

Longoria at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival

Eva Jacqueline Longoria was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 15, 1975. She is the youngest of four daughters. Her parents, Ella Eva and Enrique Longoria Jr., are of Mexican heritage. One of her sisters has special needs. Eva has shared that her family always worked hard to support each other.

She grew up in the Roman Catholic faith. Interestingly, she did not learn to speak Spanish until 2009. When she was in high school, she worked part-time at a Wendy's restaurant for three years. This helped her earn money for her quinceañera, a special 15th birthday celebration. Eva has said that working in fast food taught her a strong work ethic.

Eva earned her Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology (the study of body movement) from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. In 1998, she also won the title of Miss Corpus Christi USA. After college, she entered a talent contest that brought her to Los Angeles. There, a talent agent discovered her. While trying out for acting roles, she worked as a headhunter for four years.

Later, in May 2013, Eva earned a master's degree in Chicano Studies from California State University, Northridge. Chicano Studies is a field that looks at the history and culture of Mexican Americans. Her master's paper was about the importance of Latina women in science and technology careers.

Career Highlights

Early Roles and Breakthrough

Eva Longoria started her acting career with guest roles on TV shows like Beverly Hills, 90210. In 2001, she got a contract role on the soap opera The Young and the Restless. She played Isabella Braña until 2003.

After that, she appeared in a TV show called Dragnet and a few movies. In 2003, Eva was cast as Gabrielle Solis in the popular ABC comedy-drama Desperate Housewives. This role made her a household name. She once said that people called her an "overnight sensation," but she had been working hard for 10 years.

In 2006, Eva was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her role in Desperate Housewives. She also won an ALMA Award and was named entertainer of the year. That same year, she starred in her first big movie, the thriller The Sentinel.

Longoria at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival

Throughout the 2000s, Eva appeared in many major advertising campaigns. She was also featured on the covers of famous magazines like Vogue and Marie Claire. People en Español magazine often included her in their "Most Beautiful People" lists.

Eva became the first face of Bebe Sport in 2007. She also has long-term contracts with L'Oréal and New York & Co. She has worked with brands like Magnum Ice-Cream and Heineken. She was also part of Microsoft's "I'm A PC" ad campaign.

Later Career and Producing

In 2010, Eva was a judge on The Next Food Network Star. She also hosted the 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards in Madrid, Spain.

From June 2009 to June 2010, Eva Longoria was ranked among the top-earning women in prime-time TV by Forbes magazine. She earned an estimated $12 million. In 2011, she topped Forbes' list of the highest-paid TV actresses.

A pregnant Longoria getting her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018

From 2013, Eva was an executive producer for the TV show Devious Maids. She also directed an episode of the show. She was an executive producer for the documentaries The Harvest and Food Chains. For Food Chains, she won a James Beard Foundation Award.

In 2015, NBC created a sitcom called Telenovela where Eva Longoria starred as a popular telenovela actress. The show ran for one season.

In 2017, Eva directed the final episode of the ABC comedy Black-ish. In 2018, she attended the premiere of her film Dog Days.

2020s and Directing Success

In 2019, Eva Longoria was announced as the director of the movie Flamin' Hot. This was her first time directing a full-length film. The movie was released in 2023.

In 2021, Eva was working on a new TV series called Brown-ish. This show would be about a Latino family. She is also producing a Spanish-language version of the TV series Call My Agent! for Latin America and the U.S. She will direct the first two episodes.

In June 2024, the Los Angeles Times recognized Eva Longoria as an "L.A. Influential" creator. This series highlights people who are making a big impact in Los Angeles.

Other Ventures

Business and Endorsements

Longoria at a book signing for her book Eva's Kitchen: Cooking with Love for Family and Friends in April 2011

In March 2008, Eva Longoria opened a restaurant called Beso in Hollywood. "Beso" means "kiss" in Spanish. It has a nightclub called Kiss on the floor above it. In 2009, she and other partners opened another Beso restaurant in Las Vegas.

In 2012 and 2013, Eva worked with Iron Chef Michael Symon for a PepsiCo contest called "Do Us A Flavor." This contest asked people to suggest new flavors for Lay's potato chips. The person who created the winning flavor won $1 million.

In 2014, Eva helped fund the movie John Wick by providing $6 million. She has since doubled her investment.

In 2015, Eva announced that she was working with Sunrise Brands to create a women's clothing line. It launched in the fall of 2016. In March 2017, she launched her clothing line website.

In 2020, Eva joined the ownership group of Angel City FC. This is a women's professional soccer team in the National Women's Soccer League.

Charity Work

Longoria with Victoria Beckham in 2010

In 2006, Eva Longoria started Eva's Heroes. This charity helps young adults with developmental disabilities. It was inspired by her sister, who has intellectual disabilities. The charity is based in San Antonio, Texas.

Eva is also a national spokesperson for PADRES Contra El Cancer, an organization that helps children with cancer. She supports many other charities too, like the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. She is an executive producer of the documentary The Harvest. This film focuses on child migrant farm workers in the U.S. and works to raise awareness for them.

Her other charity, the Eva Longoria Foundation, helps Latinas succeed in school and go to college. It also helps Latina business owners with training, advice, and money. This foundation is partly funded by philanthropist Howard Graham Buffett.

The Hollywood Reporter named Eva Philanthropist of the Year in 2009. This was for her dedication to Latino causes and helping her community. In 2009, she appeared on the TV show Fort Boyard and helped raise over €20,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Longoria at Imagine Cup in 2011

In 2009, Eva started a Master's program in Chicano studies and political science at Cal State University, Northridge. She wanted to better understand her community to help create change. She earned her master's degree in May 2013.

In 2009, Eva was chosen to be part of a group that would create a National Museum of the American Latino. In March 2017, a UK company called Richtopia listed Eva among the 200 Most Influential Philanthropists and Social Entrepreneurs worldwide.

In July 2019, Eva supported the Special Olympics Texas Summer Games. In 2020, she helped the San Antonio Food Bank with their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eva also works with Mott's Fruit Flavored Snacks to promote their "Snacks and Stories" program. This program gives away bilingual children's books. She noted that many children in the U.S. do not have easy access to books.

In March 2024, Eva Longoria received a $50-million award from Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez. This award recognized her charity work through the Eva Longoria Foundation.

Politics

Longoria with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in 2023

Eva Longoria is very interested in immigration issues. She has visited the Mexico–United States border to understand different viewpoints. She has said that Arizona's SB 1070 immigration law is unfair.

In 2012, Eva was one of seven Californians chosen to help lead Barack Obama's reelection campaign. She spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention to support President Obama. In May 2014, she started the Latino Victory Project. This group raises money for political candidates and encourages people to vote.

Eva has spoken at the Democratic National Convention multiple times, including in 2016, 2020, and 2024. In January 2021, she helped educate Latina voters about voting rules in Georgia.

Writing

Eva Longoria's first book, Eva's Kitchen: Cooking with Love for Family and Friends, was published in April 2011. It is a cookbook.

Personal Life

Family

Longoria at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival

Eva Longoria was married to actor Tyler Christopher from 2002 to 2004.

She then met Tony Parker, a basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs, in 2004. They got engaged in 2006 and married in Paris in July 2007. Eva filed for divorce from Parker in November 2010, and the divorce was finalized in January 2011.

On December 13, 2015, Eva announced her engagement to Mexican businessman José Antonio "Pepe" Bastón Patiño. He was the president of Televisa, a large media company. They were married in Mexico on May 21, 2016.

Eva gave birth to her son in 2018. In November 2024, she shared that she and her family now live between Mexico and Spain.

Ancestry

Research shows that Eva Longoria's family has a long history in North America. Her oldest known Spanish ancestor, Lorenzo Suárez de Longoria, came to Mexico in 1603. His family was from a village in Spain called Llongoria.

In 1767, her ancestors received a large piece of land along the Rio Grande river from the King of Spain. This land stayed in her family for over 100 years. After the Mexican–American War, the border moved, and the land ended up on the American side.

DNA tests show that Eva's family background is 70% European, 27% Indigenous American, and 3% African. Her DNA also shows she is a direct descendant of a Native American woman, a Maya from Mexico. Eva identifies as a "Texican"—meaning she is a Mexican-American from Texas.

Filmography

Eva Longoria has acted in over 60 films and television shows.

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Eva Longoria para niños