Eva Longoria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eva Longoria
Longoria in 2025
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 first became well-known for her role as Isabella Braña on the TV show The Young and the Restless from 2001 to 2003.

Her biggest role was playing Gabrielle Solis in the popular ABC series Desperate Housewives from 2004 to 2012. This role won her two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She has also starred in movies like The Sentinel (2006), Overboard (2018), and the TV show Only Murders in the Building (2024).

Besides acting, Longoria is a successful director. She directed the Oscar-nominated movie Flamin' Hot (2023). She also has her own production company, which was bought by Hyphenate Media Group in 2023. In 2018, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her work in the entertainment industry.

Early Life and School

Longoria at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival

Eva 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 Tejano, which means they are Texans of Mexican descent. One of her sisters has special needs, and Longoria has said this taught her the importance of hard work and helping others.

She was raised in a Roman Catholic family. Growing up, she did not speak Spanish but learned it later in 2009. To earn money for her quinceañera (a special 15th birthday celebration), she worked at a Wendy's restaurant for three years. She said this job taught her a strong work ethic.

Longoria went to Texas A&M University-Kingsville and earned a degree in kinesiology, the study of body movement. In 1998, she won the Miss Corpus Christi USA beauty pageant. After college, she moved to Los Angeles to become an actress. While looking for acting jobs, she worked as a headhunter, finding people for jobs.

She has said that singer and actress Jennifer Lopez and Tejana music star Selena were big inspirations for her. In 2013, she earned a master's degree in Chicano Studies from California State University, Northridge. She studied at night after filming Desperate Housewives.

Acting and Directing Career

First Roles and 'Desperate Housewives'

Longoria's first TV appearances were in shows like Beverly Hills, 90210 and General Hospital. Her first major role was on the soap opera The Young and the Restless from 2001 to 2003.

In 2003, she was cast as Gabrielle Solis in the hit show Desperate Housewives. The show was a huge success and made her famous around the world. She once said, "I think it's funny when people say I'm an overnight sensation, because I've been working at it for 10 years." For her role, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

During this time, she also starred in her first major movie, The Sentinel (2006), with actors Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland.

Producing and Recent Work

Longoria at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival

In the 2010s, Longoria began to produce and direct more. She was an executive producer for the TV series Devious Maids and also directed an episode. She starred in and produced the comedy series Telenovela.

In 2017, she directed an episode of the popular comedy Black-ish. Her production company, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, signed a deal with Universal Pictures to create new projects.

Her first time directing a major movie was with Flamin' Hot (2023). The film tells the story behind the popular spicy snack. In 2024, she joined the cast of the comedy-mystery series Only Murders in the Building.

Business and Other Projects

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

Restaurants and Investments

In 2008, Longoria opened a restaurant called Beso, which means "kiss" in Spanish, in Hollywood. She later opened another one in Las Vegas.

She is also a smart investor. When the movie John Wick (2014) needed money for production, she invested $6 million. The movie became a huge success, and her investment paid off.

Longoria has also worked with many famous brands. She has been a spokesperson for L'Oréal Paris since 2005 and has appeared in ads for companies like Pepsi and New York & Co. In 2017, she launched her own clothing line.

Sports Team Ownership

Longoria is a part-owner of several sports teams. In 2020, she joined a group of investors, including actress Natalie Portman, to start the women's soccer team Angel City FC in Los Angeles.

In 2021, she became an investor in the Mexican soccer club Necaxa. Other famous investors include soccer player Mesut Özil and model Kate Upton. In 2024, her investment group also bought a small part of the Welsh soccer team Wrexham AFC, which is owned by actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.

Charity Work

Longoria with Victoria Beckham in 2010

Helping Others

Longoria is known for her work with charities. In 2006, she started Eva's Heroes, a charity in San Antonio, Texas, that helps young adults with special needs. She was inspired to start it because of her older sister.

She also created the Eva Longoria Foundation. This organization helps Latinas get a better education and provides support for Latina business owners. The foundation runs programs to help parents get involved in their children's schools and gives loans to help women start their own businesses.

For her charity work, The Hollywood Reporter named her Philanthropist of the Year in 2009. In 2024, she received the $50 million Courage and Civility Award from Jeff Bezos for her foundation's work.

Advocacy and Politics

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

Longoria is active in politics and often speaks about issues important to the Latino community. She has worked to encourage people to vote and has supported political candidates.

In 2012, she was a co-chair for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign and gave a speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. She has spoken at the Democratic National Convention several times, including in 2016, 2020, and 2024.

She also works to support farmworkers in the United States and produced documentaries like The Harvest to bring attention to their working conditions.

Personal Life

Longoria at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival

Eva Longoria has been married three times. Her first marriage was to actor Tyler Christopher from 2002 to 2004. She was then married to professional basketball player Tony Parker from 2007 to 2011.

In 2016, she married Mexican businessman José "Pepe" Bastón. They have one son, who was born in 2018. In 2024, she announced that her family moved from the United States and now divides their time between homes in Mexico and Spain.

Family Roots

Longoria is proud of her Mexican-American heritage and calls herself a "Texican" (a Texan of Mexican descent). In 2010, a TV show called Faces of America researched her family history. They found that her ancestors came from a small village named Llongoria in Spain and moved to Mexico in the 1600s.

Her family later received a large piece of land in Texas from the King of Spain in 1767. This land was passed down through her family for generations. DNA tests showed that her ancestry is 70% European, 27% Native American, and 3% African.

Images for kids

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  Longoria at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.

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  Longoria at Imagine Cup in 2011

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  Longoria in 2009 at the Guadalajara International Film Festival

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Eva Longoria para niños