Eva Longoria is always busy. The Texas-born actress, filmmaker, and businesswoman is one of the most notorious figures in Hollywood, often spotted at some of the world's leading events. She's also a staunch supporter and representative of diversity in Hollywood, with her presence guaranteeing that Latino voices will be heard whenever she's around.
Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Mexican parents, Longoria was raised in a home with three older sisters. Her parents worked hard for their daughters' happiness, often making sacrifices so their kids could have all that they needed. Longoria has praised her family for her values, particularly her mother, whom she credits as one of the reasons why she's such a hard worker.
“My mom raised four girls, one child with special needs, had a full-time job, had dinner on the table every day at six, was at every band practice, cheerleading practice. So for me, it's like, ‘Wow.’ I always think, ‘I'm not doing enough in my life!’”
Longoria has been a part of the industry for years, moving to Los Angeles from a young age to give her dreams of acting a chance. She began to be featured on TV roles in the early aughts, learning the ropes of the job with plenty of appearances, big and small, on some of the most iconic shows of the era, among them, "Beverly Hills, 90210," "General Hospital," "The Young and the Restless," and more.
Her big break came in 2004, when she was cast as Gabrielle Solis in "Desperate Housewives." The show, following a group of complex housewives residing on the fictional suburb of Wisteria Lane, starred Longoria, Felicity Huffman, Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross, Brenda Strong, and more, running for eight seasons and achieving critical and popular acclaim. In the case of Longoria, her work in the series resulted in two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Golden Globe nomination, and made her one of Hollywood's most prominent figures.
It also allowed her to buy her parents their first house. “My parents never get to experience everyday life with me so they don't really know," said Longoria on Oprah in 2006, referring to the years where she was away trying to make it in the acting industry. "So this was the closest thing I could give to them... to be touched by things I'm touched by every day."
As the years passed, Longoria began introducing herself in other parts of the entertainment industry, becoming a producer for films and TV shows, among them, "John Wick," "Devious Maids," "Gordita Chronicles," and documentary series exploring her roots, like "Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico," and "NECAXA." She's also an accomplished filmmaker, directing episodes of shows like "Jane the Virgin," and making her feature film debut with "Flamin' Hot," which was nominated for the Oscars for Best Original Song.
This year, she starred in various films, including "The Pickup," "War of the Worlds," and "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Roadtrip."
"I was always a producer-director in my head, who fell into acting. I love telling people what to do, and I'm really good at it. I love having control of the final product. I love being behind the camera, stepping back and letting someone else shine."
In 2024, Longoria was awarded the Bezos Courage and Civility Award, an annual award distributed by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez-Bezos recognizing figures who make important contributions to society with their philanthropy. “Whether it’s economic status, poverty, food insecurity, the environment, there are so many issues we’re facing in the world,” said Longoria to Elle. “I love the concept of this award, which is supporting people who are doing great things.”
Longoria used the funds to support the Eva Longoria Foundation, which helps Latinas and their families build better lives, and Eva's Heroes, a charitable organization within her foundation that supports people with special needs. The organization was developed in honor of Longoria's sister, who has served as the backbone of much of Longoria's mindset when it comes to helping others.
"The root of all my philanthropy comes from my sister and her true sense of seeing the world with a positive, beautiful lens. She sees the good in everything," she said.