Early life
Longoria was born in Corpus Christi, Texas to Mexican-American Catholic parents Enrique Longoria Jr. (born in Rachal, Brooks County, Texas) and Ella Eva Mireles (married in Falfurrias, Brooks County, Texas). The youngest of four girls, she has three older sisters: Elizabeth Judina, Emily Jeannette and Esmeralda . She attended Roy Miller High School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. During this time she won the title of "Miss Corpus Christi, USA" in 1998. After completing college, she entered a talent contest which led her to Los Angeles, shortly after she was spotted and signed by a theatrical agent.
Career
Longoria landed her first television role in 2000, guest starring in an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210. Another guest appearance in General Hospital the same year her big break in popular American soap opera The Young and the Restless, in which she played psychotic Isabella Braña Williams from 2001 to 2003 and was listed in People en Español's "Most Beautiful People" for 2003. After leaving The Young and the Restless, she was seen on the now-cancelled Dragnet. Although it lasted only two seasons, the show gave Longoria another leading star credit to her name. Following Dragnet, she starred in two ill-fated productions - Señorita Justice - a poorly received direct-to-video film and a television film titled The Dead Will Tell.
In 2004 Longoria landed a role that elevated her to the A-List. She starred as adulteress Gabrielle Solis in the worldwide break-out ABC hit Desperate Housewives. As the show became an overnight sensation, Longoria's career was well and truly launched. But, she never considered her career to jump off so fast, "I think it’s funny when people say I’m an overnight sensation, because I’ve been working at it for 10 years,"
Shortly after her debut on Desperate Housewives, Longoria starred in a poorly received direct-to-video film titled Carlita's Secret, for which she was also co-producer. In 2005, she was rewarded for her performance as Gabrielle Solis in Desperate Housewives when she was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy along with her co-stars. Even though Longoria or the rest of the cast didn't win, she was awarded the prestigious ALMA AWARD, and named entertainer of the year She also stars opposite Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland in the 2006 thriller The Sentinel, which is her first major role in a theatrical movie (both Douglas and Sutherland noted that much to their surprise, Eva whipped both of them in gun practice). Longoria continues to be included in lists of Hollywood's Most Beautiful, and was listed as #1 in Maxim's Hottest Female Stars of 2005 and 2006, becoming the first woman to top the list in two consecutive years. In her most recently released film, Harsh Times, she plays Sylvia. She co-stars with actors Freddy Rodriguez and Christian Bale.
On her interview with Ryan Seacrest on The Interview with Ryan Seacrest on E! she has stated: "I don't want to be on 7th Heaven -- on for 20 years and no one's really watching and it's hanging on by a thread." She has stated multiple times that she will not renew her Desperate Housewives contract once it is up. She has set her sights on the film industry. At the time of her statements, the length of her contract was not known, but she has since revealed it to be 10 years, starting from the first season.
In May 2006, Maxim Magazine named Longoria number 1 on the hottest women of the year list for 2006, a feat she repeated from the year before.
In 2006, Longoria appeared on Jessica Simpson's music video "A Public Affair" along with Christina Milian, Christina Applegate, Ryan Seacrest, Maria Menounos and Andy Dick.
Also in 2006, Longoria was voted on to PETA's Worst Dressed List for wearing fur.
Longoria was on cover of the September 2006 issue of Maxim Magazine. Longoria sat down with Maxim and discussed how contrary to belief, her life really is normal. "Tony [Parker] and I spend most of our time in San Antonio. We have such a normal life there. I mean, we hang out and have breakfast, go to his parents, go to my parents. Do laundry."
Longoria recently won a People's Choice Award for Best TV Actress.[6]
Longoria has recently rebuffed rumors that she will quit Desperate Housewives.
In January 2007 Eva Longoria has been chosen to be the first face of Bebe Sport. She will appear in the Spring/Summer 2007 campaign, photographed by Greg Kadel. The actress also holds model contracts with L’Oreal and Hanes, New York & Co.[7]
Personal life
Longoria was married to Tyler Christopher, General Hospital star, from January 20, 2002 to January 19, 2004, and as such, was also credited as Eva Longoria Christopher. Longoria has been romantically linked to SAG president Edward W V Stephens, successful writer Milan Gracanin, ex-*NSYNC member JC Chasez, actor Mousir Syed and Life As We Know It star, Sean Faris (although both Faris and Longoria deny any romantic link). Although some have reported her height as 5'2", she is in fact 5'1".[8]
As of November 30, 2006, she is engaged to NBA basketball star Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs. Eva and Tony called in to the Ryan Seacrest radio show to announce it. She said the way he proposed was "perfect, personal, and sweet." After playing against the Utah Jazz, Parker flew out to Los Angeles, which was random because she never thought he would come there after the game. She got off work at about midnight and he was there waiting for her. The two plan to wed on July 7th, 2007.[9] Reports said Longoria claimed she’s had to teach Tony Parker lots of tricks in the bedroom because he was so inexperienced when he met her "I’m the experienced one. I’m the teacher, especially about love. He’s always telling me he’s never met anyone who loves the way I do, wholly, freely and unconditionally."[10]
On December 24, 2005, a car driven by Parker was cited for impeding traffic. Longoria, who was a passenger, allegedly began verbally abusing the officer by yelling: "He's just a Mexican bike cop. He only wants your autograph." She later denied the allegation, saying through her publicist: "I never made any sort of racial slurs, let alone made any comments about the officer being Mexican, as a Mexican myself."[11]
She is a Catholic and jokingly mentioned about how uneasy it made her feel in an episode of Desperate Housewives when her character attacked a nun. She also has mentioned in the past that her grandmother at first disapproved of the fact that her character was having an adulterous affair with a 16 year old.[citation needed]
