Eva Longoria Biography

Famous as : Actress

Birth Name : Eva Jacqueline Longoria

Birth Date : March 15, 1975

Birth Place : Corpus Christi, Texas, USA

Claim to fame :As psychotic Isabella Brana Williams on "The Young and the Restless" (2001-2003)

Born March 15, 1975 in Corpus Christi, TX, Longoria was the youngest of four daughters born to Enrique Longoria, Jr., and Ella Eva Mireles. Her early years were difficult ones - work on her parents' farm yielded little income, and she suffered through an awkward phase in her childhood, made worse by the relentless taunts of her older siblings. But she soon blossomed to such a degree that by the time she was a student at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 1998, Longoria had won the title of Miss Corpus Christi. Her success in the pageant yielded more than just a title - she was soon discovered and signed by a theatrical agent, leading to an unexpectedly fruitful acting career.

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 brought her big break on the popular American soap opera The Young and the Restless, in which she played psychotic Isabella Braña Williams from 2001 to 2003. People en Español listed her among its "Most Beautiful People" for 2003. After leaving The Young and the Restless, she was seen on the now-cancelled Dick Wolf revival of 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 has never considered her career to have jumped off so suddenly, "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 neither Longoria nor any of the rest of the cast won, she was awarded the prestigious ALMA AWARD and named entertainer of the year. She also starred opposite Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland in the 2006 thriller The Sentinel, which was 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 #1 in Maxim`s Hottest Female Stars of 2005 and 2006, becoming the first woman to top the list in two consecutive years. She was ranked #9 in the magazine`s Hot 100 of 2007 list. In her most recently released film, Harsh Times, she plays the character Sylvia and co-stars with actors Freddy Rodriguez and Christian Bale.

In her interview with Ryan Seacrest on The Interview with Ryan Seacrest on E!, she 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 also stated multiple times that she will not renew her Desperate Housewives contract once it is up. Instead, 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 2006, Longoria appeared in Jessica Simpson`s music video "A Public Affair" along with Christina Milian, Christina Applegate, Ryan Seacrest, Maria Menounos, and Andy Dick.

Longoria was on the cover of the September 2006 issue of Maxim Magazine. She 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.

In January 2007, Longoria was 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.

Longoria also hosted the 2007 NCLR ALMA Awards on June 5, 2007, on ABC.

In 2007, the ladies of Desperate Housewives each renewed their contracts with ABC for four years, worth $40 million.

Cosmetic Beauty

L'Oréal Paris signs Longoria to an exclusive worldwide contract as a spokeswoman for the company and its brands. Her first commercial, a spot for the brand's Vive hair care, premieres later in the spring.

Is Eva a Mirage?

Celebrating its 100th issue, Maxim creates a 75-ft. by 110-ft. display of its Longoria cover and places it in a remote Nevada desert spot so that it can be seen by passing planes and, supposedly, satellites in outer space. Longoria remains a favorite of the magazine's subscribers when she's named No. 1 on its Hot 100 list for the second year in a row.

Perfect Proposal

Just two months after taking a break, Parker flies to L.A. after a game, surprises Longoria and pops the question. "I cried my eyes out," says Longoria. "I was mostly touched by how nervous he was. I was like, 'You know I'm going to say yes.'"