Eva Longoria Biography

Eva Jacqueline Longoria was born March 15, 1975 in Corpus Christi, Texas into a Mexican-American, Catholic family, the youngest of four girls. While she was young, she was called “prieta fea” or "ugly duckling", as she was the only of her family's four girls with dark hair, dark eyes, and dark skin. Her three sisters all have fair hair, blue eyes and Caucasian skin color. Eva thought for a long time that she was adopted because of her features. Her “duckling” title was replaced in 1996 when she won the Miss Texas A&M University-Kingsville pageant. Graduating two years later with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology (the study of body movement), she also won the “Miss Corpus Christi, USA” pageant. After graduation, Longoria won an Infinity Model Search contest which brought her to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to seek her fortune.

It did not take long for Eva to be noticed by a theatrical agent. While working as a dancer with “The Pussycat Dolls”, she soon began finding work on many television shows including “The Bold and the Beautiful”, “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “General Hospital”. This led to her signing with “The Young and the Restless” where she worked for two years as the psychotic Isabella Braña Williams. Longoria was honored with an ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama in 2002 for her work on the soap. In 2003, Eva was becoming noticed as she was listed in People en Español's "25 Most Beautiful People" for 2003.

In 2003, Longoria left “The Young and Restless” after landing a starring role in the television series, “Dragnet”. During this time she landed featured rolls in two minor films, but still she was acting and getting star billing. Her career took off in 2004 when she auditioned for and won a spot on ABC’s hit series “Desperate Housewives” as the oversexed Latino adulteress, Gabrielle Solis, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy.

Her new celebrity status, as well as her natural beauty helped her sign an international modeling contract with cosmetics powerhouse L’Oreal in April of 2005.

Eva’s first appearance on the silver screen came in 2006 starring opposite Keifer Sutherland and Michael Douglas in “The Sentinel”, quickly followed by “Harsh Times” with Christian Bale.

Eva has the unique honor of being voted into the #1 position in Maxim’s Hottest Female Stars list in 2005 and 2006. She is the only woman to top the list two years in a row. She loves rock climbing, motocross, kick boxing and yoga, and claims that she wears G-strings every day and actually doesn't even own a full-bottom pair of underwear.

Eva is currently dating NBA basketball star Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs.