Eva Longoria Biography 2024: Age, Net Worth, Family, Relationship, Height, Education, Personal Life, Career, Awards and Nomination, Philanthropist Life

Eva Jacqueline Longoria Bastón ‘Eva Longoria, born on March 15, 1975, is an American actress, producer, director, and businesswoman.

She gained recognition for her performance as Isabella Braña on The Young and the Restless and is best known for her role as Gabrielle Solis on Desperate Housewives.

Eva has received a Golden Globe nomination and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for her work on the show.

Thanks to her acting prowess, Longoria has been honored with three ALMA Awards, two People’s Choice Awards, and a Teen Choice Award.

In addition to her accolades, she has showcased her talent in various films such as The Sentinel (2006), Over Her Dead Body (2008), For Greater Glory (2012), Frontera (2014), Lowriders (2016), and Overboard (2018).

Her exceptional performance in these films earned her the prestigious Imagen Award for Best Actress in Film.

In 2005, Longoria established UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, a film and television production company that was later acquired by Hyphenate Media Group in 2023.

She co-founded this venture alongside Cris Abrego. Longoria’s involvement in the entertainment industry extended beyond acting, as she served as an executive producer for the Lifetime television series Devious Maids, as well as the films Food Chains and The Harvest.

Furthermore, she took on the lead role and co-produced the short-lived NBC sitcom Telenovela from 2015 to 2016.

Since 2014, Longoria has also ventured into directing, taking the helm of episodes in various television series she has appeared in.

Her directorial skills were recognized at the 48th Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in 2021, where she received a nomination for her work on the television series Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love.

Longoria’s directorial debut came in 2023 with the film Flamin’ Hot, which garnered a nomination for Best Song at the 96th Academy Awards.

Longoria’s influence extends beyond the screen, as she has been featured in numerous advertising campaigns for renowned brands such as L’Oréal, New York & Co, and Pepsi.

Furthermore, she ventured into the world of fashion and fragrances, launching her own brand in 2017.

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Early Life

Longoria was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 15, 1975, the youngest of the four daughters of her Tejano parents Ella Eva (Mireles) and Enrique Longoria Jr. One of her sisters had special needs. Longoria told Redbook in 2016:

There was never any resentment, because I saw how hard my mother worked and all she did for my sister, [with special needs], and I wanted to do whatever I could to help. We all did

She was brought up in the Roman Catholic faith. Spanish was not her first language and she only started learning it in 2009.

During her time in high school, she worked part-time at a Wendy’s restaurant for three years to save money for her quinceañera.

Longoria has spoken about how her experience in the fast food industry as a teenager shaped her strong work ethic, stating that she was eager to go to work and earn her own money.

She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 1998, and during that time, she also won the title of Miss Corpus Christi USA.

After completing her college education, she participated in a talent contest that led her to Los Angeles, where she was discovered and signed by a theatrical agent.

While auditioning for acting roles, she worked as a headhunter for four years.

Longoria has publicly acknowledged Jennifer Lopez as a source of inspiration in her early career, recognizing her for breaking down barriers and paving the way for others.

She also expressed her admiration for Tejana legend Selena, considering her as her idol and the reason she dared to dream of a better life.

After spending three years at California State University, Northridge, she earned her master’s degree in Chicano studies in May 2013.

Her thesis focused on the importance of diversity and the value of Latinas in STEM careers.

Career

Longoria made a special appearance on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210. She also had a guest role on General Hospital, which eventually led to a contract role on The Young and the Restless.

From 2001 to 2003, she portrayed the character Isabella Braña on the CBS Daytime soap opera.

After leaving the show, she appeared in the 2003 revival of Dragnet. Longoria then starred in the direct-to-video film Señorita Justice, which received negative reviews, and also appeared in the television film The Dead Will Tell.

In 2006, Longoria attended the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Pan’s Labyrinth. She was cast as Gabrielle Solis in the ABC comedy-drama Desperate Housewives in 2003.

Regarding her sudden fame, she humorously remarked, “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, she acted in and co-produced the direct-to-video film Carlita’s Secret.

Her performance on Desperate Housewives earned her a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy in 2006.

She also received the ALMA Award that year and was recognized as entertainer of the year.

Longoria’s first major role in a theatrical feature film was in the thriller The Sentinel (2006), where she starred alongside Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland.

She also portrayed Sylvia in Harsh Times, which starred Freddy Rodríguez and Christian Bale.

During the 2000s, Longoria was prominently featured in various advertising campaigns and graced the covers of several men’s and women’s magazines.

She was recognized as one of the “Most Beautiful People” by People en Español in 2003 and has consistently been acknowledged as one of Hollywood’s Most Beautiful individuals.

Longoria achieved the top spot in Maxim’s Hottest Female Stars of 2005 and 2006, making her the first woman to lead the list for two consecutive years.

She also secured the 9th position in the magazine’s Hot 100 of 2007. Notably, she was honored by being featured on a massive vinyl mesh replica of Maxim’s January 2005 cover in the Nevada desert in 2006.

Longoria’s beauty and influence continued to be recognized, with People ranking her as the 14th Most Beautiful in 2011 and naming her one of the Most Beautiful at Every Age in 2012.

In January 2007, Longoria was selected as the inaugural face of Bebe Sport and starred in their Spring/Summer 2007 campaign.

She has endorsement deals with L’Oréal, New York & Co., Magnum Ice-Cream, and Heineken, among others.

Longoria has been a spokesperson for L’Oréal Paris since 2005 and remains a prominent figure in their TV commercials and print ads.

Additionally, she participated in Microsoft’s “I’m A PC” ad campaign and collaborated with her then-husband Tony Parker for London Fog campaigns.

Longoria’s success extended to television, as she served as a judge on The Next Food Network Star in 2010 and hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards in Madrid the same year.

Longoria’s financial success was also notable, as she ranked 4th on Forbes Prime Time’s 10 Top-Earning Women in 2010 with an estimated $12 million in earnings.

She further topped Forbes magazine’s list of highest-paid TV actresses in 2011.

Longoria declared herself a “cat lady” in 2013 and became a spokesperson for Sheba Cat Food.

She also took on the role of executive producer for Devious Maids starting from 2013 and directed the season two premiere titled “An Ideal Husband”.

In 2016, she appeared in the fourth season of the show, specifically in the episode “Once More Unto the Bleach”.

Longoria’s involvement as an executive producer extended to the documentaries The Harvest and Food Chains, both of which earned her a James Beard Foundation Award in 2016.

In 2015, NBC announced the development of a sitcom called Telenovela, featuring Longoria as a popular telenovela actress.

The show was filmed using a single camera but unfortunately only lasted for one season.

Moving on to 2017, Longoria took on the role of director for the season three finale episode of the ABC comedy Black-ish.

The year 2018 saw Longoria attending the premiere of her new film, Dog Days, alongside co-stars Vanessa Hudgens (Tara) and Nina Dobrev (Elizabeth) on August 5th.

In August 2019, it was announced that Longoria would be making her feature-length directorial debut with the biopic Flamin’ Hot.

The movie, released in 2023, faced controversy surrounding the authenticity of its subject matter.

Fast forward to 2021, Longoria collaborated with Kenya Barris to develop a potential new television series called Brown-ish, centered around a Latino family.

Additionally, Longoria will be producing a Spanish-language adaptation of the television series Call My Agent! for Latin America and the U.S., and she will also direct the first two episodes.

In Other Ventures

Longoria launched the restaurant Beso in March 2008, together with celebrity chef Todd English.

Situated on Hollywood Boulevard, the restaurant is complemented by Kiss, a Victorian-themed nightclub on the upper floor.

A reality series pilot episode titled Beso: Waiting on Fame was planned to feature the Hollywood Beso and was set to air on VH1 in late 2010.

Additionally, in 2009, Longoria and a group of investors opened another Beso restaurant, accompanied by a nightclub called Eve, in the CityCenter’s Crystals retail and entertainment district in Las Vegas.

However, in 2011, Beso LLC, the corporation that owned the Vegas restaurant-and-nightclub venture, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

With listed assets of approximately $2.5 million and Longoria holding a 32 percent stake, the company sought to restructure its debt and liabilities totaling nearly $5.7 million.

As a result, Longoria was ordered by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Nevada to appear in Las Vegas on August 20, 2011, to provide insight into the financial state of the bankrupt establishment.

In April 2011, Longoria published her first book, titled Eva’s Kitchen: Cooking with Love for Family and Friends.

She also collaborated with Iron Chef Michael Symon in 2012 and 2013 for a promotion called “Do Us A Flavor,” sponsored by PepsiCo’s Lay’s potato chips.

This promotion encouraged consumers to submit new flavor ideas and allowed fans to vote for their favorite on Facebook.

The creator of the winning flavor was awarded either $1 million or one percent of the net sales of the chosen chip flavor.

Longoria partnered with Sunrise Brands, a sportswear manufacturer, in 2015 to create a collection of women’s apparel. The collection was scheduled to be launched in the fall of 2016.

In August 2016, Longoria’s production company, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, signed a two-year first-look deal with Universal Pictures.

Later, in September 2020, her company renewed a three-year first-look deal with 20th Television.

In March 2017, Longoria unveiled her clothing line website on her official site.

Then, in December 2023, she had the opportunity to be a guest narrator at Disney’s Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World.

In 2020, Longoria became a part of the ownership group of Angel City FC, a team in the National Women’s Soccer League.

Longoria also combined her passion for education advocacy and business by collaborating with Mott’s Fruit Flavored Snacks.

Together, they launched the Mott’s Snacks and Stories program, which aims to provide bilingual children’s books to those in need.

Longoria highlighted the issue of limited access to books, stating that 45% of children in the U.S. are living in book deserts.

Personal Life

Longoria’s first marriage was to actor Tyler Christopher, known for his role in General Hospital, which lasted from 2002 to 2004.

In November 2004, Longoria met Tony Parker, who was then the point guard for the San Antonio Spurs.

They got engaged on November 30, 2006, and had a civil service wedding at a Paris city hall on July 6, 2007.

The following day, they had a Catholic wedding ceremony at the Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois Church in Paris.

However, their marriage faced difficulties, and on November 17, 2010, Longoria filed for divorce from Parker in Los Angeles, citing “irreconcilable differences”.

In her divorce petition, she requested to have her family name restored and sought spousal support from Parker.

It was revealed that Longoria had discovered numerous text messages from another woman on Parker’s phone, who was identified as Erin Barry, the then-wife of Parker’s former teammate Brent Barry.

The Barrys were also going through a divorce at the time. Due to the divorce proceedings, Longoria had to cancel her appearance at the 2010 American Music Awards.

On November 19, 2010, Parker filed for divorce from Longoria in Bexar County, Texas, claiming “discord or conflict of personalities”.

This led to a legal battle over the jurisdiction of the case. Unlike Longoria’s divorce petition, Parker’s did not mention their prenuptial agreement and stated that they would come to an agreement for the division of their estate.

The divorce was finalized in Texas on January 28, 2011, the same day Longoria’s lawyer filed papers to dismiss her Los Angeles petition.

Reflecting on her experience, Longoria later admitted that she had unknowingly become her own version of a desperate housewife during her marriage to Tony Parker.

Longoria announced her engagement to Mexican businessman José Antonio “Pepe” Bastón Patiño on December 13, 2015.

At that time, Bastón was serving as the president of Televisa, the largest media company in Latin America.

The couple first met on a blind date set up by a mutual friend in Mexico City.

Interestingly, Bastón was initially unaware of Longoria’s fame and initially declined the invitation to meet her due to his busy schedule.

However, their connection grew stronger over time, leading to their marriage in Mexico on May 21, 2016.

Moving forward, on December 19, 2017, it was announced that Longoria was expecting her first child. In 2018, she gave birth to a son.

Based on a study conducted in 2010 by Harvard professor and Faces of America host Henry Louis Gates Jr., Eva Longoria’s ninth great-grandfather, Lorenzo Suárez de Longoria (b. Oviedo, 1592), was identified as her oldest Spanish immigrant ancestor.

He was a colonist of the Viceroyalty of New Spain (modern-day Mexico) in 1603, hailing from a small village named Llongoria, Belmonte de Miranda, Asturias, Spain.

The surname Longoria is the Castillanized version of this Asturian-language surname.

In 1767, her seventh great-grandfather was granted nearly 4,000 acres (16 km2) of land along the Rio Grande by King Charles III of Spain.

The family held onto this land for over a century. Following the relocation of the US-Mexican border southward after the Mexican–American War, the land fell within the American territory.

Longoria’s family had to navigate the arrival of American settlers post both the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.

Genetic testing reveals that Longoria’s genetic ancestry comprises 70% European, 27% Indigenous American, and 3% African heritage.

Analysis of DNA results from Gates’s guests indicated a distant genetic connection to cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who is of Chinese descent.

As Longoria inherited her mother’s mitochondrial DNA, she did not receive her father’s Y-DNA due to the absence of a Y chromosome.

Longoria self-identifies as a “Texican,” signifying her Mexican-American Texan heritage.

Philanthropy

In 2006, Longoria established Eva’s Heroes, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting young adults with developmental disabilities.

Situated in San Antonio, Texas, the charity was inspired by her sister, who has intellectual disabilities.

Longoria serves as the national spokesperson for PADRES Contra El Cancer.

She autographed shoes for the Spirit of Women Red Shoe Celebrity Auction and actively supports various organizations such as the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation, OmniPeace, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the National Stroke Association, Project HOME, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Additionally, she is an executive producer of Shine Global Inc.’s documentary The Harvest, shedding light on the plight of 500,000 child migrant farm workers in the U.S. and advocating for the Children’s Act for Responsible Employment (CARE Act).

Through her Eva Longoria Foundation, she aims to address the educational disparities faced by Latinas and combat Latino poverty.

Longoria stated, “The Eva Longoria Foundation backs initiatives that empower Latinas to thrive in school and pursue higher education.

Furthermore, we strive to offer Latina entrepreneurs with career development, mentorship, funding, and opportunities.”

The foundation provides “parent engagement” courses for Latino parents, mentorship programs, and financial support for Latina-owned businesses.

It is a joint effort with philanthropist Howard Buffett, son of investor Warren Buffett.

Recognized as Philanthropist of the Year in 2009 by The Hollywood Reporter, Longoria has been commended for her dedication to Latino causes and community service.

She participated in Fort Boyard in 2009, helping raise over €20,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

In 2009, Longoria enrolled in a Master’s program at Cal State University, Northridge, focusing on Chicano studies and political science.

Longoria expressed her desire to gain a deeper understanding of her community’s experiences through her involvement with the NCLR and charity work, in order to contribute to positive change.

She successfully completed her master’s degree in Chicano studies in May 2013.

In September 2009, Longoria was appointed to a bipartisan commission tasked with establishing a National Museum of the American Latino.

This appointment showcased her commitment to promoting the representation and recognition of the American Latino community.

During the McAfee Focus 2012 event in October 2012, Longoria delivered a speech highlighting the importance of safety beyond computers.

She emphasized the significance of financial security, emotional security, and other outcomes resulting from her philanthropic endeavors.

In March 2017, Richtopia, a UK-based company, recognized Longoria as the 42nd most influential philanthropist and social entrepreneur worldwide.

This acknowledgment reflected her significant contributions to philanthropy and social entrepreneurship.

In July 2019, Longoria showed her support for the Special Olympics Texas Summer Games, which took place in San Antonio, Texas, at Toyota Field and Morgan’s Wonderland.

Her involvement demonstrated her dedication to promoting inclusivity and supporting athletes with intellectual disabilities.

In 2020, Longoria extended her assistance to the San Antonio Food Bank, actively participating in their COVID-relief efforts.

Her involvement showcased her commitment to addressing the challenges faced by vulnerable communities during the pandemic.

In March 2024, Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez awarded Longoria the $50-million Courage and Civility Award in recognition of her charitable work through the Eva Longoria Foundation.

This foundation focuses on supporting programs for Latinas, further highlighting Longoria’s dedication to empowering and uplifting this community.

Filmography

Television

Net Worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth of 2023, Eva Net Worth is ranged around to be $80 million to $150 million.