Eva Longoria Parker

Eva Longoria Parker

Eva Longoria Parker, March 2009
Born Eva Jacqueline Longoria[1]
March 15, 1975 (1975-03-15) (age 35)
, U.S.
Other names Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria-Parker
Occupation Actress/Model
Years active 2000–present
Spouse Tyler Christopher (2002–2004)
Tony Parker (2007–present)

Eva Jacqueline Longoria Parker (née Eva Jacqueline Longoria; March 15, 1975) is an American actress. She is best known for portraying Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives.

She became a nationally recognized model in the 2000s after appearing in several high-profile advertising campaigns and numerous men's magazines, reaching #14 in the FHM "Sexiest Women 2008" poll, and having appeared on the cover of various international women's magazines including Vogue, Marie Claire and Harper's Bazaar.[2] Longoria married NBA guard Tony Parker in 2007.

Contents

Early life

Eva Jacqueline Longoria was born in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, the daughter of Tejano parents, Enrique Longoria, Jr. and Ella Eva Mireles.[3][4] She was raised Roman Catholic.[5] Longoria is the youngest of four daughters, her sisters being Elizabeth Judina, Emily Jeannette and Esmeralda Josephina.[6] The Longoria family have resided in Texas since before the creation of the United States, predating the English-speaking settlers.[7]

Despite working on a farmland that had been handed down to them from past generations, the family often had very little money; Enrique and Ella struggled for many years to give their children a decent upbringing. On The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2006, Longoria shared with viewers an introspective look into the hardships she faced in her formative years while growing up poor; she took cameras on location to the family farm and showed how spartan their life had been. Longoria admitted that only when she had made it in show business, did things begin to look better for her family financially. In another interview with Dateline's Stone Phillips, she also revealed the snubbing she had received from her siblings. "I grew up as the ugly duckling. They used to call me 'la prieta fea,' which means 'the ugly dark one,'" Longoria said.[8]

Longoria originally wanted to be a fashion model and sent in photos to a modeling agency but was declined because of her height. Longoria attended Marvin P. Baker Middle School and later Roy Miller High School; she subsequently received her Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology at nearby Texas A&M University-Kingsville. During this time, she won the title of Miss Corpus Christi, USA in 1998. After completing college, Longoria entered a talent contest that led her to Los Angeles, California; shortly after, she was spotted and signed by a theatrical agent.[6]

Career

Longoria with husband Tony Parker at the 2008 Emmy Awards

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.

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."[9]

At the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.

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 2006, 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 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. In 2006 she played the character Sylvia in Harsh Times starring Freddy Rodriguez and Christian Bale.

People en Español listed her among its "Most Beautiful People" for 2003. 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.[10] In honor of Maxim's 100th issue in 2006, Longoria was featured on a 75-by-110-foot (23 by 34 m) vinyl mesh replica of its January 2005 cover located in a Las Vegas metropolitan area desert.[11]

Longoria is being considered to portray Mariah Carey in an upcoming Broadway show which is about the American pop singer. Leona Lewis is Carey's first choice. Vanessa Hudgens and Longoria Parker are also being considered if Lewis does not take the job.[12] In April 2009, Longoria topped People en Español Los 50 Más Bellos list. She was featured on the cover alongside Maite Perroni and Ana Bárbara.

It has been rumored that she will play Janet Van Dyne aka The Wasp in the upcoming Avengers film because she has been spotted reading core Avengers titles such as The New Avengers annual and Marvel Adventures: Avengers.[13][14][15][16]

Longoria is also attached to appear, and executive-produce, a film currently titled "1954". This film is inspired by the life of Puerto Rican who originated from Brazil. Lolita Lebrón.[17]

Endorsements

In January 2007, Longoria was chosen to be the first face of Bebe Sport. She appeared in the Spring/Summer 2007 campaign, photographed by Greg Kadel. The actress also holds model contracts with L'Oréal and Hanes, New York & Co.[18]

Longoria also has a contract with Magnum Ice-Cream,[19] Heineken,[20] and with L'Oréal.[21] She is a part of Microsoft's "I'm A PC" ad campaign,[22] and she and Tony Parker are currently appearing together in campaigns for London Fog.[23]

In April 2010, Longoria released her first fragrance, "Eva by Eva Longoria".

Personal life

Eva at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.

Longoria is of predominantly European and Amerindian descent. Her Spanish ancestry can be traced back to her ninth great-grandfather, Lorenzo Suarez de Longoria (b. Oviedo, 1592), who emigrated to the Viceroyalty of New Spain, which became now modern-day Mexico, in 1603, and whose family originated from a small village called Llongoria, Belmonte de Miranda, Asturias, Spain. Longoria is the Castilian spelling of the surname.[24][25]

According to research done by Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., of Harvard University, in 2010 for the PBS series Faces of America, Longoria's ancestry is 70% European (Spaniard), 27% Asian/Amerindian, and 3% African.[26][27] Through the generations, Longoria's ancestors moved north to the modern US-Mexico border. In 1767, her 7th great-grandfather received almost 4000 acres of land along the Rio Grande in a land grant from the King of Spain. This land stayed in the family for over a century, enduring through the influx of Anglo settlers in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War and Civil War. The most surprising revelation came when Eva's Asian lineage showed she is related to cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who is of Chinese heritage.[28][29]

Longoria was married to General Hospital star Tyler Christopher from 2002 to 2004.[30]

On November 30, 2006, Longoria became engaged to Spurs point guard Tony Parker.[31] The couple was officially married in a civil service on Friday, July 6, 2007, at a Paris city hall. This is a requirement of French law. It was followed by a full Roman Catholic wedding ceremony at the Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois Church in Paris, France on Saturday July 7, 2007.[32]

Their marriage had its first ordeal when French model Alexandra Paressant claimed to have had an affair with Parker.[33] Both Parker and Longoria vehemently denied these allegations through their spokespeople, saying "All high profile couples fall victim to these sorts of things in the course of their relationships. It appears that this is not the first time this woman has used an athlete to gain public notoriety."[34] Parker initiated a $20 million lawsuit against the website that first reported the story, which later issued a full retraction and an apology, stating "X17online.com and X7 [sic], Inc. regret having been misled by Ms. Paressant and her representatives and apologize to Mr. Parker for any damage or inconvenience this may have caused him or his wife."[35]

In 2008, Longoria opened a restaurant in West Hollywood called Beso, which means "kiss" in Spanish.[36] She and business partner Todd English opened a second Beso steakhouse in Las Vegas in December 2009.[37] The Hollywood Beso will be the focus of a pilot episode for a reality series called Beso: Waiting on Fame to air on VH1 in late 2010.[38]

In 2009, Longoria enrolled in a Master's program in Chicano Studies and Political Science at Cal State University, Northridge. According to Eva, "because of my involvement with the NCLR and my charity work, I really wanted a better, more authentic understanding of what my community has gone through so I can help create change."[39]

In September 2009, Longoria was appointed to a bi-partisan commission issued with the task of determining the feasibility of the creation of a National Museum of the American Latino.[40]

When Desperate Housewives comes to an end, she plans to move to France with her husband.[41] She has expressed confusion over fellow Housewives actress Nicolette Sheridan's lawsuit against series creator Marc Cherry.[42]

Charity work

In 2006, Longoria founded Eva's Heroes, a charity which helps developmentally disabled children.[43] She is the national spokesperson for PADRES Contra El Cancer.[44] She signed shoes for the Spirit of Women Red Shoe Celebrity Auction. Longoria also supports the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the National Stroke Association, Project HOME and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.[45] Longoria is also an executive producer of Shine Global Inc.'s upcoming documentary The Harvest which is focused on the 500,000 child migrant farm workers in the U.S. and is currently helping them fundraise for the film.[46] Longoria was named Philanthropist of the year by the Hollywood Reporter for 'her commitment to Latino causes and giving back to the community.[47] She appeared on Fort Boyard in 2009, making over €20,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.[48]

Note

In spite of the similarity of their names, she and Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria are not related. However, after the Rays won the 2008 American League Championship Series, she sent him a bottle of champagne and a note thanking him for doing such a great job holding up the family name.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
2000 Beverly Hills, 90210 Flight Attendant #3 1 episode
General Hospital Brenda Barrett Lookalike 1 episode
2003 The Young and the Restless Isabella Brana Williams
Snitch'd Gabby
Dragnet Det. Gloria Duran 10 episodes
2004 Señorita Justice Det. Roselyn Martinez Minor Role
The Dead Will Tell Jeanie
Carlita's Secret Carlita/Lexus Main Role
Desperate Housewives Gabrielle Solis 128 episodes (2004–present)
2005 Hustler's Instinct Vanessa Santos
Harsh Times Sylvia Supporting Role
2006 George Lopez Brooke 1 episode
The Sentinel Jill Marum Supporting Role
2007 The Heartbreak Kid Consuela
2008 Over Her Dead Body Kate Spencer Main Role
Lower Learning Rebecca Seabrook Main Role
Children's Hospital The New Chief 1 episode
Unreleased Foodfight! Lady X Voice
2010 Dias de Gracias Filming
Tenement Kari [49]
2011 Cristiada Filming

Awards and nominations

Year Result Award Category Film or series
2002 Won ALMA Awards Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama The Young and the Restless
2006 Won ALMA Awards Person of the Year
-
2007 Won Bambi Award TV Series International Desperate Housewives
2005 Nominated DVD Exclusive Awards Best Actress (in a DVD Premiere Movie) Carlita's Secret
2006 Nominated Golden Globe Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy Desperate Housewives
2005 Nominated Imagen Foundation Awards Best Actress - Television Desperate Housewives
2007 Nominated Imagen Foundation Awards Best Actress - Television Desperate Housewives
2007 Won People's Choice Awards Favorite Female TV Star Desperate Housewives
2005 Won Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Desperate Housewives (Shared with cast)
2006 Won Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Desperate Housewives (Shared with cast)
2007 Nominated Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Desperate Housewives (Shared with cast)
2008 Nominated Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Desperate Housewives (Shared with cast)
2009 Nominated Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Desperate Housewives (Shared with cast)
2005 Nominated Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Comedy Desperate Housewives
Won Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Breakout Performance - Female Desperate Housewives
2006 Nominated Teen Choice Awards TV - Choice Actress: Comedy Desperate Housewives
2007 Nominated Teen Choice Awards TV - Choice Actress: Comedy Desperate Housewives
2010 pending Teen Choice Awards choice female red carpet icon herself
2008 Nominated Ewwy Award Best Actress in a Comedy Series Desperate Housewives
2009 Nominated Ewwy Award Best Actress in a Comedy Series Desperate Housewives
2010 Nominated Ewwy Award Best Actress in a Comedy Series Desperate Housewives

References

  1. ↑ Biography for Eva Longoria, TVGuide.com
  2. ↑ Eva Longoria | 100 Sexiest 2008 | FHM.com
  3. ↑ [1], Latina Magazine Interview - Longoria says even with my real traditional Mexican grandma
  4. ↑ [2], Longoria says - "I’m Mexican"
  5. ↑ Egan, Barry (May 4, 2008). "Eva Longoria: Unbelievable". Independent. http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/eva-longoria-unbelievable-1366738.html. Retrieved May 23, 2010.  :(Commentary; "Are you religious? Yes, I'm Catholic," Eva smiles. "I believe in God and heaven and hell.")
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Fischer, Paul (2006-04-11). "Exclusive Interview: Eva Longoria for "The Sentinel"". darkhorizons.com. http://www.darkhorizons.com/interviews/678/eva-longoria-for-the-sentinel-. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 
  7. ↑ http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/profiles/eva-longoria/8/
  8. ↑ Photo Gallery: Stone Phillips Celebrity Interviews, MSNBC.com
  9. ↑ Hundley, Jessica (September 2006). ""4 Eva"". Maxim Magazine Online. http://www.maximonline.com/articles/index.aspx?a_id=7282&src=GM7070:MD. Retrieved 2007-01-23. 
  10. ↑ #9 Eva Longoria in the Hot 100 of 2007 "Maxim Magazine, 2007"
  11. ↑ Keck, William (2006-04-05). "Longoria: Plus-sized cover girl". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-04-05-longoria-maxim_x.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 
  12. ↑ Mariah Carey to be made into Broadway Musical (December 31, 2008)
  13. ↑ http://www.cinemablend.com/new.php?id=10184
  14. ↑ http://www.wizarduniverse.com/091608wasplongoria.html
  15. ↑ http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2008/09/eva-longoira-as.html
  16. ↑ http://latinoreview.com/news/eva-longoria-reads-the-avengers-will-she-play-the-wasp-5385
  17. ↑ Current Projects (July 6, 2009)
  18. ↑ Actress Eva Longoria to be a new face of Bebe Sport EnjoyFashion, January 15, 2007
  19. ↑ Varley, Melinda (2008-05-08). "Unilever sales to exceed expectations". mad.co.uk. http://www.mad.co.uk/BreakingNews/BreakingNews/Articles/20cd42cdcf5d4a1a8b4a30105ca88c35/Unilever-sales-to-exceed-expectations.html. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 
  20. ↑ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/Eva-becomes-new-face-of-Dutch-beer/articleshow/4763574.cms
  21. ↑ "L'Oreal Paris Signs Eva Longoria as New Spokesperson". hispanicbusiness.com. http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/2005/4/5/loreal_paris_signs_eva_longoria_as.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 
  22. ↑ "I'm A PC". microsoft.com. http://imapc.lifewithoutwalls.com/?u=Eva&icid=realpc. Retrieved 2008-10-26. 
  23. ↑ http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2009/10/19/daily19.html
  24. ↑ Eva Longoria to see her Spanish roots
  25. ↑ Eva Longoria to visit her Spanish roots.
  26. ↑ http://www.latina.com/entertainment/celebrity/faces-america-reveals-eva-longoria-parkers-surprising-roots
  27. ↑ http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?ID=ENTEN20100137069&keyword=hollywood&subcatg=MOVIESWORLD
  28. ↑ "Faces of America: Eva Longoria", PBS, Faces of America series, with Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., 2010.
  29. ↑ "Faces of America" Reveals Eva Longoria Parker's Surprising Roots
  30. ↑ "Eva Longoria Biography". people.com. http://www.people.com/people/eva_longoria/biography. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 
  31. ↑ Alexander, Bryan (2006-11-30). "Eva Longoria & Tony Parker Engaged". people.com. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,26334,1564335,00.html. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 
  32. ↑ Eva Longoria, Tony Parker Make It Official, Again, USA Today, July 7, 2007
  33. ↑ Mark Cina (2007-12-07). "Model Says She Had Affair With Eva Longoria's Husband Tony Parker". US Magazine. http://www.usmagazine.com/model_says_she_had_an_affair_with_eva_longorias_husband_tony_parker?page=3. Retrieved 2008-10-05. 
  34. ↑ Georg, Chris, "Eva Longoria and Tony Parker: Affair Rumors Are Bogus", efluxmedia.com, 14 December 2007, accessed 14 November 2008
  35. ↑ Georg, Chris, "X17 Apologizes For Tony Parker Affair Story", efluxmedia.com, 7 April 2008, accessed 14 November 2008
  36. ↑ Virbila, S. Irene (2008-04-10). "Eva Longoria's Beso of originality". LA Times. http://www.latimes.com/theguide/restaurants/la-gd-rest10apr10,1,3748491.story?track=rss. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 
  37. ↑ "Pucker Up: Beso Hits Vegas". Zagat. January 12, 2010. http://www.zagat.com/Blog/Detail.aspx?SCID=42&BLGID=25832. 
  38. ↑ Tanklefsky, David (April 19, 2010). "VH1 To Produce Record 44 Original Shows In 2010". Broadcasting Cable. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/451665-VH1_To_Produce_Record_44_Original_Shows_In_2010.php. 
  39. ↑ Rosario, Mariela (2009-09-17). "Eva Longoria Parker is at the Head of the Class". Latina. http://www.latina.com/entertainment/celebrity/eva-longoria-parker-head-class. Retrieved 2009-09-19. 
  40. ↑ http://www.nps.gov/americanlatinomuseum/commissionbios.html
  41. ↑ Eva Longoria Parker Plans to Move to France, AZCentral.com, April 29, 2009
  42. ↑ "Eva Longoria on Nicollette Sheridan Lawsuit - Confused?". National Ledger. April 8, 2010. http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272631230.shtml. Retrieved Apr 14, 2010. 
  43. ↑ "Eva's Heroes". saafdn.org. http://www.saafdn.org/page10002578.cfm. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 
  44. ↑ "PADRES Contra el Cáncer National Spokesperson Eva Longoria Hosts the Tampico Beverages El Sueño de Esperanza Gala on the "Desperate Housewives" Wisteria Lane Set". 2006-09-06. http://www.iamhope.org/press/releases/060809gala.php. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 
  45. ↑ "Eva Longoria's Charity Work". looktothestars.org. http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/64-eva-longoria. 
  46. ↑ "The Harvest : Shine Global". www.shineglobal.org. http://www.shineglobal.org/?page_id=19. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  47. ↑ "THR honours Eva Longoria Parker". www.hollywoodreporter.com. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i4cdea7d2a4bcd398c6fb0f2c7416114a. Retrieved 2009-11-16. 
  48. ↑ "Eva Longoria". Fort Boyard (French version). France 2. 2009-06-27. No. 1, season 20. 115 minutes in.
  49. ↑ Eva Longoria Parker Takes on Horror Fushion in 'Tenement'

External links