Eva Longoria

Eva Jacqueline Longoria Bastón is an American actress, producer, director, and entrepreneur. She was born on March 15, 1975, in Corpus Christi, Texas, as the youngest of four daughters to her Tejano parents, Ella Eva (Mireles) and Enrique Longoria Jr. One of her sisters has special needs, and in a 2016 Redbook interview, Longoria shared that she and her family always worked together to support her, inspired by their mother’s dedication.

Raised in a Roman Catholic household, Longoria did not grow up speaking Spanish and only learned the language in 2009. During high school, she worked part-time at Wendy’s for three years to help pay for her quinceañera. She has credited this experience with shaping her strong work ethic, recalling how she was eager to earn her own money.

Longoria attended Texas A&M University-Kingsville, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology. After college, she entered a talent competition that brought her to Los Angeles, where she was soon discovered by a theatrical agent. Before landing acting roles, she worked as a headhunter for four years while auditioning.

She began her career with guest roles on television before gaining recognition as Isabella Braña on The Young and the Restless (2001–2003). Her big break came when she played Gabrielle Solis on Desperate Housewives (2004–2012), a role that earned her two Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Golden Globe nomination.

Longoria has also starred in several films, including The Sentinel (2006), Over Her Dead Body (2008), For Greater Glory (2012), Frontera (2014), Lowriders (2016), and Overboard (2018), for which she won an Imagen Award. In 2024, she appeared as a guest star on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.

Beyond acting, she founded UnbeliEVAble Entertainment in 2005, a production company that later merged into Hyphenate Media Group, which she co-founded with Cris Abrego in 2023.

Longoria may be best known as an actress, but she is also a passionate activist and philanthropist. She uses her success to help others, especially women, Latinos, and underserved communities. 

In 2006, Longoria established Eva’s Heroes, a San Antonio-based nonprofit that helps young adults with developmental disabilities. Inspired by her sister, who has intellectual disabilities, the organization provides resources and support for individuals to thrive.

She is the national spokesperson for PADRES Contra El Cáncer, which supports children with cancer and their families. She also works with the Eva Longoria Foundation, which aims to close the education gap for Latinas and address Latino poverty. The foundation offers mentorship programs, business loans for Latina entrepreneurs, and parent engagement courses to help families support their children’s education.

Longoria has also actively advocated for labor rights, particularly for migrant farmworkers. She was an executive producer of The Harvest, a documentary highlighting the struggles of 500,000 child farmworkers in the U.S., promoting legislative action through the Children’s Act for Responsible Employment (CARE Act).

She supports numerous charitable organizations, including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the National Stroke Association, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In 2009, she participated in Fort Boyard, raising over €20,000 for Make-A-Wish. In 2019, she supported the Special Olympics Texas Summer Games, and in 2020, she assisted the San Antonio Food Bank with COVID-19 relief.

Longoria pursued a Master’s degree in Chicano Studies and Political Science at Cal State Northridge, graduating in 2013. Her education deepened her understanding of Latino issues and fueled her commitment to creating change. She was also appointed to a bipartisan commission to establish the National Museum of the American Latino.

FlckrSpeaking at an event for the Kamala Harris for President campaign

As a proud Mexican-American, Longoria has been a vocal advocate for Latino rights and opportunities. In 2012, she co-founded the Latino Victory Project, an initiative aimed at increasing Latino representation in politics, raising funds and mobilizing Latino voters. he was also appointed as one of seven co-chairs for Barack Obama’s reelection campaign. That same year, she delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention, where she endorsed President Obama.

That same year, she established the Eva Longoria Foundation. which provides educational programs and entrepreneurial support for Latinas, helping them achieve economic success. Said Longoria: 

 I decided to start my own foundation to concentrate my efforts and bring people together to empower women – specifically Latinas – to reach their full potential. We focus on education and entrepreneurship because both have the power to transform lives.

Over the years, Longoria has also been deeply involved in immigration issues, working to understand perspectives from both the U.S. and Mexico. She has accompanied border patrol agents in Arizona and actively spoken out against laws like Arizona’s SB 1070, which she has called unconstitutional and has supported labor rights and immigrant workers. She served as an executive producer on the documentaries The Harvest and Food Chains, which expose the struggles of farmworkers, and she has been an advocate for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, which fights for fair wages and working conditions.

In 2017, she was ranked No. 42 on Richtopia’s list of 200 Most Influential Philanthropists. In 2024, she received the $50 million Courage and Civility Award from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, recognizing her work through her foundation.

Find out more here: evalongoriafoundation.org