Curious about the spotlighted woman for years? Meet Eva Longoria. Not only an actress, she’s a boss. She directs, produces, and writes books. “Eva’s Kitchen” is one of them. She possesses talent, beauty, charm, and generosity. Her circle includes the influential—like Jeff Bezos. He donated a massive $50 million to her causes. Her career spans over two decades. She’s made us laugh and cry through her roles.
In this blog, we are going to share some cool stuff about her that you probably didn’t know. And guess what? She also helps people all over the world through the Global Gift Foundation. How awesome is that?
Here Is a Sneak Peek at the Life of Eva Longoria
1. Snapshot of Eva Longoria’s Life
| Net Worth | $80 Million |
| Occupations | Actress, Producer, Director, Businesswoman |
| Birth Date | March 15, 1975 (age 49) |
| Birthplace | Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. |
| Education | Texas A&M University-Kingsville (BS) California State University, Northridge (MA) |
| Family | Married to José Bastón, 1 child |
Early Life
- Longoria was the youngest of four daughters born to her Tejano parents, Ella Eva (Mireles) and Enrique Longoria Jr.
- One of her sisters had special needs, and Longoria has often spoken about how this shaped her perspective. She once told Redbook, “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.”
- Raised in a Hispanic home, Longoria didn’t grow up speaking Spanish. She learned it in 2009.
- To fund her quinceañera, Longoria worked part-time at a Wendy’s restaurant for three years during high school. She has often credited this experience for shaping her work ethic.
- In 1998, she also won the title of Miss Corpus Christi USA.
- After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she was spotted and signed by a theatrical agent. During her early years in LA, she worked as a headhunter for four years.
- Longoria has publicly credited Jennifer Lopez and Tejana legend Selena as her inspirations. She once said, “Jennifer broke down so many doors so that we could walk through them,” and described Selena as “my idol, my inspiration” and “the reason I even dared to dream that a better life was possible.”
Why Is Eva Longoria So Famous?
Eva Longoria’s breakthrough came in 2003 when she was cast as Gabrielle Solis in the ABC comedy-drama Desperate Housewives. She once commented, “I think it’s funny when people say I’m an overnight sensation because I’ve been working at it for 10 years.”
- Longoria’s first significant role was in the CBS Daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless, where she portrayed Isabella Braña from 2001 to 2003.
- In 2006, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy, along with her co-stars in Desperate Housewives.
- Longoria has appeared in several high-profile advertising campaigns and numerous men’s magazines, reaching No. 14 in the FHM “Sexiest Women 2008” poll. She was listed as No. 1 in Maxim’s Hottest Female Stars of 2005 and 2006.
Business Ventures and Endorsements
Eva Longoria founded UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, a films and television production company in 2005 in California, United States. In March 2008, she opened Beso, a Hollywood restaurant, in collaboration with famous chef Todd English. The restaurant, which translates to “kiss” in Spanish, is joined by a Victorian-themed nightclub called Kiss.
- In 2009, she grew her restaurant venture. She opened another Beso and Eve nightclub. This was in Las Vegas’ CityCenter, a retail and entertainment hub.
- In 2011, Beso LLC filed for Chapter 11 protection. The corporation owned a Vegas restaurant and nightclub. It aimed to restructure about $5.7 million in debt. Also included were other liabilities. Longoria had a 32 percent share in Beso LLC.
- Longoria published her first book, Eva’s Kitchen: Cooking with Love for Family and Friends, in April 2011. She also collaborated with Iron Chef Michael Symon for a promotion for PepsiCo’s Lay’s potato chips contest called “Do Us A Flavor.”
- In 2012, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment signed a first-look development deal with Universal Television. Additionally, Longoria was an executive producer for the Lifetime television series, Documentaries, The Harvest, and Films Food Chains.
- Longoria is a part of the ownership group of Angel City FC of the National Women’s Soccer League.
- She also collaborated with Mott’s Fruit Flavored Snacks to promote the Mott’s Snacks and Stories program, which gives away bilingual children’s books.
Politics and Activism
Longoria’s political involvement began way before her Hollywood fame. She volunteered for Bill Clinton’s campaign back in 1992.
- Along with Henry R. Munoz III, Longoria co-founded the Latino Victory Project in 2014 to empower Latino participation in politics, a growing demographic group in the US.
- She served as a national co-chair for Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign and even hosted the Democratic National Convention in 2020.
- She co-founded two political groups devoted to rallying the Latino vote and has been persistent in her efforts to recruit candidates and raise money for Democrats seeking local and national office.
- Longoria hosted the Democratic National Convention in 2020, her third time speaking at the party’s major national event.
- Longoria was hailed by Texas Monthly as a potential top Democratic candidate in the 2024 United States Senate election in Texas, noting her previous refusal to rule out running for office in the future.
Eva Longoria’s Philanthropy Work
Longoria has received numerous awards for her philanthropic work, including the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts’ Horizon Award, the “Latina Visionary and Community Empowerment Award” from the Hispanic Women’s Corporation, the “Corazones Unidos Award” from the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, and the “Cesar Chavez Legacy Award” from the Cesar Chavez Foundation.
- She founded the Eva Longoria Foundation in 2012.
- This foundation focuses on focuses on helping Latinas build better futures through education and entrepreneurship, including programs for STEM education for girls, parent engagement, microloans, business training, and advocacy.
- She was selected as a Presidential Commissioner of the National Museum of the American Latino by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
- Apart from her foundation, Eva Longoria has also donated a house to one of the victims of Katrina through Oprah’s Angel Network, and donated her whole one-episode salary of Desperate Housewives to Oprah’s new philanthropic TV show “The Big Give”.
- In 2024, Longoria was awarded $50 million for her charity work as part of the Bezos annual prize
Why did Bezos give Eva Longoria money?
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, honored Eva Longoria with the Bezos Courage & Civility Award in 2024. This award was founded in 2021 to help leaders tackle today’s unsolved issues. The purpose of the honor is to recognize leaders who aim high and pursue solutions with courage and civility.
As part of the honor, Eva Longoria was presented with $50 million to direct to the charities of her choice. As a Latina woman, Longoria has been a longtime advocate for the growth of the Latino community, both as a successful actress and philanthropist.
Longoria plans to use the funds for charitable organizations through her foundation, which focuses on educational programs, scholarships, mentorship, and entrepreneurship for Latinas. The award from Bezos recognizes her accomplishments and will allow her to continue and grow this essential work.
In conclusion, Eva Longoria’s journey reflects her diverse accomplishments. Eva’s tale, from her impressive net worth to her cherished family life to the prestigious Bezos Courage & Civility Award, has inspired many. Her accomplishments prove her dedication and the great impact she continues to have. Let us learn from her example and work to make a difference in our communities.
Share this blog with your friends and family to raise awareness of Eva’s admirable efforts and inspire others to act with courage and civility. Join the discussion: how will you contribute to good change?
