Eva Longoria

Eva Jacqueline Longoria is a Mexican-American actress and model, born in Corpus Christi, Texas, March 15, 1975.

"I grew up as an ugly duckling. They used to call me prieta fea, because I was the only one of my family's four girls with dark hair, dark eyes, and dark skin. Growing up I was the ugly one, because I was the odd one."

Eva was teased about being ugly when she was a teenager. The youngest of four sisters who grew up on a ranch in Corpus Christi, Texas, Longoria attended Texas A&M-Kingsville, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. After graduating from college, she entered a talent contest that brought her to Los Angeles, where she was spotted and subsequently signed by a theatrical agent. After landing roles on The Bold and the Beautiful, General Hospital and co-starring on Beverly Hills, 90210, she auditioned for and won the role of Isabella on the popular series, The Young and the Restless. After the Y&R, Eva Longoria became well known worldwide thanks to Desperate Housewives where she plays adulteress Gabrielle Solis. She also has a contract with L'Oreal and has been named one of the most beautiful people.

Her rise to fame began when she starred as psychotic Isabella Brana Williams on The Young and the Restless from 2001 to 2003. After leaving Y&R, she was seen on the now-canceled L.A. Dragnet, after which she landed the role of model-unhappily-married-to-money Gabrielle Solis on the popular drama Desperate Housewives in 2004.

Longoria is a former Miss Corpus Christi, was one of People en Español’s “25 Most Beautiful People” for 2003, and was #1 in Maxim Magazine's hottest female stars of 2005.

Longoria was married to General Hospital star Tyler Christopher from 2002 to 2004, and as such, was also credited as Eva Longoria Christopher. Longoria has been romantically linked to Screen Actors Guild president Sid Laura Horowitz, successful writer Milan Gracanin, ex-*NSYNC member JC Chasez, and basketball star Tony Parker of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs.

Longoria spoke candidly about her affection for vibrators in an interview that Rolling Stone magazine published December 15 2004. As a result readers started sending sextoys to Longoria. Her employer ABC asked Longoria to stop mentioning the word vibrator in interviews.

Longoria caused a stir at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards when she appeared barely dressed to introduce Mariah Carey's equally head-turning performance, and joked that she “wasn’t going to let a little hurricane keep me from wearing a bathing suit.” At the 2005 Emmy Awards, wherein she had been passed over for nomination, she satirized Housewives internal drama by being interviewed by host Ellen DeGeneres from her supposedly-relegated-to worst seats in the house.

Trivia

• Favorite basketball team: The San Antonio Spurs. Favorite player: Tony Parker.
• Signed up to be the new L'Oreal image for 1 million pounds. [2005]
• Is the only one among her parents children to have a darker skin, dark eyes and dark hair. 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.
• #1 on Maxim magazine's 'Top 100' list for 2005.
• Was named one of the "50 mas bellos" (50 most beautiful people) by People en Español (2005).
• Was a dancer with the famous Pussycat Dolls.
• Dating J.C. Chasez on and off [2004/2005]
• #3 on E!'s "50 Steamiest Southern Stars"
• Her father was a hunter and she has been practicing shooting her entire life.
• Spokesmodel for Hanes (2005)
• Accidentally hit on the head by a falling pole on the set of her series "Desperate Housewives" (2004) and was unconscious for four minutes. Taken to a hospital, treated for a bump on the head and released. [August 18, 2005]