Eva Longoria, the Actress Who Never Felt Poor Because She Was Always Surrounded by Tons of Love

Eva has been in the spotlight for more than 20 years. You’ll find Gabrielle Solis from Desperate Housewives among her most beloved characters. That’s probably the role that launched her to fame. But Eva is not only a renowned actress. She is also a woman who has achieved a lot in life. Perhaps her story, full of contrasts, motivated her to help others grow.

At Bright Side, we deeply admire people who made it to the top, but that even when they got there, they don’t lose sight of where they come from.

A childhood full of love but with shortcomings

Eva grew up with three sisters on a family ranch in the heart of Texas. Enrique Longoria, her father, is a rancher, and her mother is a special education teacher who cares for Eva’s disabled older sister, Elizabeth.

Eva’s childhood was filled with love and support from her parents. At times, they sacrificed using air conditioning or heating to save money and allow their daughters to cheerlead or receive music lessons. A very curious fact is that Eva never knew they lived in poverty, “I never knew we were so poor because we grew up with a lot of love, and my family is very united.”

Neither criticism or comparisons stopped her.

In her childhood, Eva was bullied because of her physique. She was called hurtful nicknames, but that didn’t stop her from moving forward and wanting to conquer her dreams. “People would literally walk up to my mom when we were little and they would go— “Oh my god, your daughters are so beautiful— and who’s this?”

“I was skin and bones. I was clumsy. I was dark. I was ugly. So I think growing up, I didn’t depend on looks or the superficiality of being pretty because I wasn’t. I always knew that I’m gonna work have to work hard. Nothing’s gonna be given to me. And I think that comes from my mom and dad.”

Be aware of the opportunities that life gives you.

Eva’s parents always took care of her sister Elizabeth. Everything in the family revolved around her. “Every vacation, every trip, they always wondered, ’Can Lisa go, will she be okay?’ That molded me to be aware of my opportunities, so you have to make the best of it. She’s taught me many things, she’s an amazing soul, a beautiful light in our family.”

From an early age, she discovered the value of work.

During three years of school, Eva worked at a fast food restaurant to save money to pay for her quinceañera. This job gave her many lessons and encouragement, “I couldn’t wait to have a job and earn my own money.”

A fortunate discovery

She studied kinesiology at Texas A&M University and, at the time, also won the title of Miss Corpus Christi. But it wasn’t until she finished her studies that she decided to go to a talent contest that took her to Los Angeles, and soon after, a theatrical agent discovered her. While auditioning for different characters, she worked as a talent scout.

Straight to the top

One of Eva’s first television appearances was alongside Luke Perry (Dylan from Beverly Hills, 90210). But her most iconic character was Gabrielle Solis, one of the “desperate wives” on the show of the same name that began in 2004 and lasted eight years on the air. Her fame grew, and she became one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, earning 375,000 USD per episode.

A dream shared with others

However, she does not live success alone. Eva fulfilled her dream of buying a big house for her parents. “Every day, my mom wakes up and says, ’I feel like I won the lottery!’” she says. Eva also decided to create a foundation under her name dedicated to helping Latina women build a better future for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship. Moreover, she is an ambassador for humanitarian foundations such as Global Gift. Indeed, Eva made it to the top, but even then, she does not forget to help others to have a better quality of life.

What event from your childhood influenced your decision-making in your adult years?