by Jade Fitzgerald

Created on: July 14, 2009   Last Updated: July 15, 2009

Born on the 15th March 1975, Eva is the youngest of four sisters.

She grew up on a ranch near Corpus Christi in Texas. Eva's parents worked the farm and had little money, but in spite of this Eva had a good childhood.

Growing up Eva claims she was the ugly duckling. Her family nicknamed her prieta fea or 'ugly dark one' because she was the only one of the siblings who had dark hair, dark eyes and dark skin.

By the time Eva reached womanhood she had blossomed into a beautiful swan. After graduating from high school she attended Texas A&M University-Kingsville where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology which is the study of body movement.

Throughout her studies Eva longed to be on stage and often appeared in student productions. In 1998 she won the title of Miss Corpus Christi which lead her discovery by a theatrical agent. From here she didn't look back.

Eva had minor roles in The Bold and the Beautiful, General Hospital and Beverly Hills 90210 before landing the part of Isabella on the popular series The Young and the Restless. She was awarded an ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama in 2002 for her work on the soap.

Eva became a household name in 2004 when she landed the role of Gabrielle Solis in the hit TV show Desperate Housewives a dark comedy about the lives of housewives living in the same cul-de-sac.

Since then Eva has been hot property in Hollywood. She landed a $1 million contract with L'Oral, has starred in several movies including 'Over Her Dead Body' opposite Paul Rudd and she often features in most beautiful women lists.

Eva tends to keep her private life just that, private. In regard to relationships, she has had only four significant others.

In 2002 Eva married actor Tyler Christopher. The couple eloped to Las Vegas where Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr were their witnesses. Their marriage lasted just 2 years. Eva has been quoted as saying she was too young when she married Tyler.

In 2004 Eva had two brief relationships, first with N*Sync star JC Chasez and then with Stephen T Kay who directed her in the TV movie 'The Dead Will Tell.'

In spring 2005 Eva Longoria started dating San Antonio Spurs player Tony Parker. At 6 ft 2 the basketball star towers over tiny Eva but this didn't stop their relationship developing. Despite rumours that the couple were on the rocks they announced their engagement in November 2006 and married in France in 2007.

Life is pretty perfect for Eva.

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