Eva Longoria turns 50: Unleashing her next big chapter

As Eva Longoria marks her 50th birthday, she’s more than a highly accomplished and successful actress—she’s a driving force in Hollywood and a fierce advocate for the Hispanic community. Over a 20-year career, she’s evolved from on-screen star to a powerhouse behind the camera, championing stories that reflect her roots and pushing boundaries for women in entertainment. And she’s nowhere near slowing down. “I’m so excited about this new decade,” she tells ¡HOLA!. “It’s a moment to reflect on the beautiful life I’ve had—and what’s still to come.”

Longoria captured hearts as Gabrielle Solis on 'Desperate Housewives', a breakout role that earned critical acclaim with a Golden Globe Nomination and launched her multifaceted career. Since then, she’s stepped into roles as director, producer, and industry leader. Her directorial debut, 'Flamin’ Hot', earned the 2023 Imagen Award for Best Director, marking a powerful moment in an industry long criticized for its lack of inclusion. Through her company, Hyphenate Media Group, she’s bringing culturally significant stories to audiences worldwide—giving voice to experiences often overlooked.

Beyond the screen, Longoria’s life is rooted in family. She shares a vibrant home with husband José "Pepe" Bastón and their son Santiago. She says their teamwork helps her find balance between drive and joy.

Longoria’s also a savvy businesswoman and dedicated humanitarian. She started The Eva Longoria Foundation in 2012, supporting Latinas with education and business programs. Her influence keeps expanding—she earned The Hollywood Reporter’s Philanthropist of the Year title in 2009 and again in 2024, and her foundation just received a $50 million award from Jeff Bezos’ “Courage & Civility” initiative, handed over by her close friend Lauren Sánchez, to drive her mission further and boost her work’s impact.

This milestone birthday isn’t about age—it’s about perspective. Longoria reflects on the journey that’s shaped her and looks ahead with clarity and drive. In her conversation with ¡HOLA!, she spoke about the fulfillment of a life where passion, purpose, and identity are fully aligned.

Her latest project, 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip', debuts today on Disney+. In the film, she plays Val, a determined mother guiding her family through a chaotic trip to Mexico City. With a cast including Jesse Garcia, Paulina Chávez, Rose Portillo, and Cheech Marin, the story blends heart and humor, celebrating the warmth and resilience of Latino families.

As executive producer, Longoria helped shape the film’s creative direction while spotlighting emerging talent—most notably Chávez, a rising Mexican-American actress from El Paso, Texas, who is already leaving her mark in Hollywood. With a standout role in 'Landman', where she appears alongside Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Hamm, and Demi Moore, Chávez is quickly becoming a name to watch—exactly the kind of rising star Longoria is determined to bring into the spotlight.

During the film’s U.S. promotional tour, the two Texan actresses appeared together on The Kelly Clarkson Show, where they reflected on the friendship that has connected them for years. Longoria fondly recalled directing Chávez in her first television role—the Netflix series Ashley Garcia and the Expanding Universe. Speaking about the young actress, she took a moment to spotlight Chávez’s rising career and didn’t hesitate to praise her talent: “Paulina Chávez is the future of Hollywood,” she said with pride.

The two shared the spotlight during our cover shoot, where their natural chemistry was on full display. Their interaction captured the spirit of mentorship and mutual respect, highlighting Longoria’s ongoing commitment to elevating the next generation of Latina talent. 

At 50, Eva Longoria is not showing any signs of stopping—she’s building momentum. Her career, rooted in authenticity and fearless vision, continues to redefine what’s possible in Hollywood.

Her latest movie project

Our conversation began with her latest project. Longoria shared her enthusiasm for taking part in the upcoming movie, 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip', a comedic adventure that delves into the importance of family. “When I found out I’d be working with Marvin Lee as the director, I was very excited—I’ve been a big fan of his since he created Gentefied on Netflix, and he’s truly an amazing human being. I also knew it would be great to work with Jesse Garcia as my husband, since I’d just directed him in 'Flamin Hot.'  Altogether, it was so much fun and really a dream come true.”

In the film, Longoria plays Val, a mother determined to rekindle her family’s bond by planning a road trip to Mexico. “It's centered around a family that's deeply disconnected,” she explained. “My character, Val, is determined to bring everyone back together by taking them on a road trip to Mexico, hoping it will give us a chance to reconnect with our Mexican heritage.” Of course, this simple plan quickly takes a turn, spiraling into one hilarious disaster after another that forces everyone to find humor in unexpected moments. “By the end, you realize that the kids needed this adventure as much as anyone,” Longoria reflected. “If Val had listened to them sooner, maybe it wouldn’t have turned into such a wild ride—but that’s what makes it fun.”

An important narrative in the movie deals with a curse idol which Alexander believes is following him. When asked if she believes in the unknown, Longoria mischievously replies, “yes, I’m superstitious. Most Latinos are superstitious.” Exploring that element of brujería in the story added a comedic twist. “It just provided for a lot of fun.” She also emphasized how nice it was to tell the story through the lens of a comedy that highlights the joy in the Latino community in a refreshing way. “A lot of stuff out there focuses on the sadness or struggles of our community. It’s nice to finally celebrate our happiness.”

Embracing a new decade

Discussing her milestone birthday, Longoria expressed genuine anticipation about turning 50. “Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'm so excited about this new decade,” she said. “It’s a chance to really reflect on the beautiful life that I've had and then what's to come. It's a very exciting moment for me.”

Reflecting on what she’s learned, both personally and professionally, she emphasized the importance of staying true to her roots. “You know, for me, always staying grounded and never forgetting where I came from is just fundamental to my life,” she explained. “Being with my family, being from Texas, being Mexican-American—all of those things really root me in who I am. They’ve grounded me in the industry, especially as I've gained this platform and spotlight.”

Longoria spoke about how anchoring herself in her heritage has guided her path and shaped her sense of purpose. “I’ve never forgotten where I came from. And I think if you don't know where you've come from, it's hard to know where you're going,” she said. “In the industry, it's really about holding true to who I authentically want to be seen as and who I authentically am, and making sure those things match up.”

The secret behind her radiance

Longoria revealed that her personal formula for sustaining energy, motivation, and a youthful spirit centers on embracing positivity. “Joy, joy and happiness. It's just, I'm a very positive thinking, positive person,” she said. “I have so many dreams I want to accomplish. I have an amazing support system, amazing family, amazing girlfriends.” 

She went on to explain that gratitude is fundamental to her philosophy—cherishing both the life she has and the one she’s creating. “For me, it's really having so much gratitude for the life I have, for the life I'm going to have. And if you really sit in that space of gratitude, it keeps you young, it keeps you vibrant, it keeps you humble. So, I think that's pretty much the trick.”

Home is not an address, it's family

When asked where she finds her sense of home, Longoria made it clear it’s never tied to just one place. “Spain is a beautiful country. Mexico is a beautiful country. The people, the food—it’s all wonderful. I’m lucky to call many places in the world home,” she said. “For me, home is where my family is.”

Her husband’s work in Mexico City and her desire to explore have taken them across the globe. “Home is where your family is. I could live in Bali and call it home as well. I love seeing the world and living in it.” She added that her son “loves traveling” and has become so familiar with different cultures that he’ll ask, “Mom, are we going to eat macaroons in France?” or “When we go to Spain, we should go to this place.”

Longoria loves blending work and family time, so she often chooses projects strategically. “I love working in places I want to live. I reverse engineered a TV show in Spain because I wanted to live there. When I wanted to be in Mexico, I sold a show that would shoot in Mexico, called ‘Searching for Mexico.’” Now, she’s planning ventures in France and England, proving she can embrace both family life and a thriving career by mixing business and pleasure.

Eva’s blueprint for success

When asked how she handles setbacks, Longoria was clear: “I find a different way in. I'm not really good at taking no for an answer. I usually find a solution and find a way.” Her strategy involves pouring in every ounce of effort and intelligence. “Things usually work out for me, because I put the effort, I put the brains, I put the smarts behind making it happen,” she said.

She also refuses to be bound by rigid timelines. “A lot of times when things don't work out for people, it's because they thought it was going to be one way and on a certain timeline,” she explained. “For me, it could be on a different timeline. Maybe it's not right now. Maybe it's coming soon.” Through it all, gratitude remains her guiding principle. “I think it's also really about gratitude,” she added, calling this outlook “really a gift.”

In regards to her affinity for business, Longoria didn’t hesitate: “I love business and I love building things,” she said. “That’s why I’m a good creative—I love building TV shows, these teams to make a movie, building a brand like Casa del Sol, really just building things.” Whether in the corporate world or Hollywood, her passion for creating opportunities remains constant. “I think I’d probably always be an entrepreneur.”

A bright future for women in entertainment

While the industry can be tough for women, especially in film, Longoria sees significant momentum for change. She pointed out that the world is hungry for new voices: “We have a bright future. I believe global audiences are more and more diverse. We're going to be creating as storytellers for the most diverse audience we've ever seen in the history of our time.”

For Longoria, this is both the right thing to do and a smart business decision: “It's not like a moral objective. It's a smart business decision. There is a huge marketplace for diverse stories to be told. It means there is a very big opportunity for so many people.”

Championing new voices and new talent

When asked what’s on the horizon—whether as a filmmaker or producer—Longoria was quick to emphasize her ongoing mission.“We’re constantly working. I have my media company, Hyphenate Media, and we continue to champion all stories, focusing on stories that are culturally defining and with people who have a point of view that we haven’t seen before.”

She shared the importance of opening doors for those whose stories often go unheard: “Supporting writers, directors, showrunners from our community and really making sure that we’re able to celebrate these stories,” she shared passionately. “ Giving the resources and the platforms to so many heroes from our communities, because their stories deserve to be told. I’m always going to do that.”

Longoria stressed that her motivation for stepping into a producer’s role comes from a desire to uplift others: “That’s why I wanted to become a producer, to really create opportunities for my community.”

Credits:
Chief Content Officer ¡HOLA! Américas: Nagidmy Marquez Acosta
Production: Chiara Primatesta, Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle Editor, ¡HOLA! Américas. Lili Delgado, Lifestyle Editor, ¡HOLA! Américas
Photography: Izack Morales
Photography Assistant: José Luis Hernández
Video: Terranova Studios
Eva Longoria Interview: Alonso Collantes, Deputy Editor - !HOLA! Américas
Story Text: Andrea Perez, Deputy Editor, !HOLA! U.S.
Styling: Maeve Reilly
Hair: Ken Paves
Makeup: Elan Bongiorno
Fashion Assistant on Set: Maria Paula Zavala
Social Media Editor: Caterina Zanelli
Video Editor: Daniel Neira