Today's Birthday, March 15: American actress Eva Longoria (1975 - )
She may be small in stature but Eva Longoria proved she was a force to be reckoned with in 2018 when she threw her weight behind the Time's Up campaign fighting sexual harassment.
On the Golden Globes red carpet, where actors wore black in solidarity with victims, Longoria was quick to correct reporters who failed to grasp the significance of the statement being made.
"This is not a moment. This is a movement, and tonight is just one small part of that," she told Today Show journalist Carson Daly.
Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 15 1975, Longoria was the youngest of four daughters to parents Elle and Enrique Longoria.
Growing up, one of Longoria's sisters had special needs, and she's since honoured the love they share by starting the foundation Eva's Heroes to help enrich the lives of those with intellectual disabilities.
Longoria studied science at Texas A&M University before entering a beauty talent contest that took her to LA.
She remained in Hollywood's golden city after the competition ended to pursue her career in acting, which at first saw her cast only in brief and minor roles in General Hospital and Beverly Hills, 90210.
A stint in daytime soap operas followed when Longoria was cast as Isabella Brana in The Young and the Restless, a role she played from 2001 to 2003.
But it was scoring the role of Gabrielle Solis in the hit television series Desperate Housewives that shot Longoria to stardom.
Her performance as the sexy yet scheming Solis earned Longoria a Golden Globes nomination and a Screen Actors Guild gong awarded to the Desperate Housewives Ensemble in 2006.
That same year she was honoured with the ALMA award for person of the year, as well as a Teen Choice Award for best breakout performance in 2005.
After a successful stint in TV Longoria tried her hand at movies including The Sentinal (2006) with Michael Douglas, Harsh Times (2006) with Christian Bale and the more recent Dog Days with Vanessa Hudgens (2018).
Longoria's first marriage to Tyler Christopher ended after two years and she went on to marry French basketballer Tony Parker in 2006.
In 2010, a heartbroken Longoria filed for divorce.
But in 2013 she would again find love, this time in the arms of Jose Antonio Baston Patino, president of the world's largest Spanish language media company.
The pair were introduced on a blind date by a friend, with Patino nearly cancelling because of his busy schedule - unaware of who the glamourous Longoria was.
The loved-up couple were married in 2016 and welcomed a son, Santiago, in 2018.
In recent times Longoria has dedicated her time to the Time's Up movement, working to bring change to the entertainment industry.
Australian Associated Press
