Not Skinny But Not Fat - Eva Longoria on Hot Cheetos, Desperate Housewives, & Her Mexican Roots!

Episode Date: June 27, 2023

i want to put her in my pocket! Eva Longoria is on the show today and she's freaking adorable! She just made her directorial debut in the Hulu/Disney+ movie Flamin' Hot, and she takes us through how that happened, why it was important for her to tell that story, her connection with her Mexican roots, Desperate Housewives and how she became an actress, her friendship with Victoria Beckham and more!Produced by Dear MediaThis episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The following podcast is a dear media production. Hi, everyone. I'm Peyton Sarton, host of the Note to Self podcast. Note to self is a space to embrace your unique qualities, get grounded, and ultimately have honest conversation. No topic is off limits. I began doing social media seven years ago, and since then, I've started a clothing line and this podcast. Note to self is a place where people from every stage of life can come for advice, new perspectives, and to feel a little less alone. Whether or not I'm recording by myself or bringing along a friend, we will explore topics ranging from relationships and mental wellness to social media and entrepreneurship. Tune in to note to self every week for the sisterly advice you didn't know you needed and raw conversations you've always wanted. This is Amanda Hirsch from the Not Skinny but Not Fat podcast. You might know me from Not Skinny Bonafut on Instagram where I spend my time talking

about reality TV, celebrities, everything happening and pop culture. I also talk to some of our favorite celebs and reality TV stars. We talk about what's going on. Tune in every Tuesday and just feel like you're talking to shit with your best friends in your living room. Okay, you guys, today's exciting. Oh, my God, I'm going to say something so lame. We have chingona. Did I say it?

I love Spanish, by the way. La chingona. The chingona and Gorya. Oh my God. I love Spanish. We're going to do this podcast in Spanish. Venga, we're going to.

Okay. But you're doing Spanish? Yes, I'm doing Spanish. Much? Yes. I'm living in Mexico. What? Vivo in Mexico.

No, now. Uh-huh. Now. What do you mean? Yeah. Right now you're living in Mexico? Yeah. I didn't know that.

I live between Mexico City and L.A. Oh, wow. Yes. For how long is that? happen the past five years I mean since my son was born yeah we spent more time in Mexico City the whole COVID was we were in Mexico wow yeah what's that like the whole COVID did I sound old the whole COVID the whole COVID thing yeah oh it's amazing Mexico City's amazing one of the most beautiful cities in the world it's such a food destination now and and then you pop over everywhere

like wahaka is pretty fun merida's fun I did searching for Mexico this show right food and Yeah. So I was in Mexico for like shooting for five months there and it was just so great. I love Mexico. But yeah, I didn't grow up speaking Spanish, but now I speak Spanish. Yeah. So you didn't grow up speaking Spanish. Your parents but are like Mexican, but didn't speak Spanish to you. Yeah. Yeah. No, they spoke Spanish to each other, but they didn't teach us Spanish. Oh, interesting. Yeah. Were you like, why didn't you talk to me? Oh, I get, I get mad of them all the time. I know why because, you know, that time still there's a big push for assimilation for kids and there's a big, like, by the the school system, by society of like, don't let them have an accent and don't let them be

other. Don't let them speak any other language. And that's how you know it's an actor in the house. It's like how loud this is, right? You know what? I'm allergic to perfume. Oh, no. I don't wear perfume. And I put perfume on today going, I'm going to put per. No, bad idea. This is why do you see my eyes? I sound stuffy. My eyes are watering. I'm sorry. You know what's so funny. I went to. college and I did like a marketing major. I minored in theater just because I liked it. Yeah. And it was like going from the regular classes with like, you know, normal people. Yeah. Where I did the marketing and the whatever intro to mass media. And then you go to the acting

classes and that's how they sneeze. You know, that's the difference between someone who's a performer, you know. My husband is so embarrassed when I sneeze on the street. He's like, oh my gosh, less attention from people. I can't. I can't. If I do a quiet sneeze, I literally a rib will pop out. I go, I can't. I've got to let it out. Why would I like make life harder? Okay. So Mexico City, I know you did the show. Yeah. Like food. You just wanted to eat your way through Mexico. Yeah. Stanley Tucci called me because he had searching for Italy. Right. Yeah. And he called me and he's like, hey, we want to do a spinoff. What do you think? We want to, you know, we think you're a foodie, you're a cook. And I was like, you've got to do Mexico. And so I'm the one that pitched him on the country. And he was like, That's a great idea. And then they researched it and they're like, yeah. I mean, it's a jewel of a cuisine. It's only one of the only, it is only one of two cuisines protected by UNESCO as a cultural treasure. And that's French cuisine and Mexican, the only two cuisines. And what do you think about Mexican food here in America? I love it. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, I'm Tex-Mex. Yeah. And so I love Tex-Mex. My husband hates Tex-Mex because he's a pure Mexican. I'm Mexican-American. So I love Tex-Mex. And I also, you know,

spending 20 years in California, there's, you know, California Mexican and, but no, you know, it's the most popular cuisine in the United States. And was it important for you to marry someone Mexican? No. No, that happened by, that happened by accident. Really? Yeah, you know. Blind date situation. Yes. Yes. My friend set us up and I was like, I'm not interested in anybody right now. And neither was Pepe. Pepe. Pepe was like, hey, so we met. Yeah, his name's Pepe. Yeah. Well, his name's Jose Antonio, but Jose in Mexico, the nickname is Pepe. Oh, really? We're learning so much today.

I know, like William and Bill. Right. Gotcha. Okay. So anybody's name Jose is usually called Pepe. Really? Okay. Yeah.

So Pepe. Pepe and I. Yeah, but he, we both met and we were like, hey, hi. That was it. And then six months later, we remet. And I was like, who is that? And my friend's like, that's the guy. I've been trying to get you to date.

And I was like, I've never met this man in my life. And he was like, yes, that's the guy. I was like, I don't remember. So then we, yeah, that was 10 years ago. Wow. Yes. But you know, my second husband, because I've been married, this is my third husband. I have to clarify.

But when I was married to Tony, he was French. So my second language is French. I learned French. And I was way more fluent in French than Spanish. That's wild. And, you know, we spent our summers in France and his whole family's French. so I had to learn it. So when I learned Spanish, Spanish is my third language, and it was much easier.

Like, I was like, oh, okay, I got it now. Wow. I can't believe you call Spanish your third language. I know. Isn't that crazy? But it's only in the United States that we teach our children like don't speak another language. It's like, when is monolingualism better than bilingual?

Like, when is one better than two? Yeah. It's weird. We're the only country that promotes monolinguism. Do you feel like they promote that here, though? Yes. Oh, my God. If you speak Spanish, we've been told so many times.

I remember actually I think it was in upstate New York. I was somewhere. My husband and I were speaking Spanish and somebody literally told us, can you stop that? Yeah. And I was like, I'm sorry, stop what? And I was, I didn't understand. And I was like, oh my God. It's crazy.

Oh my God. It's fun though because you can like talk shit about people without them understanding something. Although a lot of people, yeah, with Spanish it's hard. Yeah, a lot of people. My husband thinks that. So he'll start saying something about somebody right in front of us in Spanish. I'm like, honey, I think they understand what you're saying.

I know. That's, I speak. Hebrew, so it's easier. Oh, that's a good one. Not as many people know. But I'm always like, how funny would it be? Or if I'll see, like, Israeli speaking Hebrew, I'm like, please talk shit about me so I can catch you in the moment.

I'm going to get you. Okay. So I just tease you coming on today by saying there is a flaming hot guest coming on today. Because your movie Flaming Hot, which you directed. Yeah. It's your directorial debut. Yeah. I know.

And what a fun, inspiring, great movie. I loved it so much. It's so good. It's on Hulu, you guys. Super easy. Hulu and Disney Plus. And Disney Plus. You don't have to even go anywhere.

No. Sitting your home. Watch the movie. How did you become attached to the project? Well, I've been directing for 12 years. This is my first feature film. And I love TV. I love directing TV.

I love the medium of television. And my agent sent me the script. And she's like, you know, you should take a look at this. She's like, I don't think you're going to get it. Because so many directors were up for the job. Really, you know, established directors. and everybody loved the story. And so she was, I think, I don't know,

I think you should throw your hat in the ring. And I was like, okay, so I read it. And I was like, oh my gosh, I was blown away by his story. Because you saw the movie. So it's not really about the hot chito. It's about this man's life, you know? And it's really inspirational and moving and motivational and complex.

And so I read the script. And I was like, how did I not know this story? He's Mexican-American. I'm Mexican-American. Like, if I don't know this story, that means a lot of people don't know this story. And then I became obsessed with like, I'm the only one who can tell this story and went in. And I was the little engine that could in the director meetings because I was like, I have to get this.

And I won the job. You still like audition to be a director? Yeah. You got to go pitch your vision. Really? I didn't know that. Yeah. And then you get a call back, you know.

You go in. They go great. You make it to the next level. You go in. Great. Did you know how to create that kind of a pitch? Or does someone kind of got to do? No.

It was my second. But I knew enough, and I knew enough to surround myself with people smarter than me. So I had my agents. I had my graphic designer. I edited a reel. I really did this all-encompassing pitch about the vision that I knew this movie could be. Yeah. And what it meant.

And I was like, I don't think you guys understand what this would mean for us as a Latino community. But also, it's such a universal theme, right? Like anybody, like, you know, you loved it. And you're white girl from New York, right? Sounds lame. Okay. Yeah. Right.

Because it's just inspiring. Yeah. And it's a universal story of like rags to riches and perseverance and the underdog. And so that's why I identified with it because I was like, I am Richard Montanayez. I've been told no. I've been told ideas don't come from people like you or no, no, no. You're a woman. Maybe you shouldn't do that job or that opportunity.

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You got it. They believed in you. And you did it. And you didn't put yourself in it. Though, I just saw that you did. And I was like, no, I did miss it. Where were you? I was a secretary when Richard calls the CEO and all the bosses are pissed off.

They go, who let him let this guy call? Well, not the first woman that answered. Not the first guy. But the second, no, the woman, he goes, get him on the phone. And I go, I don't know who that is. And I'm trying to dial the phone number. I cannot believe that I miss that. It's a blip.

Oh, it's like two seconds, maybe one. Did you think about maybe being Jude? No, never. Really? Yeah. And Richard Montaignez, originally, the real Richard was like, why don't you be Judy? And I was like, because I'm 112. Oh my God. But also I felt like it was my first feature and I really wanted to be behind the camera 100%. And I love directing and acting at the same time. I actually love directing what I'm in. Yeah. Because I'm just more efficient and it's just shorthand. I can give myself notes in my head. Right. But with this one, I was like, no, I need 1,000% focus.

behind the camera. And Annie, who plays our Judy, Annie Gonzalez, is brilliant. She's so good. She's brilliant. And she's the heart of the movie. And so I was like, that's our Judy. It was clear she was our Judy. Did you relate to, there are a few scenes with the kids where they're, like, embarrassed about speaking Spanish. Yes. They get bullied at school. For being, for being Mexican. Did you find, like, did you relate to those scenes? Yeah. Yeah, that's happened to me many times. When I was in third grade, I had to go to this gifted and talented school that was like across town, not in my neighborhood. So I had to get bused there. And the first day I went on the bus, I had a bean taco because we eat bean tacos for breakfast every day.

And everybody in my neighborhood eats bean tacos. But when I got on the bus, everybody had a Pop-Tart. And I was like, what is that? Oh, that's so cool. It had sprinkles on it. I mean, it looks so cool. And they were like, what's that? And I was like, it's a bean taco.

Don't you guys eat these? And I remember a little girl on the bus going, she's Mexican. And I was like, what's that? Like, I had no idea that I was different. And then I was like, is that a bad thing? Why is she saying it like that? And that's when I kind of realized, oh, oh, so everybody's not Mexican. And then I would go to Mexico.

Like, we would go all the time to, we'd cross the border. We'd walk over, you know, because I'm from Texas. We'd walk over the border. We'd have lunch. We'd come back. Like, it was a normal thing. And when we'd come back, we'd get in the line that, you know, was American citizen. And they were like, you just had to say, American citizen.

They go, great. This was like, they don't check a passport. They had nothing. And I thought that was a secret password. So I thought, why is it that long line over there? Why don't they know the secret password? Yeah. It's American citizen, guys.

Just say it. And my dad's like, no, no, they're Mexican. And I was like, I know, but we're Mexican. My dad's like, no, we're American. And every time I went to Mexico, they would go, oh, the American. And I was like, no, am I not Mexican? Like, I was so confused as a kid, for sure, because we were both at the same time. And so it wasn't until like college where I really embraced how to navigate the hyphen, right?

Like I'm 100% Mexican, 100% American at the same time. And I'm the most patriotic person you'll meet. I'm a proud American. I am like, you know, red, white and blue. But I'm so proud of my Latino roots and my Mexican roots and our culture and our heritage. and our traditions and our food and our language and, you know, all of it. Did you find that you connected with them more as you got older? Yeah.

Yeah. Always. Do you find that with your heritage? I think that getting older is just better than that you. Yeah. I think you step back and go, oh, okay. But again, it's everybody forcing all cultures that come to assembly. Like you got to be this one flavor.

Yeah. And that's like, no. Right. Why? I know. You're very good about saying like Mexican American. Yeah. Like the hyphen.

The hyphenated. I want to talk about Richard Moutaniez for a second, Matañez. Yes. Because we loved a true story, obviously. This is based on a true story. But why is the way that it's written is like he claims he invented the hot Cheetah. And then Frito Le is like, we couldn't find it, but we support him. Yeah. So. Yeah. And then Pepsi came out with like 1,000 percent he is responsible. Oh, Pepsi came out and said that?

The success of Flaming Hot. Yeah. For the success of Flamia. Are they accrediting him with like... Well, he's not the chemist. Right, obviously. And I feel like that's what people are like, wait, he's not the chemist. No, he didn't mix Maltidextrin with God knows what. Yeah.

You know what I mean? Like, no, and we don't say that in the movie. He came up, his genius was marketing and going, you're ignoring the Hispanic market. And we put Chile on chips and we should, why don't we try this thing? So they already had this spice and development. Yeah. But what they did was give him the opportunity to market it. And so that's what where his genius really was was, you know, I know my community.

I know they'll love something like this. And they were like, great. But there's beautiful. Do you see Patty, the secretary in the movie that passes the call through? You know, it's a big moment in his life because a secretary could have been like, no. Right. I'm not passing. What?

I'm sorry. You're the janitor. Yeah. I was kind of surprised you passed the phone on too. Yeah. True story. That's a true story. 1,000 percent.

He's, every time he does it. head talk or motivational speech. He credits Patty, the secretary, for passing the call to the CEO because she knew Roger Enrico was like that. He loved talking to the front line and factory workers. And so she's like, oh, he'll love to hear from you. So Patty passed the call through. So we had a Dallas screening and the real Patty was there. And she came up on stage and she said, I remember the day he called and pitched this idea to Mr. Enrico. She was Roger Enrico's secretary until he died. Wow. And so her testimony is. beautiful because she's like I remember he was like forceful but humble and he was uneducated

but he was smart and he was passionate about what he was saying about his community and she's like I got to pass this call she remembers the phone call she remembers passing she remembers all of it and she remembers the the journey that enrico and montaignez richard went on in their lives like he she goes he loved he saw himself in richard because roger enrico the CEO of pepsico was an italian immigrant. Right. So he identified with, with Richard's Husspa, you know, and his Moxie, I think. Oh, God, why am I saying all these Hebrew words? Hello. You know what? I was shocked at in the movie just because we've become such a greedy, like, nation and everything's about money. Yeah. The whole time I was like, is he getting a cut?

Like, what's good? You know, is he, how is he knowing, like, what is making from this? Yeah. And it's wild that it wasn't, didn't seem to be about that. No. No. It wasn't about getting his cut or getting copy. copyright on the credit, right, or credit. It was like he was doing this kind of for the factory to keep. He wanted more shifts. Yeah. Like he literally was like one foot in front of the other.

He wanted, you know, to move up. And what really happened, which is in the movie, is Raj and Rico sent out a video to, he always sent videos to the company. And in one video, he said, I want everybody to think like a CEO. This is your company too. Yeah. And that's when he was like, oh, okay. So that means I can.

And people are like, no, not you. Others, you know, and he was like, well, why not me? I could think like a CEO. But yeah, it's, that's why people go, oh, you know, did this really happen? Right. Watch the movie. Because then you'll go, oh, okay, I got it. I got it.

Yeah, does he, you've spoken to him probably, right? Richard, yeah. Did he kind of guide you on the, on the film too? Oh, yeah. No. I mean, all of this, this is why the film is in his perspective. It's in his voice. Yeah.

He really believes this is, what unfolded and happened. Like, he really didn't know what a boardroom looked like. And those boardroom scenes where they're all talking like Cholo's, he really was like, he thought a boardroom was full of boards.

Like, he didn't understand, like, what are they doing there? And so when we have all these fantasy sequences, it's because I really wanted to show, like, his thought process. Like, he was, he couldn't read or write when he took the job. Like, he couldn't fill out the application.

So why would he know how protocols are in a big, company like that. He didn't know there was, you know, a research and development team that develops stuff and takes millions of dollars. He just thought like, look, I made this in my kitchen. Should we try it? I don't know. And I mean, it was no matter what is set out there, he did go from being a plan worker. 100% to being top level executive. Top level executive in marketing. 42 years. That is a wild sort. And that's why Pepsi is 1,000% behind him. Yeah. Like his body of work at the company has always been celebrated. Yeah.

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And they're also super committed to celebrating the LGBTQ community. The founder Kat Haunta said that she created the brand with the intention of providing a fun and inviting space that is inclusive. So super inclusive. We love to freaking hear that. So try 21 Seeds infused tequila for easy and delicious cocktails. Visit 21seeds.com to find 21 seeds near you. Enjoy responsibly 21 Seeds Diageo, New York, New York. Do you like hot Cheetos? Love hot Cheetos. I've never tried it. We don't even have any here. It's too early right now. Have you guys tried it? Like everyone that's the universal. I don't know why I haven't tried it. Do you like spicy? I do. Yeah. Do you? Are you really good with spicy? Yeah. So they're not spicy to me. In Mexico, we have

extra. They're XX Flaming Hots, which is in a black bag. And you can handle that. Yeah. Look at your nails. Is that on purpose for the movie? Yes. But no, I grew up eating Flaming Hades. I don't remember a time where I didn't have Flaming Hots. As a matter of fact, the first time I ate a bag of normal Cheetos, I thought something was wrong with my bag. I was like, oh, I got a bum bag. What the hell is this?

And they were like, no, those are regular Cheetos. I was like, there's a regular Cheetos? That's dumb. Because in the movie, the little kid is like kind of the guinea pig. Yeah. Were you a little kid eating? spicy food? Really? Wow. Because I feel like in America at least, until this day, and my son is like almost three. It's like, don't give him spicy. And I'm like, am I not allowed to? Yeah. Is it a bad? Is it a bad thing? Or is it just like not good? You know what I mean? Like we're tall, kind of like that

spicy can be like in Mexican culture, like here's a jalapeno. Like eat it, put it in the bottle. My dad, my mom would put jalapeno sauce on my nail so I wouldn't bite it. No. Yes. Like she was like, go ahead. Bite your nails. And she put it. jalapeno's on my nails. Oh my God. I can't remember not having spicy stuff. And you know what? My pediatrician, because my son's five, her, she's Indian.

And same thing with like spices. And she's like, your children should eat what you eat. Yeah. You know what I mean? How is he with spicy food? He's not there yet. Yeah. And my Mexican husband's very disappointed in his spice level.

I mean, your stomach must be made of steel. I feel like I, after the age of 30, I can't handle beans. spicy, alcohol, all this stuff. My stomach's like, no. Oh, I do all those things. Alcohol, beans, spicy, not cheese. That's a, yeah.

Cheese has become an issue. Yeah, lactose has become an issue. You know what's so funny, I just shot a show in Spain. Mexico, Spain, the rest of the world has deslactosada milk. Like. Lactose-free? Yeah. And if you go to Starbucks, if you go to any coffee shop, that's an option.

But not here. Not here. Here you have to get the plant base. Yeah, you got to get almond or soy. I was like, no, I want lactose-free melt. And they're like, no. But everywhere else in the world, you can say, there's lactosada. And they go, oh, yes.

It's lactosada. Yes. Okay. I want to talk about you and how you started acting. Oh, yeah? Yeah. Do you want to know about it? I know.

Were you the little girl that, like, wanted to be on stage, put on a show, is in home video. No. I will say, though. I will say, so I grew up in a family of. educators and also like they're both teachers teachers my mom's a teacher my aunt's a professor my everybody like is is education education education also my three sisters look like you like really yes like you mean like they're blonde light skinned they were all my three sisters were blonde like blonde we have pictures where there's the three sisters and me yeah and i was the

only one that came out with black hair dark skin dark eyes my sisters have these beautiful hazel eyes my mom's Weta, which is the white one, they call her Tia Weta, because she's so light-skinned. And so I grew up as La Preta Faya, which means the ugly, dark one. No way. Yeah, oh, yeah. Who called you that? My mom. No.

My family. As like a joke. No, as like, it's in a term of endearment, but like people would walk up to my mom and go, your daughters are so beautiful. And who's this? Oh, my God. I'm one of them, blah, blah, blah. So much so that when I did a DNA test, I.

I was like, I hope my parents are my parents. Why'd you do a DNA test? Because I did that show where they trace your DNA or whatever and to find your roots and it was so fun. And the guy kept going, you were going to be so surprised. I can't wait until we reveal your DNA to you. And I was like, I'm so sorry. Am I my, am I my parents' child?

Like, don't tell me that on camera. And he was like, yes. And I was like, oh, okay, okay, just. Oh, God. I was like, I never thought to do a DNA test. Yeah. So I wasn't the pretty one. Like, I grew up as not the pretty one.

So there was a conscious decision when I was young to be the funny one. And I really think that has lent itself to my personality. Like, not just like, oh, I'm going to be an actress, but like, I just don't value beauty in my own self very much. And I know, I'm with a L'Oreal, I'm a spokesperson, which my sisters are still like, why'd they pick you? Still, like nothing like family to grow. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I don't, that's not a high value characteristic in our family, except, you know, so I did do think, I didn't grow up with celebrity, you know, again, I'm much older than you. And so we didn't have tabloids. Obviously, we didn't have social media or anything like that. But like, it was like, the National Enquirer was the big tabloid. So it was like, aliens have landed. And Robert De Niro had a baby. So you're like, I don't know what to believe. I don't know. Which is still happening, by the way. Robert De Niro is still having babies. Still having babies. Still having babies.

I don't know about aliens I don't know Well no aliens did land Oh okay They did? Yeah Okay just yesterday Aliens landed

So you didn't have tabloids I didn't have so I didn't grow up With celebrity culture Some people were like Who were your role models I'm like my mom My aunt My sister like

What do you mean? I never Today if you ask kids Or younger people Who's your role model They're like you know So and so It's like always

Yeah it's always a celebrity And I was like no And I grew up with TV So my mom was a big soap Watcher So we'd watch soap up operas, you know. So that's what when I, when I landed in LA and landed on a soap, my mom was like, but you landed in L.A. You arrived. I want to know how you got to like go to L.A.

I was in a beauty pageant. Right. Yeah. And so when I was in Texas, Lafaya went to a beauty page. By the way, my mom was like, I really don't think you should do this. My whole family was like, so why are you entering a beauty event? No, no, because it was a scholarship pageant. And I didn't go in going, I'm so beautiful. This was in college. It was my last year of college. And I ran out of money. My Pell Grant ran out. My financial aid ran out. My parents weren't really, you know, paying for the college.

And my girlfriend goes, you should enter the scholarship pageant. And I was like, what is that? Like a beauty pageant? And she's like, well, yeah, you know, it's the same. But the prizes were, was money for school. And I was looking at the prizes. And I was like, fourth place was like books. And I was like, okay, if I could just get fourth place, then I'll get my books covered.

and then like third place was like books tuition and then you know second place was books tuition boarding and then first place was books tuition boarding and a stipend or whatever and so I was like okay if I could just get I was trying to cobble together you know the money to finish my senior year of college and so I entered it and I won and I got to finish college because of it but because I won that they're like and you advance to the next patch I was like oh god no no no no no I'm not a not a pageant girl I just wanted this prize and I had to move on to the next pageant. But I remember calling my mom and I was like, mom, I need a dress or a gown. I think it's called a gown. I didn't even know. I didn't know. And she was like, I'm in this beauty pageant. She goes, oh, honey, I don't think that's a good

idea. I mean, do you think that's a good idea? She was like, you're not going to win. You're going to be disappointed. I'm like, I'm not going to be disappointed. I just need to get fourth place. And you won first place. And I won the crown. Oh, wow. And then you advance and advance until. And then so I advanced to the Miss Corpus Christi pageant, which is where I'm from. I'm from Corpus. And I was like, let me just do this. And then I won that one. And in that prize package, when I was Miss Corpus Christi, USA, 1998, yes, it's pageway.

That in that prize package was a trip to L.A. And it was like for acting and modeling. Yeah. And I was like, oh, my God, I just want to go to L.A. Like, I had never been out of Texas except to Mexico. And so I was like, yeah, I'll go. So I graduated college and I come to L.A. And it was like this modeling and talent convention that we had to go to.

And I was like, okay. And all these managers and agents wanted to sign me. Because it was like 1998, 99 where it was like live in the Vita Loca and JLo and Made Manhattan. Like it was the Latin explosion. Right. And they're like, you're Latina. You're going to kill it here. You should stay in L.A.

You're going to do so well. And I was like, what do what well? what is it? What is it? And they're like acting, modeling, whatever, like being Latin's the new thing. And I was like, okay. And I was like, okay, I'll stay. And I never went home. Oh, my God. I took that trip. And I just told my mom. And you got signed from that. Yeah, I got a manager and five roommates in a one bedroom apartment, like that were all at that little convention together from one from Minnesota and a girl from Idaho. You know, it was like, and they were all like drama nerds and we've been studying for this. I was like,

I got, I never done this. This is amazing. What's going on? So rent was like $100 split between five people. Like we were all in this one bedroom part in Hollywood because I was like, I want to live in Hollywood. Because when I write home, this is when you still wrote letters. It'll say Hollywood. It'll say Hollywood, California on the envelope.

And so that's why I chose to live in Hollywood. I stayed. Well, and then I had my degree. And so I was like, I can get a job. I have a degree. Right. I'm not going to wait tables. Wait, what was your degree in?

Kinesiology. But then you went back to. school, right? Yeah, and then I got my master's later. In Chicano Studies. During Desper Housewives. I'm telling you. I come from a family of educators. They were like, and you don't have your master's. Like, does it even count? Yeah, does it even count? Do you even exist? Wait, so you stayed and then you started getting like little parts. Well, then I did extra work because I'd never been on a set. And I was like, let me, I mean, I should probably be on a set. So I signed up to be an extra and I did an extra, extra jobs for like a year. And I was just on set going, what's that? Why is

a camera there? What's that? What's that? What's that? Like do. And they're like, this extra needs to go back to holding can somebody take her back to holding and I was just like you wanted to learn I wanted to what's a mark why is this mic here thought hello testing one two and they're like oh my god get off the set little girl and then I got one line and then I got two lines and then you know and I just moved my way up and did you get passionate about it as you were doing it like damn I kind of like you know what I what I got passion about was producing and directing like I really was immediately was like who's that person behind the over there Why are they? Seems like they're making all the decisions. Yeah. They're like, oh, yeah, that's, those are the producers. And I was like, well, the bosses. Like, they're the ones to put together. And I immediately was like, oh, I want to be that. I knew that. Really? Right away. And then also, like, I took so many jobs. I had 100 jobs while I was pursuing acting. And one of them, I worked at a live event company as a PA and running around, getting people coffee, whatever. But then learning, right? And I was like, what do you? They're like, hey, send this budget upstairs. And then I would just,

keep it. I would make a copy of it and I would study the budget because I wanted to know what does this mean or you know booking talent right. It was a live event coming so there. We need to book this band. And I was like, oh, okay. And you got to call the agent. What's an agent? So the agent negotiates the fee? No, we offer the fee. And then I was like, oh, okay. Like I just was so curious. And I asked a lot of questions. And I learned. And then I moved up to like an AD and then I was producing live events. So when you got the young and the restless, your mom. Um, oh, was like, dying. I won an Oscar.

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Oh, it's harder? Yeah. In what way? So hard. Well, you do like 40 pages a date. Right, right. But in terms of, like, the act. acting, which is, I feel like, more dramatic.

Well, they're all dramas. Right. You know, it's not like understated acting. Yeah, it's not like, but um, bump. There's no like, hey, let's make this funny. You know, it's a dramatic form. And there's actors who've been doing it forever. Right.

And that, again, my mom was like, oh, my God, you're going to be on with so-and-so. Doug Davidson, my husband on the show, I loved. He was on the show. I think he's still in the show, but he was an amazing actor. How did you stop, did they kill? they fired me. They fired you? At what point?

After my contract, I'd be three years because the storyline ran out and they were like. Usually you would come back as like your ghost or something. I know. I know. You didn't? No, I didn't. But I loved my time on there and learned a lot.

I mean, just the amount of dialogue you have to learn. It builds your memory muscle. And so when I moved to primetime TV, which like we're doing eight pages a day, I'm like, well, Breeze. Sure. So when you got Desperate Houseways, which was, yeah, I was like, oh, I could do this.

At that point, how long were you in the industry when you got that? Well, I moved to your 98, and that was 2003 when I got the pilot. Yeah. Yeah. And then 2004, it premiered to the world. And that was really like the big. That was the big one. Did you know was going to be big? Like when you were- No, I thought it wasn't going to get picked up. When we did the pilot, I was like, this is so different because it wasn't a drama and it wasn't a comedy. It had women over 40 in it. Like, God forbid, you had a show with women over 40. I was the only one that wasn't 40. Right. But Gabby was kind of, oh, I was playing older because she was still their friend. But I remember it was like, I go, well, I don't think this is going to last. But I was like, counting my money that I got from the pilot to see how long it would last. Like, I was like,

okay, I did this pilot. I think I could survive for like another six months, maybe a year. And, You know what? Like I was just budgeting my little apartment based on just the pilot because I thought, oh, this will, this won't get picked up. It's too, it's too different. Yeah. And then. Boy, did it get picked up. Wow. Yeah. So it was, it was overnight the success of the show. Not me because I was, like I said, I had already done stuff and I was already on a prime time show before Desper's. So it wasn't like I was an overnight success, but like the global reach that Desperty's had. was overnight. And still, I mean, it's still plays in brands. It's like one of those shows that just sticks in pop culture in people's in the back of our minds.

Yeah. Would you ever go back to do a reboot? I would love to. Yeah? I would be the first to sign up. Wait, I saw that Jesse Mecklap was just at the premiere. Yeah.

Which is so funny because I feel like you're married, you know, with a child, but still there was like Eva Longoria. Jesse Meckap. Like, sexy couple. We were best friends on that show because, you know, Jesse was playing younger.

Right. He was playing a 17-year-old, but he was 25. And I was 28 playing 40. You know, so we were the same age. And we were like in the same Hollywood cool group of like, let's go. So we were best friends. And again, this thing happened to us. You know, this explosion happened to us.

And Jesse and I both came from soaps. He was on a soap also. So we kind of had the same background. And we just held each other's hands through this moment. And it was really great. Him and my husband, Ricardo Chavira, I loved. Like, I had great guys. on the show.

You had a lot of guys on the show. I know. Well, that's another reason I was like, I don't know if we could reboot it. There's nobody else I could sleep with. I have slept with everybody on that show. So did he come to support you at the premiere? Yeah.

Yeah. That's so cute. Are you still in touch with any of the other women? Oh, yeah? Yes. Felicity and Marcia and I are very close. You know, they were my rock on the show. They were, they took me under their wing.

You know, they had success. You know, Marsha had Melrose place. Before. Yeah, yeah. She was an actor. So she had amazing success. And so for me, I was like, I'm just happy to be here. And they, those two, like, I, I was so lucky to, like, be in their presence and be in

their warmth. Like, they're amazing human being. Like it was a fun show to film. You had good chemistry. Yeah, it was, yeah, the chemistry, we tapped into something that was, you couldn't describe. Like, we were just all on the same frequency. And I loved it.

It was a decade of our life. Yeah. It's a long time. Where did you film? Universal Studios. in a like oh that's fun yeah you weren't like stuck in Atlanta or something no no Los Angeles yeah that's fun I know and rare I know your son Santiago yeah cutest thing ever thank you five turning five in a minute in a minute now June 18 okay so not a Gemini

it is a Gemini it is a Gemini still yes oh I know I was so sad you're not in the clear no I'm a I'm a Gemini so relaxed okay but for guys I get it but for guys I get it I know for guys from astrology people. Yeah. The thing. I mean, my son's a Leo. So it's like we're in it. Okay. We're in the thick of it. I'm glad I'm also glad he's not a tourist. I don't know why. Really? He's like, oh, God. I don't know. I feel like that would have been problematic too. They're all, they all have, but Gemini's. I mean, listen, we love him. We love him. So he's the cutest thing ever. He's turning five. And you, I read that you said that before you made your current husband who has children, you weren't that into, you were like not thinking about it. And his kids kind of sparked that in you. No, PEPA sparked it in me. Like, just he is, I always think children are a product of love, right? Just a beautiful blessing. I really think that. And so when people are like, you want to have kids, you want to have kids, I was like, I mean, if it happens, I don't feel like I was never the person who's going to do it by myself.

Like, I'm going to go do it myself. I was like, oh, I think, I think I'm okay. And I was 40, you know, when I met PEPA. So when were you pregnant? 43. And how was that? Did you, were you good? Did you feel good?

Really? Great. Yeah. Damn, those jeans. It was good. Look at you. I can't deal with it. I know.

It's honestly annoying. It was great. But yeah. So then Pepe was like, and I loved his children. I mean, I love his children. But yeah, I was just like, I think we should do this. And we're like, yeah, let's do this. And now I can't.

I mean, I just, I don't even remember life before. I know. What do we do on weekends? I don't know. And I was like, how much time? Did I read book? I think I used to read books. That's, that's what I think about sometimes.

I'm like, what did I do with all the. Free time. Who are you so busy about? I remember being busy. Yeah. But I also think people go, wow, how do you handle it all? Your career in motherhood? I was like, well, I built my career when I did not have a child.

Yes. And that's easy. You know what I mean? Because it's all about you. It's all about you. All about you. And how is it navigating your career now? Now, because, you know, I get to choose what I want to do, it's so much easier to make decisions

about my career. Because if it's going to pull time away from Santi and my family, then, you know, I'm just not going to do it. Yeah. You know what I mean? You're going to do things that you're really bad to go to Bulgaria? No. Like, you know what I mean?

Like, or Atlanta? No. I'm not, you know, so I'm really, I'm really lucky that I get to, I have that filter now where it's like easier to say no to things because he's what you're doing? No, but he did see Dora the Explorer and he was like, wait, your Dora's mom. And I was like, yeah, but just sometimes, you know, and he was like, what do you mean sometimes? So that was the first time he saw me on screen. Yeah.

But he's been on every. said I've directed and he's since he was in my belly to breastfeeding to he says action on Flaming Hot. So he gets that actually. Are you teaching him both Spanish and English? Yeah. Are you like making it a point to like at home we speak English? No, we just speak Spanish. You just speak Spanish because he'll pick up the English. Everybody speaks English. Yeah. Yeah. And he's perfectly a bilingual. He's way better Spanish bigger than me. He corrects me all the time, all the time. And he gets frustrated like he's like he's like he was playing with a knife the other day and i said was telling him no it's dangerous i said you know but i was trying to say no no no the knife is sharp

oh okay no no no we muy sharp that's what i said and he goes filoso mama filoso but like that like like with the head attitude attitude and i was like oh is that the word for sharp oh my god i never knew the word for sharp he corrects me all the time like what's i don't know some bugs like He knows all the bugs in Spanish. He knows everything. Well, he goes to school there. Well, yeah. Like, he has, he has everything is everything.

He's immersed in Spanish. Yeah. Our, my whole family, you know, takes the, the whole village around him speaks Spanish. Wow. When we live in Mexico City, it's like pure Spanish. And when we're in L.A., it's Spanish in the household, but everybody else. English everywhere else. Yeah.

I have to ask you about your friendship with Victoria Beckham. Okay. Because when I first saw it, I was like, okay, friendship goals. Like, I feel like you guys just kind of booped it on Instagram, some, like, post. together. And I was like, we don't know about this. How did you meet? We met because my ex-husband knew David because of the sports world. And so that's why I met David and Victoria. And then they moved when David played for the LA Galaxy to Los Angeles back in the 2000s. Yeah. And that was it. We were like, peas in a pod. We just were like, fom. And she's,

you know, we're the same kind of funny. We both, like, she's just so funny. I feel like people know about you, but people don't know that about her. Oh, gosh. She is so funny. Uh-huh. By one of the funniest people, I know. I mean, she's so funny. And she's the most loyal, caring, kind human beings. Like, she is there. Wow. Yeah, she's just a good human being. I know people are amazed at like, two celebs, but like, no, she's a really, she's like a good. Two celebs are friends. Like, it's like, we don't, I don't look at it like that. Like, if she would be my friend if we both were just, like, neighbors. Yeah. And yeah, she's just a great. mom and a great businesswoman and a great like everything you're like yes i want to be more of that

yeah yeah you surround yourself with people that you like respect and yeah or you're like so i wanted to shout out your tequila oh my god tequila you're looking at it you're like where is it where it's 11 in the morning people the the repo baby sure was genius yes so good nepo baby yeah i mean santi who knows i know i know i know who knows that's why i'm trying not to be too hard on the on the nippo babies because I'm like my son might be a nippo but no my son will earn his way for sure a few quick questions before you go yes coffee order from Starbucks or well in general yeah I have a four shot latte but small like a small cup with four shots basically I want espresso with a little bit of milk uh-huh and we know you drink plant-based milk no dyslactosada well when

you're here I just do low fat oh okay oh I know because I can't You don't like the other one. I don't like the other ones. They don't cream it enough for you. They don't cream it up and they have a taste. Mm, they do. I don't think. Favorite snack.

Flaming Hot Cheetos. Ah, there's he go. Any shows you're watching right now? I just finished The Last of Us, which that was so good because I'm in love with Pedro Pascal. I mean, yeah. That's my celebrity crush. He is?

Yes. He's so, I mean, he's daddy. Well, my all-time celebrity crush will always be Ricky Martin. Meet him? Yeah, he's one of my best friends. Oh, so. But I met him when I was 14. I literally stood in line for Minoula.

autograph in my home town. Why isn't he making music? Tell him. He is on tour. Okay. Yeah. Scratch that in post. He is. In America? Everywhere. Everywhere. Everywhere. He's on tour right now. Like he was just in Argentina or Peru

or something. Oh, that's so cool. So you're good friends with him too. We're very good friends. We're like, we're very good. That's my other really dear friend. But I still, I would love to marry him. Exciting things coming up. I know you have another doc that you, a documentary that you directed. Yes. Thank you.

La Guerr Civil. Yeah. It's the documentary about the 25th anniversary of Julio Cesar Chavez fighting Oscar Deloioa and how it really divided the Mexican household because Oscar was Mexican American and the new guy and Julio Cesar Chavez was the champion and the Mexican still national treasure. Yeah. And so it's a really interesting doc that explores who gets to say you're Mexican enough.

and it was through this fight. Wow. It's really powerful. It's on the DeZone D-A-ZN. Well, you're really connecting to your roots. This is the stories I know. I know. I'm not meaning to like,

I'm only going to do Latino. I just think we have a lot of stories to tell. Well, Oscar de La Jolla, you guys connecting to Populter for a minute, was married to Shanna Mokler. Yes. I don't think they got married, but they have a baby.

They have a baby, Atiana de La Jolla, who Travis Bollah. Barker is her stepdad, stepdad, married to Korni Kardashian, you guys. There you go. Yes. And she's part of the family. She's really part of the family. I mean, he's like her second dad, so that's really cool.

I saw you're on TikTok now. How's TikTok going? I'm on the TikTok. I am not on the TikTok. You are younger and hipper than me. I can't handle it. It's a lot. Yeah.

It's a lot. And it's very, I get it. I get it like it, but it's so fast. It's too frenetic to me. Yeah, it's a lot. I want to show you things you don't want to see. You're like, I didn't. You didn't. Why? I got to figure out my algorithm because I feel like I'm getting weird shit lately.

Mine was showing me girls putting on concealer and I was like they don't get that I don't want to see that. But you are on TikTok. Other exciting stuff coming up. I have a show on Apple that I shot. It's the first time I'll be back on TV in a while. Oh my God. That's exciting. I know. Very exciting. Apple is bougie and fun. Apple's so busy. I was so excited. And I just shot a movie for Disney Plus, which was Alexander and the horrible, terrible, no good, really. that day that's a sequel to to that. And that was really fun. We just wrapped Jesse Garcia and I, Jesse Garcia is the star of Flaming Hot. But now that we went to go do this movie. Oh, that's cool. I know. He's so great. He's so great. How good is the star of Flaming Hot? So good. He's amazing. Everybody go watch it. Yeah. It's such a fun, like I said, inspiring movie. That's like a whole family movie. Yes. I also told my husband, I was like, he doesn't watch TV with me a lot unless it's like murder or

something. And I told him, I was like, this is a story. And I feel like it's just so enticing to everybody. I was like, you know, the Flaming Hot Cheetos. So it's about the guy. He was in it. And I just feel like it's one of those things. It's so easy to get people on board to watch it. Yeah. It's like, number one streamed movie in the history of searchlight. And I was like, I was looking at Rotten Tomatoes. I have a problem. Oh, my God. Do you look at Rotten tomatoes? I don't. Really? I just, they send me the score. So it's doing really well. Yeah, we have 88. 88. But also audience score, which is more important. Very more, way more important.

Really? I always go, I can't believe it. I can believe it. We made a beautiful film. Yeah. So 88% my followers know how I am about Rotten Tomatoes. So I'm like, ooh. I'm most surprised to because there was a study about Rotten Tomatoes about like they didn't have enough women and diverse critics.

And so sometimes that can skew a movie. You know, if you have a rom-com and they go, boo, I didn't get it. Well, it wasn't made for you. Yeah, right. You know what I mean? No, but honestly, as much as I like Rotten Tomatoes, I'm usually at least. like a 40. Like if it's, if the critics give it a 40, I'm, I'm in. I'm in. I'm like, this is good for me. If it's 100, I'm like, I'm scared. Okay.

Eva Longoria, thank you so much for coming on. Thank you for having me. What a fun, like, pleasure for me. Oh, thank you for making this movie. Thank you. And for coming on my show. Thanks for having me. Thank you guys so much for listening to this episode of Not Skinny, but Not Fat. Follow me on Instagram at Not Skinny, but Not Fat. Subscribe to the podcast. We don't miss any episodes. Rate the podcast that you love so much on Apple Podcasts and write a little review. If you tell me you did, I'll give you a big virtual smoocharoo. Thank you guys so much for listening and I'll see you next Tuesday. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a

direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.