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Far From Desperate
By: Matt Munoz / Más staff / Bakotopia.com
Description: Actress Eva Longoria plays real-life role of social activist. Read and hear about her Bako visit!

Topics: Eva Longoria, Mas Magazine, Bakersfield, Bakotopia, Bakotopia.com, entertainment, Bakotunes, Latina, Hollywood, Desperate Housewives, ABC, Senorita Justice, Dolores Huerta, UFW
Posted by matt Fri Oct 13, 2006 02:41:31 PDT
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<--Click on audio at left to hear the complete audio interview with Eva Longoria!

Far From Desperate
Actress Eva Longoria plays real-life role of social activist. Read and hear about her Bako visit!


By Matt Munoz, Mas Magazine / Bakotopia Staff

Many know Eva Longoria for her role as the trouble-making Gabrielle Solis on ABC¹s mega-hit television show, "Desperate Housewives"

But few may know of her real-life, unscripted social activist role that keeps her grounded and connected to causes close to her heart.

The 31-year-old actress visited Bakersfield Sept. 22 for a surprise appearance at the Dolores Huerta Foundation Second Annual  Golf Tournament.
Held at The Links at RiverLakes, the golf tournament was a fundraiser for the Bakersfield-based nonprofit group whose mission and founder, Dolores Huerta, has won the respect of Longoria. Huerta, also the foundation's president, was grateful for Longoria's visit.

"Any support is appreciated when you have a grassroots project," Huerta said. "The foundation is based on volunteer work."

At press time, the foundation's golf tournament raised more than $30,000 through sponsorships and team sign-ups. Proceeds will help the nonprofit group's projects, including equal access to healthcare, housing, education, jobs, and civic participation. The foundation's goal is to educate disadvantaged people, especially youth and women, on how to become proactive in their communities. The three-year-old foundation uses grassroots campaigns, adopted by the late Cesar Chavez, to organize and bring attention to those issues.  

As one of the entertainment industry's most sought-after actress and model, Longoria's popularity is at an all-time high.

So how did a member of the current "Hollywood elite" become involved with Huerta, co-founder of the United Farmworkers Union and a national feminist leader?

"We met through a really good friend of ours, David Damian (of American Association of Retired People - AARP) who introduced me to Dolores' philanthropic ways," said Longoria, "and we immediately became best friends.
She's actually one of my idols, and I strive to be an ounce of her. She has so much energy and so much passion for what she does. And so, for me, she inspires me to use my voice for those who don't have a voice."

So much that she even traveled to Bakersfield for the first time.

"She's been involved with us for awhile," said Huerta of Longoria. "I met her a few years ago, before she was really famous at a gathering for the Cesar Chavez Foundation in Los Angeles."

When she's not in front of the camera, Longoria makes time to promote other causes, including PADRES Contra El Cancer, a nonprofit group funded by the American Cancer Society that helps Latino children stricken with cancer and their families cope with the disease. In September, Longoria hosted a black-tie gala fundraiser for the organization on the Housewives' Wisteria Lane set at Universal Studios in Hollywood.

Meanwhile, at the Dolores Huerta Foundation's golf tournament, Longoria took some time to chat with MÁS about her admiration for Huerta and plans of making a film based on the life of the 76-year-old Bakersfield Latina activist.

"We're still working on it," said Longoria. "The crazy thing about Dolores Huerta's life is that it's so jam-packed with events and historical things that have happened, and that's changed history and changed the law, and changed our community and society as we know it, so the funny thing is that the problem we¹re having is condensing it into a two-hour movie. I mean, a lot has gone on in her life, so we're trying to pick the things that really describe her character and showcase her life as best she lived it."

Huerta is flattered about the film idea but other stories need to be told.

"Eva's expressed publicly that she'd like to do my story," said Huerta. "I get hit up a lot. (Actor) Edward James Olmos has even asked. They still haven't done Cesar's (Chavez) story yet. Get that movie made first.

"There's time to do my story."

Longoria hopes to be a part of it.

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Longoria was the youngest of four sisters.
She attended Texas A&M University where she received a bachelor¹s degree in kinesiology. But her eyes were set on other things as well.

Moving to Los Angeles after winning a local talent contest, Longoria was discovered by a talent agent.

Her acting resume follows a familiar path taken by many: She started out in daytime soaps (Young & The Restless) then moved into B-movies ("Senorita Justice"). While "Desperate Housewives" made her a hit, Longoria is eyeing film. She has starred in major motion pictures ("The Sentinel") and produced a comedy ("Hot Tamales Live!").

In an industry known for ethnic masquerading, the actress is but a few who have managed to retain their cultural identity as a professional.

"Nobody actually tried to do that," said Longoria of Hollywood's habit of "Americanizing" names for being considered ethnic for audiences. "I came at a time when Hollywood started to embrace Latinos as we are."

It's no secret many minority actors also face being stereotyped on film.

Latinos and African-Americans, often typecast as gangsters or sexy bombshells in action and dramatic films, fall prey to the insensitive decision-making made by Hollywood producers. Longoria however, chooses roles carefully.

"I actually look for a strong female role; it doesn't have to be a Latin role," said Longoria. "I just like to spread my wings as an actor, to play in comedy and drama, and thrillers, and romantic comedies. I mean there's a whole lot to be shown in movies and so I plan to play everything."

Viewed as a role model to many Latinas, Longoria feels strongly about her heritage, encouraging young Hispanic girls and women to step out of the familiar occupations many are expected to fill.

"I think one of the things we love about our culture is the tradition ­ the tradition of our language, our rituals, our holidays, our music, our foods, so I don't think you should ever lose touch with where you came from and who you are," she said. "But definitely strive to get an education and to use your knowledge and experience to help your community and contribute and bring something back is absolutely necessary. I mean, I not only applaud it, it's a requirement, especially within our community.

"We're the community (Latinos) that needs the most help and so if we can help our own, that would be the best case scenario."

Playing a sex-crazed adulteress on "Housewives," Longoria feels the eyes of the world and knows it comes with the territory of being a celebrity.

Although her TV role doesn't reflects her life, Longoria sees it as a way to showcase her acting abilities.

"I feel a responsibility to represent the image of Latinos accurately," said Longoria, "and I'm really blessed to have a show like "Desperate Housewives" that has given me a non-stereotypical role and has really broken the mold of not only Latino stereotypes, but female stereotypes, and I embrace the responsibility."

Describing herself as an eighth-generation American, patriotism is also part of daily life for Longoria.

"It's not hard to wear both flags (US & Mexican) proudly," said Longoria, "because I'm many things, "I'm an American, I'm a Texan, I'm a Mexican American, I'm a woman, I'm a sister, I'm a daughter, I'm an aunt. I mean there are many hats that you wear. And I think that as a woman, you have to balance a lot more than your heritage."

Following her family's advice to "never forget where you came from," Longoria hopes to leave a lasting impact on fans.

"I'd like to reflect education and social responsibility," said Longoria, "and I would like them to look up to me or look up at me to want to strive to be a better version of themselves."

Click picture below for more photos from Eva Longoria's Bako visit with Dolores Huerta!
www.evalongoria.com

www.doloreshuerta.org
*Originally Printed in Mas Magazine Vol. 2 Issue 3: 9/29/06
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