When I find myself sitting opposite Eva Longoria, glowing under the studio lights of a lavish suite in the Aman Hotel in New York, the circumstances could be better.
Wildfires continued to tear through LA. Just hours before, news broke the actress, 49, who made her name in 2005 starring in Desperate Housewives, had donated one million dollars (£819,000) to aid those affected; part of the 50 million dollar (£41 million) Courage and Civility Award she received from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in March, to support the Latino Community Foundation (LCF) and the California Community Foundation’s wildlife recovery fund.
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She is visibly shaken by the unfolding events, and is quick to explain her trip to the Big Apple to launch a new campaign for Nespresso, in which she stars in a murder mystery short alongside George Clooney, Camille Cottin, and Kim Go Eun, is to be kept brief so she can return to help.
But work calls, and Longoria is the spotless professional as she launches into her appreciation of coffee — “I love them all!” she trills. “I love an espresso, a cortado, a macchiato, a cappuccino.” She professes her adventurousness: “Mexico's coffee is different from Spain's coffee, which is different from French coffee — it’s different from the UK, where you guys love tea,” before confirming her choice of milk: “full fat, whole.” Oh, and as for Clooney: “His energy, his kindness, he's so sweet,” she says. “We filmed in Rome for three days, what’s not to like?”
There is no doubt Longoria, who is also known for her turn in US series Only Murders in the Building and a bona-fide A-lister with 10.3 million Instagram followers, looks fantastic. Her skin glows while her “espresso inspired” sequin midi skirt shimmers. In March she will celebrate her 50th birthday; a milestone she welcomes with open arms. “The age doesn't scare me,” she says. “I think, 50? OK, whatever. I just want to age well, to be healthy, and be able to run around and work out and play with my son.” Longoria has one child, Santiago Enrique Bastón, aged six, with her producer husband José Antonio "Pepe" Bastón.
Instead, the half century marks a moment for reflection for Longoria. “It does make you reevaluate what the second part of your life is going to be. How you want to be remembered? How do you want to spend the rest of your time,” she says, pensively. And how does she? “Definitely slowing down for me. It's about spending more time with my son and being more present. I've spent my entire life working, so it'd be nice to slow that down.”
As for celebrations, there is no doubt two of her closest friends, David and Victoria Beckham, will play a part. “We just celebrated Victoria's last year,” she says. “Now it's mine and David’s; I'm in March, he's in May.” Their friendship began “100 years ago”, through Longoria’s ex-husband, basketball player Tony Parker. “Tony knew David, and that's how we met. Then they moved to LA when [David] started playing for LA Galaxy. Now I’m godmother to Harper,” she says, of the Beckham’s youngest.
“People always are surprised when I say Victoria is the funniest person I know,” Longoria continues. She also a devotee of her friend’s fashion designs — and is a regular face on the front row of Beckham’s Paris Fashion Week shows. “Her clothes are feminine but bold — not too soft, but at the same time they exude confidence. Her dresses and long gowns are amazing — I've worn so many of the gowns in Cannes and weddings,” she says, gushing. “I like her twists on classics, blazers and trousers. I'm so proud to see her at Paris Fashion Week and be respected.”
Certainly, Longoria’s style has developed since she first hit screens two decades ago as Gabrielle Solis. “It's definitely less trendy,” she says. “ I used to wear things that cut me on the sides but looked good. Now I'm like, nope: if it's not comfortable, I don't want to wear it. It's really evolved to classic and comfortable…,” she pauses. “That sounds boring.” There appears to be little that is boring about Longoria, however. The laughter from the crew as I make my way out of the posh hotel suite more than confirmed that.
