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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Lauren Gordon

Eva Longoria's unusual rise to fame from flipping burgers to Desperate Housewives jackpot

Eva Longoria had a surprising rise to fame, one that her Desperate Housewives character Gabrielle Solis would disapprove of.

The Hollywood actress, who is well known for her role in the dramatic series made her start in the working world by flipping burgers behind the scenes at a Wendy's food chain.

In 2012, she famously recalled why she left Wendy's for the glamorous life as a Hollywood actress, candidly telling the crowd at a Democratic National Convention that she "needed a tax break."

"The Eva Longoria who worked at Wendy's flipping burgers—she needed a tax break. But the Eva Longoria who works on movie sets does not," she said before being met by roars of enthusiasm from the crowd.

Eva started from humble beginings (Getty Images)
She left because she needed a tax break (Getty)

She started working at Wendy's as a young high school student and had serious ambition for a very special reason.

“I wanted to have a Quinceañera when I was 15 and my family didn’t have the money, so I got a job at Wendy’s and paid for it myself,” Eva told Redbook in a December 2016 interview.

“There was never any resentment, because I saw how hard my mother worked and all she did for my sister [with special needs], and I wanted to do whatever I could to help. We all did.”

She's known for her role in Desperate Housewives (© 2006 American Broadcasting Com)

She even dished out her secrets for making the best Wendy's burger.

"What we learned at Wendy's was mayonnaise goes on the bun first, to seal the bun, so the bun stays nice. Then you put the ketchup. And mustard goes on the meat, because it brings out the flavor of meat," Eva revealed.

During a chat with Lorraine Kelly on her self-titled TV show earlier this month, Eva shared more about her unusual rise to success.

Eva wanted to save money for her 15th birthday (AFP/Getty Images)
She remembers how to make a good Wendy's burger (victoriabeckham/Instagram)

She told the host that she had jobs including flipping burgers, changing oil at a mechanic's shop, working at an ice cream parlour and as a dental hygienist's assistant.

From being the jack of all trades, Eva made her television acting debut in a 2000 episode of Beverly Hills 90210, playing the role of a flight attendant.

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