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Wednesday, 21 March 2007

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Eva Longoria: I was an ugly duckling

The Desperate Housewives star keeps slim by working out

You're regularly voted top of Hollywood's Sexiest and Most Wanted Bodies lists, but how do you feel about your figure?

I just don't care about it that much. I probably should do being in the spotlight so much, but I don't. I must say, though, that my sisters were mean to me when I was younger because I was a bit of an ugly duckling. Every time they're mean to me now, I show them my face on the cover of a magazine [laughs].

Do you think Hollywood and the media are wrong to portray women as attractive only if they fit a certain stereotype?

Yes, there's definitely far too much pressure on women to be skinny and achieve a certain look. I think ageing is beautiful though. I think my mother is beautiful, my sisters are beautiful – I'm not going to fight it.

Do you enjoy going to the gym? How often do you work out?

I have ADD when it comes to working out, so it's nothing really genius or anything. But I have a personal trainer and he kicks my butt three times a week.

Do you see beauty as a tool for your career?

I think looks play a part. Usually the leading lady in a film or play is a beautiful woman, so yes, it is important in Hollywood. But when somebody complains how hard their life is because of their lack of looks, I can definitely think of something harder. When I'm working with kids with cancer, you think: 'Wow! We're all so lucky to have our health.'

Do you put on weight easily? Have you ever had to diet?

No, I've never dieted. I eat what I want, when I want – I'm just lucky that what I like is really healthy. I love fruit and vegetables and yogurt and egg whites. I'm not a big fan of bread, so I don't really eat a lot of it. Luckily, in the industry I work in, we have great caterers and they'll make anything you want – and they always have healthy choices. I don't mean to eat healthily, but I can't help it. Having said that, I love pizza and I'll usually have that once or twice a week.

So you don't have any food vices? Nothing you try to avoid?

When I was little I hated the colour yellow. I wouldn't eat egg yolks, so since I was about five, my mom made me egg whites. It wasn't a health thing, I just hated the colour. I still don't like yellow!

What's your least favourite part of your body?

I don't like my hands. I've inherited my mom's hands and I think my knuckles are too big. I have this nightmare that I'm getting married at church and the ring doesn't fit because my knuckle is too big!

If you could swap bodies with anyone, whose figure would you like to trade with?

Oh, probably Catherine Zeta Jones. She's just stunning and has such a gorgeous, fabulous figure.

How did you feel about becoming the new face of L'Oréal and being compared to Jennifer Aniston and Natalie Imbruglia?

It's fun, it's an amazing company. What I liked about L'Oréal is they have a beautiful palette of women – all-American Heather Locklear, African-American Beyoncé Knowles, olive-skinned Natalie Imbruglia, Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai… When they approached me, they wanted somebody who would cross over to the American and Latin market and I think I was a perfect match for them.

What are your top beauty tips for looking fabulous?

I'm a real believer in having regular facials, as non invasive as possible. Another tip for looking your best is to always get your clothes altered so they fit perfectly – and hide any imperfections!

What do you think about Hollywood's obsession with cosmetic surgery. Would you ever go under the knife?

There's an obsession with plastic surgery at the moment and I think it's got out of control. It's not pretty. I don't think I'll ever have any extreme plastic surgery, although I don't object to anti-ageing treatments to slow the process down! Ageing is beautiful, plastic surgery is not. All that pulling and tucking and all that! I will never cut my face.

James Swanwick