Friday, 29 December 2006

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Eva Longoria learns the language of love

She wants to talk in French to fiancé Tony Parker

Eva Longoria may not be a housewife, but she is desperate for her France-raised fiancé Tony Parker to improve her French skills.

"He's terrible. He always wants to speak English," Longoria, 31, told PEOPLE Thursday while in London to open the annual Harrods Winter Sale. "I try to remind him but he always forgets and says it's easier and faster to speak English, but I want to understand."

She decided to master French the hard way – in a classroom. "I couldn't speak French before Tony. All I knew how to say was, 'My name is Eva.' I went to a Berlitz French school this summer, doing about five hours a day."

And how is her French now? "Great!"

The actress first met Parker, 24, in the San Antonio Spurs locker room more than two years ago. He proposed on Nov. 30, presenting her with a five-carat-plus emerald-cut diamond ring.

Longoria spent Christmas in her home state of Texas and will be back in the U.S. for a quiet Dec. 31. "Nothing is planned for New Year's Eve," she said. "Tony plays that date so I'll be watching, sitting at a Spurs' game."

She continues shooting Desperate Housewives until April before taking a new film role. "I'm picking my next summer movie as we speak. I don't know what it will be yet. I've read a lot of scripts and I am amazed at how many movies will be made next year. I'm a big fan of the romantic comedy and would love to do another one."

Also in the works: her wedding. Although Housewives creator Marc Cherry told PEOPLE the couple will get married on July 7, Longoria said Thursday, "We haven't set a date yet." Asked point-blank if the nuptials could be on lucky 7/7/07, she said with a smile: "Maybe."