She's a beauty, but Longoria has brains too
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-04-18 11:49
The show premiered on US TV and became an instant hit. It averages more than
20 million US viewers weekly and is now a global phenomenon seen in 200
countries.
But beyond the Hollywood glitz. Longoria holds a degree in kinesiology from
Texas A&M University - Kingsville. She is a spokeswoman for Padres Contra el
Cancer, which is dedicated to helping Latino kids with the disease, and works
with the United Farm Workers labour union.
She said it was "unfortunate" that in the United States -- a nation of
immigrants -- some lawmakers want to deport illegal aliens and fence off the
Mexico/US border.
"Mexicans contribute an enormous amount to our society, economically and
socially," she said. "I don't think this administration can afford to have
things end badly."
Longoria has politics on her mind a lot these days, in real life and in the
movies.
In The Sentinel, she co-stars with Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland.
They play Secret Service agents who clash when the president's life is
threatened by assassins. Longoria is a sharp rookie who is teamed with
Sutherland in what is her first role in a major Hollywood movie.
She is not the headlining actress; her part supports the male leads. But
Longoria said she was not looking to top movie marquees yet, and did not need
the added pressure of being the sole star responsible for the film's box office.
"I wanted to be in a good, ensemble cast," she said. "It was an amazing
opportunity to work with great actors in a less stressful environment."
Unlike many actors and actresses who proclaim that they do not plan careers
and that roles just seem to come along, Longoria says she strategises about her
choices.
She graduated from college with plans to work in sports medicine and become a
trainer for a professional sports team. Parker is a star player for basketball's
San Antonio Spurs.
Longoria never dreamed of movie stardom back on her family's ranch near the
south Texas town of Corpus Christi.
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