Eva Longoria. “I was called the ugly duckling when I was little”

Madame Figaro: You made your first feature film. Flamin’ Hot , about the American-Mexican inventor of spicy chips that revolutionized the food industry. Did being at the helm of the film enhance your sense of power?
Eva Longoria.- When you get behind the camera, you definitely feel more empowered because you have complete control over the final product. That was one of the reasons I got into directing and producing. As an actress, I was not good at many things. I just had to show up and play my part. As a producer and director, you build a team, you edit, you do the casting, you choose the music, you do the marketing… It’s a lot of work, but I find it so fulfilling. I direct (short films and series, editor’s note) for over 10 years, but having my first draw and being here in Cannes is a great experience.

Are there any French female directors who inspire you?
There are so many. I think of Anne Fontaine, who is a brilliant director. He’s done a few ads for L’Oréal Paris and I love him, I love what he expresses, his energy, his movies. He is fantastic.

When I was little, I was called “La prieta fea” which means “the ugly duckling” because all my sisters were blonde with light skin and light eyes and I was the only one who looked like that.

Eva Longoria

In the video: Eva Longoria at the microphone Madame Figaro At the Cannes Film Festival

Miss Figaro. – Your turn Searching for Mexico respects your Mexican heritage. What is your relationship with your roots and your genetic heritage?
Eva Longoria: I’m Latino, I’m Mexican American, that’s who I am. My dark hair, my dark skin, my dark eyes, I’m very proud of it. When I was little they called me “la prieta fea” which means “the ugly duckling”. [en espagnol, NDLR] because all my sisters were fair-skinned and fair-eyed, and I was the only one who looked like that. I remember growing up and thinking: “Why am I so different?” Now I love my “dark” features and accept them. It all definitely has to do with my Mexican culture.

Miss Figaro. – In the video a lesson about value Made by L’Oréal Paris, you say that “no one looked like you” when you were a child because your skin and hair were “too dark”. What role models did you grow up with?
Eva Longoria: I identified with a lot of people in the series. I wasn’t like them, but I was like them. Mary Tyler Moore, Lucille Ball… Even if they didn’t look like me, I wanted to be like her, or I liked the energy they gave off. It was probably only when I saw Salma Hayek on screen that I thought, He has black hair and black eyes like me.” Screen representations are important because if we don’t see them, we believe we can’t be there.

People assume that there has been progress in Hollywood and that there is gender equality… but there isn’t. The industry is still run by men

Miss Figaro. – Do you think that the inclusive movement has had a real impact on cinema?
Eva Longoria: People assume that there has been progress in Hollywood and that there is gender equality… But there isn’t. The industry is still run by men, it’s still very difficult. The statistics of the number of women behind the camera, whether as a writer, director or producer, is very low. And in front of the camera, we still do not have enough of the subject of the films. We want to be more than the lead’s wife or girlfriend. Stories should be about us and created by us. We must be subjects rather than objects. We still have a lot of work to do. In particular, I hope that with the L’Oréal Paris “Lights on Women” award, we will be able to single out talented women in cinema. Conversations about women in movies are very important.

Catherine Deneuve said: “In the cinema, you should choose roles appropriate to your age»… Are you okay with that? Has the attitude towards your roles in movies changed in recent years?
I think we are drawn to roles that reflect our lives. My own life inspires me. I’m a mom now, I’m older, I’m Latina. I remember playing Dora the Explorer’s mother in the movie when I had my son. Dora and the Lost City. It was the first time I was in this position after actually experiencing motherhood. It was completely different for me. I approached the role differently, I asked myself other questions. In the film, the relationship with my “daughter” has completely changed. I think as our lives evolve, so do our tastes and our choices. It happens naturally.

Miss Figaro. – L’Oréal Paris’ clan of muses is growing and welcoming new talented women. Is the concept of sisterhood important to you, especially in the film industry?
Eva Longoria: I have an incredible sisterhood around me. My own family circle is filled with independent, strong, intelligent women. Same with my friends of 30 years. In the industry, after Me Too and Time’s Up, we really created a sisterhood in Hollywood where we started talking to each other, which wasn’t happening before. They kept us apart and we hardly spoke to each other. Sisterhood is extremely important. Women should support each other.

In the video, Eva Longoria plays on the absurd, condemning violence against women