Former “Ugly Duckling“ Graces Cover
“I feel like every year I’m getting wiser and getting more experience under my belt. I rather enjoy aging, actually.” – Eva Longoria Parker
What do IMTA alum and “Desperate Housewives”star Eva Longoria Parker, “Dancing Witht he Stars” pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy, “Top Chef” host Padma Laksmi and “CSI” hunk George Eads have in common? They have all ended up in TV Guide’s 3rd Annual Sexiest Stars issue as being the hottest of the hot on the small screen. In fact, Longoria Parker is named as #1among the women, sharing cover duty with the head of the men’s list, Aussie Simon Baker from “The Mentalist.”
Longoria Parker, who swears she was an “ugly duckling” as a kid, has a hard time believing magazine bosses selected her as the sexiest woman in prime time,especially since her on-screen alter-ego Gabrielle Solis went from former model to mothering frumpy last season. “I think the timing for this is pretty funny actually, but also really great,” the actress says. “I love that Gaby has been able to withstand time, along with the bad haircuts and all the extra pounds,and is still considered sexy.”
While Longoria Parker admits that some aspects of the storyline for her character after the five-year leap into the future weren’t what she expected (“I hated the hot, itchy fat suits”), there were some benefits (“I kinda liked her plain…I was in and out of the hair-and-makeup department so quickly!”). And she still loves her character through all of the changes. “She’s really the new, improved Gaby—more endearing and a much better woman as a result of her troubles.”
The LA98 alum had two features released in 2008: Over her Dead Body and Lower Learning. Currently awaiting a distributor for release is the computer-animated feature Foodfight!, which carries the tagline: “A story of what happens when good food....goes bad.” In addition to Longoria Parker, who voices the character of Lady X, the film features the voices of Charlie Sheen, Hilary Duff, Wayne Brady, Haylie Duff, Chris Kattan and Christopher Lloyd.