CELEBRITIES have a tick list when putting on a glamorous shindig.
Michelin-star catering, a black-tie dress code and world-class entertainment.
But more importantly, there is one person who is becoming the must-have guest at all good VIP dos.
Enter Eva Longoria, Hollywood’s secret social weapon and, quite possibly the hardest-working woman on the A-list friendship circuit.
Over the past few weeks the Desperate Housewives actress has graced some serious stars with her presence.
From David Beckham’s 50th birthday party to Lauren Sanchez’s hen do in Paris and numerous Cannes red carpets, she is the ultimate guest.
David and Victoria Beckham
EVA’S history with the Beckhams dates back to 2007, when the golden couple moved to the US as David signed with LA Galaxy.
At the time, Eva was at the height of her Desperate Housewives fame, and married to her then husband, former basketball player Tony Parker.
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She and Victoria quickly bonded over shared interests: fashion, red carpet moments, and managing the frenzy that is being wed to a pro athlete.
Soon enough, Eva was wearing Victoria Beckham gowns at upscale events and showing up to family dos.
Her marriage to Tony later crumbled but the Beckham bond grew stronger.
When she got married to her current husband, Jose “Pepe” Antonio Baston in 2016, with whom she shares son Santiago, seven, she did so in a custom dress designed by her BFF, later thanking Victoria for “the wedding dress I dreamed of”.
In 2019, Eva was named Harper Beckham’s godmother when the Beckhams’ youngest daughter got baptised.
She also attended Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz’s wedding three years later.
These days, you will be hard pressed to find a Beckham bonanza without Eva in attendance.
She duly rocked up to David’s 50th birthday party in London earlier this month dressed, of course, in a slinky VB number.
Desperate Housewives co-stars
IT is no secret that their on-set squabbling was even more vicious than the show’s soap-style storylines.
But despite butting heads with some choice members of her Desperate Housewives cast (cough, Teri Hatcher) Eva still formed strong bonds with fellow cast members Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross.
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In fact, proving the lengths she will go to for her friends, Eva even vouched for Felicity in court in 2019, after she was embroiled in a college admissions scandal (she was part of a ring of high-profile parents who allegedly bribed their children’s way into elite US unis).
Writing a deeply personal letter in defence of Felicity, Eva told the court she had been bullied by someone on the set of their TV show.
“I dreaded the days I had to go to work with that person because it was pure torture,” she wrote.
“Until one day, Felicity told the bully ‘enough’ and it all stopped.
Felicity could feel that I was riddled with anxiety, even though I never complained or mentioned the abuse to anyone.
“I know I would not have survived those ten years if it wasn’t for the friendship of Felicity.”
Felicity did end up serving 14 days in prison for her parental plotting but her friendship with Eva survived the sentence.
Marc Anthony and Jessica Alba
WEEKS before her pal Becks started his 50th birthday events, Eva celebrated her half century on Earth with a rip-roaring party — or three — in Miami.
Those in attendance included the likes of Jessica Alba, Gabrielle Union and singer Marc Anthony, who looked delighted to be celebrating their friend, while Jessica doubled down on her love for the actress online.
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“Love you to pieces,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Your heart is so big and you give to so many.
“You deserve all the abundance and happiness there is.”
Penelope Cruz
SOMETIMES friends become family, which was very nearly the case with Penelope Cruz.
Before meeting husband Pepe, Eva was in a relationship with Spanish musician Eduardo Cruz, who just happens to be Penelope’s younger brother.
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Eva and the Oscar-winning actress regularly went on double dates with “Edo” and Penelope’s husband Javier Bardem.
They missed out on becoming sisters-in-law after Eva and Eduardo split in 2013 but remained friendly, and have always looked happy to bump into each other on red carpets.
As for her ex, he might be one of the very few people who didn’t live happily Eva after.
Rita Ora
AS a Cannes Film Festival mainstay, Eva knows anyone who is anyone who has walked the red carpet to the famous Palais, which is where she reportedly first met Rita Ora.
The two stars have often caught up at the French resort over the years, and also hobnob on the other side of the Pond back in the States.
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They previously rubbed shoulders at the Women In Film pre-Oscar’s party in LA, as well as at The Hollywood Reporter’s second annual Raising Our Voices lunch in 2023, where Eva was speaking alongside Rita’s film director husband Taika Waititi.
To paraphrase Rita’s big hit, she will go Anywhere with Eva. Possibly.
Lauren Sanchez
AFTER leading an all- female 11-minute trip to the edge of space last month, Lauren Sanchez still has the world at her feet.
The fiancee of Amazon billionaire boss Jeff Bezos also has a maelstrom of would-be gal pals at her heels.
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But it was a very selective group of A-list chicks picked to join her in Paris last week for her big-budget hen do.
And standing proudly among the likes of Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner was, of course, Eva.
The duo have apparently known each other for more than 20 years, having bonded as fellow Latinas working in Hollywood when Eva was a budding actress and Lauren was a journalist and presenter for Fox TV.
They’ve since championed each other personally and professionally, while working hard to increase Latino representation in the media.
Speaking about Lauren’s lavish four-day pre-wedding extravaganza over the weekend, Eva said it was “so nice to celebrate love”.
America Ferrera
AS a proud Mexican-American, Eva has made it her mission to support other Latinas, including actress America Ferrera.
Taking to the stage together at the 2016 Golden Globes, the duo aimed a lighthearted dig at the racial stereotyping they have both experienced in Hollywood.
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“Hi, I’m Eva Longoria, not Eva Mendes,” Eva said.
“I’m America Ferrera, not Gina Rodriguez,” Ugly Betty star America said.
The crowd went nuts, and a beautiful friendship grew.
These days, they also run She Se Puede, a digital lifestyle community for Latinas, and used the platform to encourage women to vote.
Andie MacDowell and Heidi Klum
AS a long-time L’Oreal ambassador, Eva has been a mainstay on the red carpet at fancy French soirees.
And while there, she has happily cuddled up to her fellow L’Oreal ladies, all content in the knowledge that they are most definitely worth it.
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This year was no exception, as the actress posed alongside good friends Andie MacDowell and Heidi Klum, reminding us that friends who glam together, jam together.
But, obviously, Eva reigned supreme.
Vogue said so itself, anointing the actress its “Queen of Cannes” for 2025.
So bow down, all you beauties underlings.
You are just not so worth it.
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