Eva Longoria has opened up about life in Spain and why she left the US, and if she plans to ever return. Photo: Getty Images
Actor Eva Longoria has opened up about how her life has changed since her family decided to quit the U.S. and relocate abroad – while revealing whether she has any plans to return to America for good.
Longoria, 51, who was born and raised in Texas, announced in 2024 that she had “escaped” the U.S., where she had been living in Los Angeles, and was splitting her time between her homes in Spain and Mexico, along with her husband, José Bastón, and their son, Santiago, 7.
Now, the “Desperate Housewives” star has shared a glimpse into her favourite things about her life abroad – describing the ways in which the lifestyle in Spain helps her to stay stress free, particularly when it comes to the dining habits in the European country.
“They really enjoy life in Spain. They love a long meal. You’re never in a rush,” she told People magazine. Comparing that ethos to customs in the U.S., Longoria went on to joke that one of the things she doesn’t miss at all about her life in Los Angeles are the “working” lunches that allowed her no time for any real enjoyment or relaxation.
“I don’t miss the working lunch. It’s so amazing how we really don’t take lunch in our work culture,” she shared. “You always do the working lunch: ‘I’m going to go grab a sandwich. I’ll be right back.’ You only have an hour. It’s so stressful to think, ‘I have to hurry up and be back.’”
Longoria also revealed that she has gotten used to not always being late because of traffic.
“There’s no traffic where we live. I walk everywhere,” she said.
That’s not to say that Longoria doesn’t miss anything about her life in the U.S.- namely her family, particularly her relatives in Texas.
“I miss my family, my Texas family … [and] good Mexican food. That’s what I miss. That’s what’s not in Europe, is good Mexican food,” she said.
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Eva Longoria attends the 51st AFI Lifetime Achievement Award: A Tribute Celebrating Eddie Murphy at Dolby Theatre on April 18, 2026. Photo: Getty Images
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However, Longoria has had more opportunity to spend time with her family in recent months, during which she has been residing in the U.S. once again while working on her upcoming project, “The Fifth Wheel,” which marks her second turn as a director.
Because of the duration of the project, the actor revealed that she actually made the decision to enrol her son in school in L.A., having previously homeschooled him when they were living in Spain.
The actor admitted that Santiago’s love of his new daily school routine and his classmates has made her waver on their future plans, noting that the family “might” head back to Spain, although she did concede that Santiago “likes” their life in Europe “more” than he does the U.S.
“We have a big family, and so a lot of his cousins are in Spain. They’re mostly in Spain and Mexico. And so we like to be surrounded by family. I also think he’s happiest when he’s with family. So I think we take it day by day, year by year,” the actor said.
In February, Longoria has opened the doors to her life abroad, giving fans a glimpse inside her Spanish property in CNN’s new series “Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain.”
The eight-part series followed the “Desperate Housewives” alum as she explored the birthplace of her ancestors, experiencing all the jaw-dropping views and mouth-watering meals Spain has to offer.
“Eleven generations ago, one of my ancestors left Spain for The New World and a new life. 400 years later, I’m back to see how the land and its people have created one of the world’s most exciting cuisines,” she said in the trailer for the series, which premiered in April 2025.
The show debuted just five months after the actor opened up to Marie Claire about her decision to leave the U.S., describing the country as “dystopian.”
Zoe Saldana and Eva Longoria at an LA premiere back in 2022. Photo: Getty Images.
At the time of her move, Longoria conceded that she was very “privileged” in her ability to move away from the country where she was born and raised, and where she launched her successful acting career.
“I’m privileged. I get to escape and go somewhere. Most Americans aren’t so lucky,” she said. “They are going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and my sadness is for them.”
Turning her attention to President Donald Trump, who had just claimed victory in the 2024 election, she said: “It was not shocking that he won, it’s that a convicted criminal who spews so much hate could hold the highest office.”
The actor noted that the conditions in her former home state of California were largely to blame for her decision to leave the U.S. before the election.
Actress Eva Longoria admitted she and her family have fled the “dystopian” US for Mexico and Spain. Photo: Instagram.
While insisting that she doesn’t want to “s– t” on the region, she said she found certain aspects of it difficult to bear.
“I had my whole adult life here. But even before [the COVID-19 pandemic], it was changing, the vibe was different. And then Covid happened, and it pushed it over the edge,” she went on. “Whether it’s the homelessness or the taxes, not that I want to s– t on California — it just feels like this chapter in my life is done now.”
Longoria’s official exodus from the U.S. appears to have begun in earnest in 2023, when she put her sprawling Beverly Hills mansion on the market for $31.95 million (US$22.88 million) – later slashing the price to $26.51 million (US$18.98 million) in May 2024, before it was later delisted.
She and her husband paid $18.85 million (US$13.5 million) for the chic 1.4-acre property in 2017. They reportedly spent an untold amount on an exquisite renovation.
The 10,652-square-foot Spanish contemporary mansion was built in 1996 on a deep lot with a long, gated driveway. It’s equipped with a state-of-the-art security system.
Longoria and Bastón added many colourful touches when they remodelled. For starters, they livened up the exterior by planting trees and creeping vines and refreshed the front door with a vibrant red hue.
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