The ‘Desperate Housewives’ actress is said putting her focus on work following the split, while her boyfriend of one year, Eduardo Cruz, returns home to Madrid, Spain.

Eva Longoria is likely to celebrate her 37th birthday next Thursday, March 15 as a single woman. The actress famous for her portrayal of Gabrielle Solis on ABC’s series “Desperate Housewives” has called it quits with Penelope Cruz’s brother, Eduardo Cruz, after a year of dating, Us Weekly reported.

Of the split, a source said, “It was a mutual decision. They are staying friends.” The break-up itself allegedly happened within the last couple days. Eva has since put all her focus on “work and the end of ‘Desperate Housewives’,” while her 27-year-old ex-boyfriend returned home to his native Madrid, Spain.

Eva met Eduardo through his sister who introduced them at a party, shortly after her split from second husband Tony Parker. The two stepped out together as a couple in February 2011, around a month after her divorce was finalized. In an interview with Spanish Vanity Fair, she said, “Love did not work with that person. But it can work with another. The only thing I will say is I was very lucky to find Edu.”

source: aceshowbiz.com

Spanish star Penelope Cruz has become a big sister at the age of 37 after her stepmother gave birth to a baby girl.

The actress’ dad Eduardo Cruz, Sr. and his second wife Carmen Moreno became parents to daughter Salma last Friday (24Feb12), according to Hola! magazine.

Cruz, Sr. is also the father of Penelope’s younger siblings, Monica and Eduardo Jr.

Little Salma already has a playmate – the Vicky Cristina Barcelona star gave birth to a son named Leo, her first child with husband Javier Bardem, last January (11).

source: contactmusic.com

Penelope Cruz has admitted that she “did not handle” the nude scenes in her first film well.

The Oscar winner said that she was “inspired” to overcome early struggles by her mother Encarna, a fierce supporter of her acting career.

“I did not handle it at all well,” she wrote in The Sun. “I had a strong reaction to anything sexual or sensual for a while. I cut my hair short. I didn’t do any love scenes – not even kisses – for many years.

“I was told by everyone, ‘You are risking your career’, but I followed my heart. My mother was at ease with what I had done and inspired me to go on to do other things.”

Cruz, who gave birth to her first child with husband Javier Bardem in January 2010, also credited her parents for the fighting spirit that propelled her to success.

“I was a fighter as a kid and even if all these people were telling me it is impossible [to become an actress], I would try,” she said. “I was very strong about what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to do things outside the experience of my family.

“With the way my life keeps changing, I have learned to value everything I have – and thank my mother and father Eduardo for that.”

Cruz previously described becoming a mother to young Leo as the “most beautiful feeling”.

source: digitalspy.co.uk

Despite a rough year, the ‘Desperate Housewives’ actress keeps a positive attitude

After a tumultuous year following her divorce from San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker, Eva Longoria was looking to get lucky.

And, based on her recent interview with Vanity Fair Spain, the petite actress has definitely gotten lucky in love – with Penelope Cruz’s younger brother Eduardo.

“The truth is, I should be angry, resentful and disillusioned about relationships. But I’m not,” the 36-year-old actress said. “I was very lucky to find Edu.”

Longoria and Cruz, 26, were first spotted together in February earlier this year, shortly after her divorce from Parker was finalized.

But just because her three-year relationship with the French-born athlete didn’t work out doesn’t mean Longoria has given up on the possibility of romance once more.

“There’s a reason I fell in love and got married,” she said. “I believed in it.

“Love did not work with that person,” she said of Parker, whom she caught having an affair. “But it can work with another.”

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com