Eva Longoria: Role model women meant ‘I always knew I’d be successful’

By Anna Wise, Press Association Business Reporter

Eva Longoria has said growing up around role model women meant she “always knew” she’d be successful, but admitted to being “nervous” about artificial intelligence (AI) looming over the media and creative industries.

The Hollywood actress, producer and businesswoman said an entrepreneurial mindset came from an early age.

“I grew up with amazing women in my life – my aunt, my mum – all independent, intelligent, educated women,” she told the Press Association.

I didn’t know what industry I would be in, I didn't know if I'd be a dentist or a lawyer or a sports therapist, but I knew I’d be successful

“I always knew I’d be successful because every woman around me was successful.

“I didn’t know what industry I would be in, I didn’t know if I’d be a dentist or a lawyer or a sports therapist, but I knew I’d be successful.”

The remarks come as Longoria is the face of a new global campaign run by tech giants Lenovo and Intel aimed at connecting like-minded entrepreneurs through business “twinning”.

A select number of founders will get mentorship and a boost to their profile from the Desperate Housewives star, as well as AI-powered tech and 10,000 dollars worth of grant funding through the initiative, named Backing Every Business.

Longoria said her “life’s work” has been about supporting female entrepreneurs, particularly advocating for Latino communities and working with small businesses through the Eva Longoria Foundation.

But the American actress acknowledged that there were lots of uncertainties about how AI is shaping the world, particularly in the media and creative industries.

“AI is definitely at the forefront of everybody’s mind in the media landscape,” she told PA.

“I think people are trying to navigate, is AI a tool that is helping us make better content, or is it a competitor? Is it a competitor that will replace a lot of these jobs?

“And I think in quite a short of amount of time, we’ll be able to tell.

“Where AI makes me nervous is in the manufacturing of news and information – not truth, but information.

“That makes me nervous – images that can rile up communities and countries against another country that may not be true.”

Meanwhile, Longoria said she liked “diversifying” her work, which has involved a number of business ventures including as the part-owner of Mexican football club Club Necaxa and investment in women’s club Angel City FC.

But she added: “The tent pole of my circus is still acting.

“I do think you have to still do things that are authentic to who you are.”