Eva Longoria gives Jennifer Lopez her flowers.
Addressing exclusively to PEOPLE at Elle’At the Women in Hollywood celebration in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Longoria, 48, revealed that the “If You Had My Love” singer, 54, was the one who inspired her early in her career.
“Jennifer broke down so many doors we could walk through,” he said Housewives alum tells PEOPLE. “And she kicked them. It was not an easy door.”
Speaking of Lopez’s role as the late singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in the 1997 biographical musical drama film. Selena, Longoria adds, “I’m from Corpus Christi, Texas. I was an extra in that movie and I looked up at the stage and said, ‘Oh my God’.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Eva Longoria Opens Up About Growing Up Without ‘Social Media Pressures’ and Finding Self-worth (Exclusive)
“For one thing, seeing Selena do it, and then seeing Jennifer playing Selena, you think, ‘There’s an opportunity for someone who looks like me,'” the actress and producer explains.
Also at the event, Flamin’ Hot actress Annie Gonzalez revealed to PEOPLE that Longoria paved the way for her.
“This is why I do what I do,” Longoria tells PEOPLE. “I want to build a pipeline of talent from our community, but also showcase the talent we have in our community.”
Eva Longoria Debuts Choppy, Layered Lob — See How She Styled It!
The star adds that the talent pool of the Latin American community “has never been used,” despite having “such incredible, talented actors, directors, writers, in front of, behind the camera. And so for me, the purpose of what I’m doing is to help our community give them the experience they need for the next project.”
Longoria also revealed her vacation plans to PEOPLE, saying she and her family will be doing “a lot of tamale making.”
Meanwhile, in November, the star shared several videos on Instagram of her son Santiago, 5, and husband José Antonio “Pepe” Bastón, 55, preparing for Thanksgiving by cooking treats for their celebration.
“What are we doing?” she asks Santiago in the video, to which he replies, “Thanksgiving party!”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education