Eva Longoria’s long-standing connection to France shaped the latest installment of her travel series.
In an exploration of the country’s food and culture in a new television project, the 51-year-old actress and producer is fronting Eva Longoria: Searching for France as part of her ongoing Searching for... franchise, which previously focused on Spain and Mexico.
Her new series, airing on CNN, follows Eva across regions including Paris, Bordeaux and Brittany, examining the history and traditions behind French cuisine.
Her connection to the country dates back to her marriage to Tony Parker, with whom she lived in France during their relationship.
Speaking to People, Eva said: “I was married to a Frenchman, so I really fell in love with France through his eyes because he's such a countryman. I mean, he's such a patriot.
“We lived in Paris in the summers – and not just in Paris, but we lived all over. We lived in Leon. We lived in Faucon. We went to Limoges. We went everywhere, all over France because he had to play basketball everywhere.”
Eva described her connection to the country as long-standing, also citing her work with L'Oréal and frequent attendance at the Cannes Film Festival.
She said: “It’s been definitely a romantic connection with this beautiful country.”
Her series focuses on food, with Eva travelling across the country to explore dishes and culinary traditions.
She samples a range of meals, from oysters and bouillabaisse to frog legs mousseline, boeuf bourguignon and blue lobster, while examining how France developed its reputation for fine dining.
Eva added: “I am such a foodie, and I love to travel, and I love history. And then, of course, I have such strong ties and a connection to France, and I speak French fluently, so they allowed me to do France as well.
“The gold standard of gastronomy is really French cuisine. And so I think all of my three passions combined into one — and I get paid for it – was probably a no-brainer.”
Following her divorce from Tony, Eva married José Bastón in 2016, and the couple have a son, Santiago Enrique, aged seven.
Eva Longoria: Searching for France premiered in April, with episodes scheduled weekly.
