Eva Longoria

The veteran actress steps out of the frame and into a new role as the director of her first feature film.

- By Adrienne Gaffney. Photographed by Zoey Grossman

"HOLLYWOOD GETS TO DECIDE what heroes look like, and they never look like us," Eva Longoria says. That's why telling the story of Richard Montañez, the Frito-Lay janitor who claims to have invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos-the subject of her directorial feature film debut, Flamin' Hot-was so appealing. "I looked at Richard and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, this would be a great opportunity to create a hero who looks like my dad, who looks like my uncle, who sounds like my family."

The film, released on Hulu and Disney+ in June, was a hit-Searchlight Pictures reported it was the most-watched streaming premiere in its history. It did what Longoria knew it would: connect with people, many of them Latino, who were seeking a heartfelt, redeeming story about a working-class family. "I think, 'Wow, I'm so humble and grateful, but then I balance that with thinking, 'Fuck yeah!" Longoria says. "And (a) I knew I could do this, (b) this is exactly the movie I pitched and the vision I had, and (c) of course we're having success. I'm blown away, but at the same time I'm like, No, you expected the success, you manifested it, you dreamed it-now own it!"