Eva Longoria Says the 'Desperate Housewives' Costume Designer Made Her Feel Better When She Gained W

Desperate Housewives was a phenomenon on ABC from 2004 – 2012. Five of the original stars of the show got together for a video chat on April 12 for Stars In the House. Eva Longoria, Marcia Cross, Brenda Strong, Dana Delany and Vanessa Williams discussed the eight seasons of Desperate Housewives to raise money for The Actors Fund.

Longoria addressed the fifth season of Desperate Housewives which skipped ahead five years. The time jump affected all the characters, but Longoria felt it personally because she happened to gain weight between seasons 4 and 5. Watch the full interview below or at StarsintheHouse.com.

Eva Longoria says ‘Desperate Housewives’ was a tough act for even ‘Desperate Housewives’ to follow

Longoria recalled the pressures that led to the season 5 time jump. They date back all the way to season 2.

“The show had so much pressure to be as amazing as season 1,” Longoria said. “I remember being on the red carpet at the DVD release of season 2 which we still won a Golden Globe for. It was still a hit show but people criticized season 2. I remember this reporter going, ‘What do you think about season 2 being not as good as season 1?’ And I’d go, ‘Oh, I actually liked season 2.’”

Every reporter had the same question. It overwhelmged Longoria.

“Then I’d go to another reporter and they’d go, ‘What do you think about season 1 not being as good as season 2?’” Longoria said. “And I’d go, ‘I actually liked season 2.’ By the third reporter, I was in tears. I’m like, ‘You guys are being so mean.’”

‘Desperate Housewives’ creator Marc Cherry jumped ahead five years to reset the show

Longoria said Cherry was already planning on the time jump to add to the drama of Desperate Housewives. She felt it fortunately coincided with her physical changes.

“I remember this five year jump was kind of Marc being under the pressure, ‘I’ve got to reset, I’ve got to shake things up,” Longoria said. “I had short hair and gained weight. It was a necessity.”

Delaney added that five years allowed the young characters to catch back up with the actors who played them. It also gave Gabrielle (Longoria) toddlers.

“Also the kids had all gotten older and I think they wanted to have the kids jump five years,” Delany said. “That was an opportunity there.”

Eva Longoria remembers when Gabrielle’s wardrobe didn’t fit

Gabrielle often wore revealing outfits on Desperate Housewives. By season 5, Longoria recalls necessitating wardrobe changes.

“I had gained, in life, weight,” Longoria said. “So I was like, ‘I can’t lose all of this by the time we start shooting.’ It’s so funny because Cate Adair who was our fabulous costume designer and English, I came back in for a fitting for season 5. She pulled all these clothes based on my normal size and nothing would zip up by like this much.”

Cate Adair was gracious with Eva Longoria

Adair never made Longoria feel self-conscious about the wardrobe, although Longoria couldn’t help feeling that way herself. She appreciated Adair’s compassion and professionalism though.

“So she kept going, ‘Oh, okay, we’re just going to try something else. Hold on one second,’” Longoria said. “She’d get another dress and she goes, ‘Oh dear, okay. Well, we’re just going to go…’ She was so polite about it and I’d go, ‘Cate, I know, I know.’”

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLTEmqusoJWawW%2BvzqZmnqakmr%2B1rcinpJ6mpGSyt62Mpaann5%2BntqJ50pqwrGWknbJusMSsp56qkamybrTOrqqer5mrsrR5wqiqra2dmnqlsdKinqedomK6orDEZp%2Beql2bsqa4jJucrayVp3q4tMSnZKyglWK0orXNnptmr5WetKnAjaGrpqRf