She added: “I knew I could always go back to corporate America if acting didn’t work out.”
Longoria’s boss at the temp agency told her to stick to the day job rather than pursue acting.
She recalled: “He never understood why I didn’t stay in corporate America. It just wasn’t my calling, but I was really great at it.
“Everybody was surprised because I built this small business within his business, and he kept saying, ‘Why would you want to be an actress? You’re so good at business; it’s a one in a million chance you’re going to be successful at acting.’
“And I said, ‘I know – and I’m the one in a million.’”
In 2004, Longoria landed her breakout role as Gabrielle Solis on all eight seasons of ABC’s Desperate Housewives.
After the mystery comedy-drama ended in 2012, she continued to grace the big and small screen in the likes of the sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine and the 2018 comedy-drama movie Overboard.
Longoria made her feature-length directorial debut with the 2023 comedy-drama flick Flamin’ Hot.
In addition to acting, she re-entered the business world, launching TV and film firm UnbeliEVAble Entertainment in 2005, and luxury tequila brand Casa Del Sol in 2021.
And Longoria – who has an estimated net worth of US$80 million ($137m) – always thought she would be a success.
In March, the star told People: “So many people have guided me in my life. I have nine aunts, three sisters and 18 female cousins. I was surrounded by smart, independent and successful women.
“I didn’t have to look far to see the woman I wanted to be. I was like, ‘Oh, I’m going to be like my sisters. I’m going to be like my Mom.’
“That instilled in me this idea that I always knew I would be successful. I didn’t know what I was going to do – whether I would be a dentist or a lawyer – but I knew I’d be successful. And that came from the community around me.”