The Shocking Truth: 5 Things Eva Longoria Revealed About Her Low-Paying Y&R Role That Sparked A Soap Feud

Eva Longoria's early career on the iconic soap opera The Young and the Restless (Y&R) has been back in the spotlight, not just for her wild storyline as Isabella Braña, but for a recent, candid revelation about her salary that sparked a public feud with a long-time cast member. As of December 10, 2025, the actress's comments about having to work a second job while on the CBS daytime drama have provided a fresh, controversial look into the financial realities of soap opera stardom, contrasting sharply with her later mega-success on Desperate Housewives.

From 2001 to 2003, Longoria played the role of the mentally unstable Isabella Braña, a character whose dramatic exit paved the way for her jump to primetime television. However, a recent interview with journalist Chris Wallace brought up the little-known fact that while she was a regular on one of the most-watched shows on television, she was simultaneously working as a headhunter at a temp agency just to make ends meet. This shocking detail, and the perceived "derogatory remarks" about soap actors that followed, quickly ignited a sharp public response from Y&R veteran Eric Braeden.

Eva Longoria: A Complete Biography and Profile

Eva Jacqueline Longoria Bastón (née Longoria) is an American actress, producer, director, and businesswoman known globally for her role as Gabrielle Solis on Desperate Housewives.

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• Full Name: Eva Jacqueline Longoria Bastón (née Longoria)
• Date of Birth: March 15, 1975
• Age (as of 2025): 50
• Place of Birth: Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
• Nationality: American (of Mexican origins)
• Education: Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University-Kingsville
• Early Career: Started in beauty pageants; first break was a guest role on Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Breakout Role: Isabella Braña on The Young and the Restless (2001–2003).
• Global Stardom: Gabrielle Solis on Desperate Housewives (2004–2012).
• Other Ventures: Producer (e.g., Devious Maids), director (e.g., Flamin' Hot), and businesswoman.

Longoria is the youngest of four sisters and grew up on a ranch in Corpus Christi, Texas. Her initial move to Los Angeles was after winning a talent contest, which quickly led to her first small television roles before landing the contract role on Y&R.

Isabella Braña: The Wild, Psychotic Storyline That Launched a Career

Eva Longoria's tenure on The Young and the Restless from 2001 to 2003 was marked by a highly dramatic and memorable storyline. She played Isabella Braña, a beautiful but deeply troubled woman who became romantically entangled with one of the show’s central characters, Paul Williams.

The Dangerous Love Triangle

Isabella was introduced as a friend of Christine "Cricket" Blair, but her true intentions quickly became clear. She was obsessed with Paul Williams, who was married to Christine. The character was initially portrayed as manipulative and cunning, determined to break up the established couple. This storyline provided high-stakes drama, which is the lifeblood of daytime television.

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From Friend to Fatal Obsession

The character's descent into madness was rapid and captivating. Isabella's desperation led to her faking a pregnancy to trap Paul, a classic soap trope. When the truth was inevitably revealed, her mental state deteriorated, moving her from a mere rival to a full-blown villain. The show writers developed her as "mentally unstable" and "psychotic," culminating in a shocking plot twist where she was written off the show.

The character’s exit in 2003 saw Isabella attempting to kill Christine Blair, a dramatic climax that ended her run as a contract player. This high-octane performance, despite its brevity, put Longoria on the map and demonstrated her ability to handle complex, intense roles, a skill she would later perfect as the glamorous and mischievous Gabrielle Solis on the mega-hit primetime show Desperate Housewives.

The Recent Controversy: Why Eva Longoria Worked a Second Job on Y&R

The most recent and compelling information about Longoria's time on Y&R came from a high-profile interview with Chris Wallace. During the discussion, Longoria revealed a surprising financial reality of her early acting career: she kept her day job as a headhunter while starring on The Young and the Restless.

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The Headhunter Hustle

Longoria explained that despite being on a major network show, the pay for a contract role on a daytime soap opera was not sufficient for her to live comfortably in Los Angeles. She stated that she would literally finish filming her scenes on the CBS set and rush to her second job at a temp agency to work as a headhunter.

“I was on The Young and the Restless and I was still working as a headhunter,” Longoria told Wallace. “I was still making more money as a headhunter. I saved up enough money to have a nest egg so that I could quit my day job and do Desperate Housewives.”

The Eric Braeden Backlash

While Longoria’s comments were intended to highlight her work ethic and the financial struggles of a working actor, they were interpreted by some within the soap opera community as being "derogatory" toward the genre and its actors. The most vocal critic was Y&R legend Eric Braeden, who has played the iconic Victor Newman for decades.

Braeden publicly called out Longoria for her remarks, suggesting she was criticizing the hard work of soap stars. In a strong social media post, Braeden stated that Longoria’s comments were "derogatory" and defended the genre, reminding fans and Longoria herself that soap actors work incredibly long hours, often memorizing vast amounts of dialogue daily.

The Context and The Aftermath

The core of the issue appears to be a misunderstanding of Longoria’s intent. Her comments were less a criticism of the craft or the actors and more a statement on the pay scale for a new, non-starring contract role in the early 2000s, especially when compared to the massive salaries of primetime television. Fans quickly came to Longoria's defense, arguing that she was simply sharing her personal financial reality, not trashing the industry.

This public disagreement, occurring years after her departure, proves that her brief but impactful time on Y&R remains a significant chapter in her career. It also provided a rare glimpse behind the curtain of the daytime drama world, revealing the financial gap between a starting contract role and the superstardom she achieved shortly after. Her subsequent role as Detective Gloria Duran on L.A. Dragnet was another stepping stone before her career exploded with Desperate Housewives, cementing her status as a global television icon.