Eva Longoria Has Been Living Outside the U.S. For Years: ‘I Get to Escape and Go Somewhere’

Eva Longoria is revealing why she and her family have put down roots outside of the United States. 

The Flamin’ Hot director, 49, has been living between Spain and Mexico with her husband José Bastón and their 6-year-old son Santiago for the last few years now, she shared in a cover story for Marie Claire’s “Age Issue.”

Longoria — who is working on the second iteration of her CNN miniseries, Searching for Spain, following 2023’s Searching for Mexico — tells the outlet that despite spending her “whole adult life” in Los Angeles, she noticed the city was “changing.”

“The vibe was different,” she explains, “and then Covid happened, and it pushed it over the edge. Whether it’s the homelessness or the taxes, not that I want to s–t on California — it just feels like this chapter in my life is done now.”

The actress, who recently appeared in the latest season of Only Murders in the Building and the Apple TV+ series Land of Women, acknowledges that she’s “privileged” to be able to relocate to other countries.  

“I get to escape and go somewhere. Most Americans aren’t so lucky,” she says. “They’re going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them.”

The Desperate Housewives alum, who was previously deemed a “political power broker” by The Washington Post in 2020, spent the last few months campaigning for Vice President Harris and has been extremely vocal about her opinions of President-elect Trump. 

The Texas native is known for being an outspoken activist and for rallying women and Latinos to vote, per the Texas Tribune.  “We’ve been screaming from the highest rooftop that the Latino vote is not something to take for granted,” she told Marie Claire. “You have to earn it and win it every election cycle.” 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

Of Trump, Longoria tells the outlet: “The shocking part is not that he won, it’s that a convicted criminal who spews so much hate could hold the highest office.” 

She adds, “I would like to think our fight continues,” however she also acknowledges her anxiety over over another four years with Trump as president. “If he keeps his promises,” she says, “[America] is going to be a scary place.”

Beyond her political activism, Longoria opens up in the cover story about carving her own path in the entertainment industry — including with her Oscar-nominated film Flamin’ Hot, which she directed — and in encouraging other women to get behind the camera and assert control over their careers.

“Our industry is famous for specifically men failing up. It’s like, ‘He got that movie? Didn’t he just… The last movie, he just…? Didn’t that bomb? And they give him another [chance],” she says. “That’s great, but I couldn’t do that. I don’t get a second chance. I think for me, there’s no better position than to be underestimated because then you can always over deliver. I’m comfortable outworking anybody in the room.”

Read the cover story and see more photos in the November issue of Marie Claire or visit marieclaire.com.