Eva Longoria on the Fast Track

We know where Parker will be for the premiere of The Sentinel, though: Getting photographed and filmed on the red carpet, right next to Longoria. These days it seems you can't visit the supermarket or turn on the TV ‑- or even fly in outer space, considering Maxim's oversized cover promotion in Vegas, which is visible from miles above ‑- without seeing Longoria, mostly with Tony by her side. While it might seem that she covets the spotlight, she feels the attention is more about the popularity of her current projects, which come after years of bit parts, soap opera roles and low-end TV movies.

"I enjoy my work," she says. "I enjoy going to Desperate Housewives every day. The rest just is a by-product of that."

So will Longoria be heading to the Oscars next year as a nominee, following in Felicity Huffman's footsteps? She's doing almost as much shape shifting in what amounts to her feature film debut in The Sentinel, where she hands in her Gucci for government-issue togs. Her character, Jill Marin, is a rookie agent who joins a veteran, played by Sutherland, on the hunt for a suspected traitor (Michael Douglas). Of the many scripts she was offered once Housewives started, Longoria found the character in this one to be the least like Gabrielle, and in fact the most like herself: an athletic tomboy. "I love action," she says. "I love the athleticism of female action stars."