Eva Longoria explains why she worked secretly as a corporate employee for years

Eva Longoria reportedly wanted to become financially independent as soon as she entered Hollywood. 

In a new chat with Fortune, the 51-year-old admitted to working as a part-time headhunter undercover during her time on The Young and the Restless.

Eva recalled, "The first day I landed in LA, I got a job. I was like, 'I’m not going to be a struggling actor. I’m going to figure this out.'"

Speaking of this experience, she recalled, "In my dressing room, I was doing the headhunting. I was negotiating 401(k)s and salaries, interviewing and reading resumes and placing people. And then they would be like, 'Eva, ready on set.'"

Eventually, she gave up the corporate role during her third year on The Young and the Restless because pursuing a career in acting had become financially viable for Eva.

She explained, "I knew I could always go back to corporate America if acting didn’t work out."

Nevetheless, she shared that her boss at the temp agency was so impressed by her performance that he actively discouraged her from pursuing Hollywood.

"He never understood why I didn’t stay in corporate America. It just wasn’t my calling, but I was really great at it," she revealed.

"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.'