The Light That Never Fades: From Film Star to Humanitarian Role Model

In this interview, we are not speaking with a myth, but with an outstanding businesswoman, a visionary of kindness and humanity. In her life, although success has smiled upon her, it has also struck her—mercilessly—and she has been able to transform pain into love and goodness.

We speak with a woman of flesh and blood who has managed to reinvent herself without losing an ounce of her authenticity. What lessons does her journey leave us? Let’s discover them together.

 1- From young actress to businesswoman: How do you remember that Eva who conquered Spanish cinema, and what led you to change direction?

 I remember her as a girl who believed in fairy tales, raised in a traditional family, with a childhood I could describe as “perfect,” very protected, who suddenly began, at the age of 14 and by chance, a career that started as an anecdote to tell in the future and ended up becoming her life until, at 37 and pregnant with her third child, she left the profession to dedicate herself to her family.

 Change of direction: the year I lost Carlota, I moved to London with my children. I couldn’t recover where I was living and I wanted to leave. Where? It didn’t matter much; London was chosen so the children could learn English. While there, at first family and friends asked for help/advice to send their children, then friends of friends began to reach out, and it reached a point where it became overwhelming. Three Spanish friends and I joined forces and created an agency to organize schooling and summer camps for Spanish children in Ireland and the UK. It worked very well until COVID, when schools closed and online schooling began. That’s when I moved back to Spain; another partner also relocated, and we could no longer offer the personalized service we valued so much.
With olive oil, something similar happened. It saddened me to go to supermarkets in England and see Italian oil on the shelves as if it were the ultimate product, when we are the largest producers in the world and our quality is no less than Italy’s. So I partnered with a Spaniard who imported it, and we began bringing more oil to London. I went to Russia and sold to Russian clients until first COVID and then the war in Ukraine significantly limited us. But I recovered from Spain and won two Mezquita de Córdoba awards, Grand Gold and Gold, and this year I received a Silver award in Japan.

  2- They say the entertainment world leaves scars. What was your greatest personal challenge during that stage, and what did you learn from it?

 The entertainment world is tough because every job is a test, a new exam where you must prove your worth. Nothing is ever secure—you have work today, but next month you may not, and you don’t know when you’ll have it again, if you ever do. It’s a completely vocational profession, and when someone tells me they want to be an actor/actress, I think it’s a beautiful job, but as a mother/friend, I would advise them to also pursue something else they enjoy.

  3- You have been an icon of elegance and strength. Do you think women who, like you, chose to prioritize their private life are valued the same today?

 I believe what’s important is having the freedom to choose, to evaluate your priorities and choose your way of life. More than valuing women who prioritize their private life, sometimes circumstances don’t allow you to choose. We must value women who bring values, principles, strength, and who are an example to others.

  4- About your children: What values do you think they have inherited from you, beyond art?

 For me to speak about my children—it’s hard to be objective, since mothers tend to see them through a very forgiving lens. But I’ll try. The one who definitely inherited the artistic vein was Carlota—she sang like an angel, played guitar, and wrote poetry. She was also completely selfless, always giving to others; she spent her vacations in Africa, emptied my fridge at home to go distribute food, etc.

 Alejandro is serious, responsible, hardworking—like a good engineer, he follows the book. He is always looking out for me. And the youngest, Roberto, is the joy of the house—affectionate, very attached, and gets excellent grades. Very loyal to his friends.

 5- Actress, entrepreneur, mother, woman… In which role do you feel most fulfilled today, and why?

 Mother and woman—they are the foundation.

 6- If you could send a message to that young Eva who debuted in cinema, what would you say?

 I would say many things, but hindsight makes everyone wise.

 7- What current project makes you wake up every morning with enthusiasm?

 If there is one thing about me, it’s that I still smile. I still feel a ray of sunshine on my face and think about how fortunate I am. Every day is a project.

 8- Life has given you both hardships and victories. What do you take from this entire journey?

 Life is a path—partly the one we are given (family, country, economic situation, etc.), and partly the one we choose through decisions, sometimes wrong and sometimes right. All of that makes up my experience, and what I’ve learned—even when it hurts—is mine. The good and the bad.

 9- As an entrepreneur, you have navigated a traditionally male-dominated world. What obstacles have you faced, and what advice would you give to women who want to start a business?

 We are often the ones who place obstacles in our own way. Today, in Spain, we have great businesswomen, and some of them started from nothing. I’ve always told my children that we already have the “no,” so let’s go for the “yes.” If it doesn’t happen, it shouldn’t be seen as failure; to learn to walk, we must fall many times first.

 10- You have lived through periods of great media exposure and others of discretion. What has silence taught you that success could not?

 I chose discretion, especially for my children. I wanted them to grow up as just another child at school, and they didn’t know anything about it until they were teenagers.

 11- If you had to define yourself in three words beyond “actress,” “mother,” or “entrepreneur,” what would they be and why?

 I am a dreamer, romantic, very stubborn, hardworking, and the kind of person who, when she sees danger, her first reaction is to go after it.