This Woman Could Barely Tie Her Shoes and Has a '4th Grade' Level Mind, Yet Her Famous Sister Calls Her a 'Light'

This actress is a renowned Hollywood star who was born into a family with a sister who has special needs. Her older sister has taught her many life lessons, including overcoming hurdles despite the expectations placed on her. Inspired by her sister, the actress is heavily involved in philanthropy and humanitarian work.

On March 15, 1975, the actress was born as the youngest of four sisters in Corpus Christi, Texas. The star grew up on a ranch and went on to attend Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

After leaving college and getting a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, the star tried her luck with a talent contest that required her to go to Los Angeles. While there, she was seen by a theatrical agent and signed.

She later starred in 1963's "General Hospital," 1973's "The Young and the Restless," 1987's "The Bold and the Beautiful," and 1990's "Beverly Hills, 90210." The beautiful actress gained worldwide fame when she appeared as Gabrielle Solis in 2004's "Desperate Housewives."

The successful celebrity also founded an organization that helps Latinas build better futures through education and entrepreneurship. The star also earned her Master's in Chicano Studies after presenting her thesis on "Success STEMS From Diversity: The Value of Latinas in STEM Careers."

She's also written for publications on the subject of education. While the actress has a successful career and life, there's one person in her life that she completely dotes on.

Some of the Incredible Life Lessons the Actress's Sister Taught Her

During a November 2016 "Loose Women" appearance, the actress pushed for schools to train teachers to deal with children diagnosed with autism, especially since more and more children have the condition. She revealed that her sister, Elizabeth "Liza" Judina has special needs, and her school only ran until the sixth grade, so she was forced to go mainstream.

The star recalled how scared their mother was because she anticipated her child being bullied and that she would be misunderstood. However, the "Harsh Times" actress praised the school her sibling attended for being supportive and considerate of her sister's condition. For instance, every period, someone would walk Liza to her locker, and she had lots of support.

The celebrity also acknowledged how some special needs schools, though equipped with trained teachers, could be detrimental to students because they treat them like they are in a bubble, which is not reflective of the real world.

The A-lister's mother Ella became her daughter's most prominent advocate, challenging the system's limitations for children with special needs. Eventually, she became a special needs teacher herself.

The Hollywood diva proudly described her mother as an "angel" for having raised four girls while working full-time and training as a special education teacher. On top of everything she did, Ella managed to still have supper ready for her family at 6 p.m. daily.

Instead of feeling sorry for herself as the last-born child, not getting enough attention in the household partly due to Liza's needs, the actress took it in her stride and kept herself busy. In fact, she became so independent and learned self-love that she hilariously described herself as "amazing!"

Despite being born into Liza's world, the actress only has love for her older sister, who has taught her many valuable lessons. In a February 2022 interview, the actress shared two stories about how Liza taught her humility. While attending a regular high school, Liza came home without her jacket, Ella asked her what happened to it, and it was revealed that someone had stolen it off her back.

At ten years old, the actress was so angry and asked her sister who would do something like that and why, but Liza compassionately replied that it must have been someone cold! The celebrity's sister was just happy her jacket was useful to someone else.

Another incident that taught the Hollywood star an important lesson was when Liza would have trouble tying her shoes in the morning, causing everyone else to be late for school. Frustrated, she asked their mother why they couldn't just tie her sibling's shoes for her. But Ella insisted on letting Liza tie her own shoes.

One day, the star was tired of being late, and when their mother wasn't looking, she quickly tied her sister's shoes! When their mother returned, she was upset and slapped her daughter's hand, saying, "Don't ever take that victory away from her. That is her victory."

Liza is one big reason the actress got into charity work and other humanitarian efforts. Her older sister managed to do more than what most people expected from her.

In an interview with Kerry Washington in November 2021, the "Overboard" alum opened up about her sister's incredible resilience. She recalled how, after Liza's birth, doctors gave grim predictions.

"They told my parents she'll never walk, she'll never talk. She'll never have an emotion. She's going to be a vegetable her whole life, and she's probably going to pass away very early, like by three." Yet, defying all odds, Liza went on to live a full life. "She's 55 today. She has a job, she has a boyfriend. She's amazing."

The TV star also described how Liza's needs shaped the dynamics of their family life. "We wouldn't go on vacation without going, 'Where would Liza go on vacation?' We wouldn't buy a car without asking, 'Is it comfortable for Liza?' Everything we did after school, [we] had to include Liza."

This environment fostered a close-knit family unit. "My childhood was very formed by being a sister, and being a good sister," the actress shared, noting that her mother ingrained in her and her sisters the mentality of being their sister's keeper.

The "Flamin' Hot" star further revealed that her mother found creative ways to involve the entire family in caring for Liza, especially through community programs. She humorously added that, as a young girl, she believed volunteering was a real job and thought she'd grow up to be a volunteer.

Liza: The "Light" of Her Sister's Life

In 2009, the actress revealed that growing up with Liza was one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. She described her older sister as the "light" of her life, sharing that Liza had taught her more than she ever could have ever imagined.

But as much as Liza is a source of inspiration for her sister, the star also once admitted that her sister could be hilarious because she has no filter. Once, she introduced Liza to her then-boyfriend and now husband, and Liza hilariously said, "Argh, another one!"

The actress has been fiercely protective of her sister throughout her life, as she shared in an exclusive June 2023 interview with Hoda Kotb. "I don't really know any other way to be or any other dynamic in a family other than being selfless, because everything revolved around my older sister who had special needs," she explained.

The actress recalled how much her family adjusted their lives to accommodate Liza. "Could we go to Disneyland? We can't go because Liza can't endure the ride. Or can we go to dinner at this place? But we can't go, because Liza probably won't, you know, last for the whole dinner," she continued. "Everything was, can Liza go?'"

The "Desperate Housewives" alum said this experience taught her how to be empathetic. "Growing up that way makes you selfless in everything you do. It put me in somebody else's shoes."

Contrary to what others thought, the "Land of Women" star explained her sister doesn't have Down syndrome but has an intellectual disability due to being born prematurely. The celebrity noted, though, that Liza's condition is similar to Down syndrome, describing her as "4th or 5th-grade level."

In 2019, the star revealed that living with her older sister inspired her to become a humanitarian. She is humbled by everything her sibling shows and teaches her, especially since welcoming her own child.

The actress revealed how her sister was given "never" lists: things she would never get to do, but Liza proved them wrong as she thrived and even got a job.

In 2007, the "Unplugging" star said her sister was her hero growing up, and it was a blessing to see her overcome obstacles, like putting on a shirt on her own or leaving the house. She even graduated from high school.

Despite everything she faces during the day, Liza is a highly functional woman who beat the odds stacked against her. She goes to work and commutes home by bus on her own and even helps with dinner.

In 2009, the A-lister noted how her sister had made their family selfless in looking after her and not having time to worry about other things. Liza also encouraged her family to help children like her when they could, prompting her sister to establish "Eva's Heroes." The organization assists people between the ages of 14 and 21 who are intellectually challenged.

The star said her family received lots of help for her sister from organizations similar to the one she founded, so she wanted to extend that help to other children nationwide.

The Hollywood star we're referring to is none other than the sensational Eva Longoria. She and her sister, now 58, have an incredible bond. The pair are so close that the actress, now 49, even brings her to red-carpet events, like in 2018, when she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Eva's deep bond with her older sister has not only shaped her personal life but also fueled her passion for philanthropy and advocacy. Liza's resilience and the lessons learned from their unique relationship continue to inspire the star’s humanitarian efforts, making her journey both impactful and heartfelt.