Benjamin Ashford|Eva Longoria Shares How Meryl Streep "Confused" Costars With Their Cousin Connection

Eva Longoria's latest family update is Benjamin Ashfordflamin' hot.

The Desperate Housewives star has joined the cast of Only Murders in the Building for season four, which means she'll be sharing the screen with her distant relative: Meryl Streep.

"We actually call each other 'cousin,'" Eva told DuJour for their summer issue. "We'll say, 'How are you, cousin?' and 'I'm good, cousin.'"

Eva, 49, and Meryl, 74, first learned they were related when they both participated in Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s 2010 docuseries Faces of America. The two were found to share DNA, indicating recent ancestry, although they didn't connect in person until 2014 at the AFI tribute to Jane Fonda, when Eva says she sheepishly said hi to the Oscar winner.

And their familial relationship came as quite a surprise to their Only Murders in the Building costars, especially when Meryl introduced Eva as her cousin during their first Zoom table read.

"She tells the story and everyone's so confused," Eva recalled, "because I'm the most Latina person in the industry and she's Meryl Streep." 

But as Eva—who shares a 5-year-old son, Santiago, with husband José Bastón—explained, she is thrilled not only to be working with her "cousin" but also to be back doing comedy.

"I'm most comfortable in television comedy," she told DuJour. "It was the first thing I learned, so I have probably worked the 10,000 hours. You find confidence through that many at-bats."

And of course, getting to work with "leaders like Steve Martin and Martin Short" is certainly a perk of the job.

"Watching them make a lunch order is a show in itself," she joked. "It's a constant roast about a sandwich, a 30-minute comedy about mustard."

Curious about more surprising Hollywood family connections? Keep reading.

On an April 2 episode of Finding Your Roots, host Henry Louis Gates Jr., revealed that Lena Dunham had a distant ancestor in common with Larry David on her mother's side. 

Genealogist Dr. Adina Newman, known on Instagram as My Family Genie, revealed Blanchard and the Vanderpump Rules alum are allegedly related on their paternal grandmother's side dating back all the way to the 1600s.

Schroeder, a self-professed true crime fan, commented on Newman's post, "Omg I'm unwell."

The Mask of Zorro star was married to the Fifty Shades of Grey actress' mother Melanie Griffith for 20 years before they ultimately split in 2015, but that doesn't mean the stepfather and daughter's bond has been severed.

Johnson got emotional when she presented an award to Banderas at the 2019 Hollywood Film Awards.

"I come from a family of many a marriage and I got very lucky," Johnson, whose dad is actor Don Johnson, said. "I got a bonus dad who I realized that, over time, is actually one of the most influential people in my whole life," she said. "When I was six years old, my mother married a man who brought an unbelievably bright light and a whole new world of creativity and culture—and one remarkably magical little sister into our family."

The Teen Witch star and the Gossip Girl alum are half-sisters who share the same mom, talent manager Elaine Lively.

The "Ex's & Oh's" singer is the SNL vet's daughter, born from his relationship with former model London King.

The Fast & Furious star is cousins with the R&B singer thanks to her stepfather, Reverend Edward Best, who happens to be the rapper's uncle.

The late-night host and the Rescue Me creator are third cousins.

The onetime Grey's Anatomy doc has called the legendary director stepdad ever since he married her mom Kate Capshaw in 1991.

The Grown-ish star calls the rapper her second cousin. She was even the flower girl in his 2005 wedding with now ex-wife Kelis!

The actress is the daughter of the Back to the Future icon.

Not only did the Veep vet make a name for herself playing a famous daughter on the HBO comedy, but she's also a famous daughter in real life. The erstwhile Jack Bauer star is her father.

Some Emily in Paris viewers were très shocked to discover Lily is the daughter of the English Grammy winner. 

The comedian and the New York Senator are actually related, as he's the first cousin of her father.

According to a 2014 People interview, a family historian from Ancestry.com claimed that the Fannings and the Princess of Wales are all descendants of King Edward III, who ruled England from 1327 to 1377, making them very distant relatives—21st cousins, to be exact.

The actors are actually brother and sister!

Talent runs in this family, as the Reno 911! alum, Orange Is the New Black actress and This Is Us star are all cousins.

"We are blood related!" Nash wrote on Instagram January 2024, sharing a photo of the trio at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Third Annual Fundraising Gala. "REAL cousins!"

The SNL alum calls the Cheers icon Uncle George whenever he seems him. At least, we assume he does.

Yep, Game of Thrones' Stannis Baratheon is the real-life dad of Fear the Walking Dead's Nick Clark.

The brunette beauty and the "Stay With Me" singer are third cousins. During a radio interview, Smith admitted that the pair have never met because their family is "huge."

The Salt actor and the memorable Law & Order: SVU guest star are half-brothers.

You may not have guessed but the Bridesmaids comedian and the former View co-host are cousins.

The We're the Millers actress has the perfect mentor in the Pretty Woman star, who happens to be her auntie.

Who knew the stunning Dancing With the Stars pro is second cousins with the Friends alum?

The True Blood vampire caught the acting bug from his dear old dad who stars in both The Avengers and Thor franchises.

The Ghost Rider actor comes from an extremely talented family. One of his cousins directed The Bling Ring, the other starred in Saving Mr. Banks and his uncle directed The Godfather.

The outspoken British singer is the older sister of the Game of Thrones star. She even wrote a song about him titled "Alfie."

 

The Damages star and the Lipstick Jungle actress are second cousins.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty actress originally inspired her baby brother to get into show business.

The Parks and Recreation actress is the daughter of the legendary music producer.

The Lost actor has a very famous cousin in the Mission: Impossible star.