Eva Longoria!

The exact moment Eva Longoria became the country's water-cooler topic can be easily pinpointed: It happened when her Desperate Housewives character, Gabrielle Solis, seduced her teen gardener, John, in the first season. Soon after, Longoria was appearing on the cover of nearly every women's magazine and lad publication, including Maxim's 100th issue. The latter cover, showing a bikini-clad Longoria, was later recreated as a 75-ft. by 110-ft. display near the California state line and can be seen from passing planes. Longoria's tendency to gab has drawn headlines. Example: When she claimed to be "the experienced one"" in her relationship with her fiancé, NBA player Tony Parker. They plan to marry in July 2007 at a chateau, north of Paris. Eva Longoria may not be a housewife, but she is desperate for her France-raised fiancé Tony Parker to improve her French skills. "He's terrible. He always wants to speak English," Longoria, 31, told PEOPLE Thursday while in London to open the annual Harrods Winter Sale. "I try to remind him but he always forgets and says it's easier and faster to speak English, but I want to understand." She decided to master French the hard way – in a classroom. "I couldn't speak French before Tony. All I knew how to say was, 'My name is Eva.' I went to a Berlitz French school this summer, doing about five hours a day." And how is her French now? "Great!" The actress first met Parker, 24, in the San Antonio Spurs locker room more than two years ago. He proposed on Nov. 30, presenting her with a five-carat-plus emerald-cut diamond ring. Longoria spent Christmas in her home state of Texas and will be back in the U.S. for a quiet Dec. 31. "Nothing is planned for New Year's Eve," she said. "Tony plays that date so I'll be watching, sitting at a Spurs' game." She continues shooting Desperate Housewives until April before taking a new film role. "I'm picking my next summer movie as we speak. I don't know what it will be yet. I've read a lot of scripts and I am amazed at how many movies will be made next year. I'm a big fan of the romantic comedy and would love to do another one." Also in the works: her wedding. Although Housewives creator Marc Cherry told PEOPLE the couple will get married on July 7, Longoria said Thursday, "We haven't set a date yet." Asked point-blank if the nuptials could be on lucky 7/7/07, she said with a smile: "Maybe."

Godiva Chocolates, Texas, and NBA star Tony Parker. Those are just a few of Eva Longoria's loves. But sex scenes? No thanks. "I hate sex scenes and kissing scenes," the engaged actress, 31, tells the February issue of VEGAS Magazine. "It's just an uncomfortable situation for everybody. 'Put your elbow over here, find your light here.' It's not really natural and just awkward." She even admits that her Desperate Housewives on-again, off-again husband Ricardo Chavira is a bit turned off by steamy scenes, mainly because they have a brother-sister relationship. "He tells me all the time: 'People say, "You get to kiss Eva Longoria" – and he goes 'Yeah, whatever.'" In the interview, Longoria also dishes on her engagement – "it still makes me giggle" – and her clumsiness, which amuses her hoops-star husband-to-be. “Tony laughs," she adds. "He says, 'I can't believe everybody in the world thinks you're so sexy and glamorous,' because he knows I'm not glamorous in everyday life." Longoria's interview with the magazine (on newsstands Feb. 1) is in advance of her trip to Sin City next month for the NBA All-Star game. The couple will also host a night at Pure Nightclub in Vegas on Feb. 17. they’re so cute together.