Why Eva Longoria Won't Cast Her 5-Year-Old Son Santiago In a Movie

Eva Longoria isn't desperate to share the silver screen with her son Santiago.

In fact, the Desperate Housewives alum shot down the idea to have her 5-year-old—who she shares with husband José Bastón—make an appearance in her upcoming Disney+ movie Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Instead, Thom Nemer plays the titular character in the new adaptation of the beloved Judith Viorst children's book.

"They go, 'Wouldn't it be great if we just use your son?'" Eva exclusively told E! News at the Palm Springs International Film Awards on Jan. 4. "I'm like, 'Absolutely not.'"

As for what's stopping her, Eva jokingly noted, "He is such a diva."

"He's not cooperative," she quipped. "Doesn't take notes. Talks back."

However, that doesn't mean Santiago isn't a fan of her work. According to the 48-year-old, her little one still brings up the fact that she played Dora the Explorer's mother in the 2019 live-action film Dora and the Lost City of Gold. 

"He loves Dora," Eva explained, sharing that Santiago often asks why the adventurer doesn't live with their family. "Because he's like, 'Wait, you're her mom?'"

The Telenovela actress added, "He was very confused about that."

But for Eva, she finds nothing more endearing about Santiago than his "snuggly" self.

"Laying in bed, falling asleep. Those are my favorite moments," she shared. "My heart melts. That's my favorite—when he just wants to be with me."

To see more of Eva's adorable mom moments with Santiago, keep reading.

—Reporting by Alex Cramer

"Summer where are you?" Eva Longoria wrote on Instagram as her son wore a matching set from the Kaavia James Union-Wade x Janie and Jack Collection. "We are ready!!!!"

"Post-Mother's Day snuggles," Eva wrote on Instagram while wearing matching Peregrine Kidswear with her son. 

"Hey @chrissyteigen is this the official hairstyle of breast feeding?" Eva joked as she rocked a messy bun while cuddling her newborn son.

"First day back to work and look who is my assistant director! He has a desk and everything!" the star joked with baby Santiago on Instagram. 

Eva posted this sweet moment between her son and her son in honor of his six-month birthday. "My sweet angel, you are 6months today and it feels like you were just born yesterday!" she wrote. "Although I can't remember my life without you. Your laughter melts my heart in ways you will never know."

"It's never too early to learn about your candidates," the actress joked on Instagram while reading a voting pamphlet with her 11 month-old son, urging her followers to educate themselves for the midterm elections. 

"Ready for a dip in the pool!" the actress posted alongside a photo of her and her son wearing similar hats on Instagram.

"I think I found our next director," Eva joked while on the set of Black-ish. 

Eva posted this heart-warming photo on her birthday adding, "Thank you all so much for all the birthday wishes!! I'm having the best day with my loved ones and getting a lot of kisses from my Santi baby!"

"Will he always hold me like this?" the star jokingly asked while sharing a photo of nap time with her son. 

"Ya'll like my new carry-on?" Eva joked on Instagram. 

The Grand Hotel executive producer shared this adorable photo of her "Santi" eating bread together. "Us. Just chilling and eating bread. #Moments," she wrote.  

Eva posted this cute picture of her and her son sitting poolside on vacation. 

"Dancing to the sunset!" Eva shared on her Instagram while on vacation with her son. 

"Ma' boy!" the world-renowned actress shared on Instagram. 

The Jane the Virgin actress shared this hilarious, and maybe unsanitary photo with her 6.7 million Instagram followers. 

The Desperate Housewives alum wandered through the streets of Italy with her newborn son, adding "Most of Italy is so beautiful, it looks like the backlot of a movie studio!" 

"My first Mother's Day! I don't even remember life before this little piece of love entered it," Eva shared on her first Mother's Day as a mom. 

Eva posted this adorable photo on her Instagram, adding "Vacation Mode!" 

Eva introduced her newborn son to friend Victoria Beckham in Paris prior to Fashion Week.

The Telenovela star got into Christmas spirit by dressing up baby Santiago in an adorable festive outfit for his first Christmas. 

"My ray of sunshine!" the actress posted on Instagram while in Cannes for the Cannes Film Festival.