Movies or TV, Eva is in the house

The “hottest woman in the world” is more than desperate.

Eva Longoria – known to “Desperate Housewives” fans as two-timing Gabrielle Solis, and to Maxim readers as the world’s hottest woman – takes on her first major movie role in “The Sentinel.”

Playing a Secret Service agent opposite Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland, Longoria ditches her designer dresses and flirty attitude in favor of smart suits and a serious demeanor.

It was an intentional move into unfamiliar territory, says Longoria, 31.

“I wanted to venture out of Gabrielle as soon as I could before people only saw me as Gabrielle,” she says. “That was my motivation, to make sure I broke out fast enough.”

It helped that Douglas, who also produced the film, extended a personal invitation: “I said, ‘OK – Michael Douglas!’ “

She hopes to follow the path of “Housewives” co-star Felicity Huffman, who earned an Oscar nod this year for her gender-bending turn in “Transamerica.”

“It really inspired all of us,” Longoria says. “I don’t think I’m anywhere near the actress she is, but I definitely aspire to be.”

Working on “The Sentinel” was a big change from hanging with the “Housewives,” she says.

“I’m going from a set of estrogen, which is nice and cozy and fun, to a set of testosterone, of boys who just want to play jokes,” says the diminutive actress. “It was just a different vibe.”

Acting on a TV series is perfect training for movie roles, says Douglas, who developed his acting chops on the 1970s crime drama “The Streets of San Francisco.”

TV actors have “no prima-donna behavior” and “get the job done,” he says.

Fans of Longoria’s “Housewives” work might be surprised to see her secret-agent side, he adds.

“I think what infuriated Kiefer and I the most is she was by far the best shot of the three of us,” Douglas says. “She put us away with her accuracy with a gun.”

Sutherland says Longoria animated the entire cast with her spirit and sense of humor.

“I have a tendency to sometimes get a little serious when I’m working, and it’s impossible to do around her,” says Sutherland, who plays the very serious Jack Bauer on TV’s “24.”

“I think she’s an extraordinary actor and she kind of almost betrays that sometimes because she’s got all this energy.”

Longoria focuses that energy on “Housewives” and her boyfriend, San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker. But she’s saving some for the big screen.

“I would love to have a film career,” she says.

Longoria also hopes to have a family and move back to her native Texas, but there’s no rush.

“I’m extremely happy where everything is right now,” she says.

The birthday bunch

Actor Lee Majors (“Six Million Dollar Man”) is 67. Actress Blair Brown is 58. Actress Joyce DeWitt (“Three’s Company”) is 57. Actor James Russo is 53. Director Michael Moore is 52. Actress Judy Davis is 51. Actress Valerie Bertinelli is 46. Comedian George Lopez is 45. Actor Scott Bairstow (“Party of Five”) is 36.