Eva Longoria - Eva Longoria Learning Sign Language

The Desperate Housewives star has published her favourite recipes in Eva's Kitchen, detailing food from her upbringing and dinners she likes to cook at home.

Longoria, whose sister suffers from Down's syndrome, has now revealed she has been learning sign language so she can discuss her book with deaf devotees and raise awareness for the hearing impaired.

She says, "I always think it's important to bring awareness to minority or a minority population and whether you're Latino or black or a woman or deaf, it still falls into that category of needing support from people who aren't normally around this type of population. I come from a diverse background of people with special needs, because of my sister, so I'm happy to bring my voice to this cause.

"A lot of deaf people have bought my book and I've been able to talk to them about what my favourite recipe is and what to cook. I think it's important to bring awareness to a minority population, and it falls into that category of needing support from people who aren't normally around this type of population."