It was salacious, mysterious, funny, dramatic and boundary-pushing! Desperate Housewives – the unforgettable show about a group of women living a very Stepford Wives existence on Wisteria Lane – turns 20 this year.
We find out what happened to the series’ leading ladies.
Catch up with the Desperate Housewives
Marcia Cross
Bree Van de Kamp
As Bree Van de Kamp, Wisteria Lane’s most neurotic homemaker, Marcia’s Desperate Housewives character was committed to something beyond perfectionism. It didn’t endear her to her family, with one of them complaining, “I just can’t live in this detergent commercial any more!”
Mum-of-two Marcia, 62, has had mostly bit parts since the show ended in 2012. Off screen, however, she has had more than enough drama. In 2017, doctors diagnosed her with anal cancer. She underwent chemo and radiation therapy, and has been on a mission ever since to break the stigma around the disease. “I know there are people who are ashamed,” says Marcia.
“Like you did something bad, you know, because it took up residence in your anus. I mean, come on, really? There’s enough on your plate. Even for me, it took a while. Anus, anus, anus! Hah. You just have to get used to it.”
Felicity Huffman
Lynette Scavo
Desperate doesn’t begin to describe Felicity’s alter ego Lynette Scavo. The frustrated, stay-at-home mum-of-four was so stretched, she kept her kids’ ADHD meds for herself. And that was before she discovered her child-bearing days weren’t over.
Felicity, 61, won an Emmy for her role as Lynette and went on to nab a Golden Globe for her portrayal of a transgender woman in Transamerica.
It seemed she could do no wrong, but it turned out she could. In 2019, the star was sent to prison for two weeks for bribing a crooked consultant to get the eldest of her two daughters into a top-tier US university, despite not having good enough grades. She also received a $47,000 fine and 250 hours of community service. Felicity has since made a small comeback in an episode of The Good Doctor.
Eva Longoria
Gabrielle Solis
Eva was a virtual unknown when she was cast as the vain, selfish and somehow completely charming Gabrielle Solis. Her character boggled viewers early on when she started a steamy affair with her young gardener, played by Jesse Metcalfe.
Eva, 49, made the most of her new-found fame and her screen career is still going strong. Her new Apple TV+ comedy-thriller Land of Women has been a huge hit. Eva’s marriage to basketball legend Tony Parker, however, was less hit, more miss. It ended acrimoniously in 2011 with the actor saying later, “I didn’t realise it… but I had become my own version of a desperate housewife.”
She went on to tie the knot with businessman José Bastón. They welcomed son Santiago in 2018 and it was revealed this year they’re moving from California to Spain.
Teri Hatcher
Susan Mayer
Teri was by far the most famous cast member when Desperate Housewives took off. Everyone already knew her from ’90s hit show Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Teri, 59, played hopelessly romantic girl-next-door Susan Mayer in the show.
She won both a Golden Globe and a SAG award for her performance. In the years since, the twice-divorced mum-of-one has appeared in hit shows, including The Odd Couple and Supergirl, as well as the occasional TV film.
Brenda Strong
Mary Alice Young
Who can forget Mary Alice Young. She narrated the series from beyond the grave, spilling the secrets of her friends and neighbours? Brenda, 64, received two Emmy Award nominations for outstanding voice-over performance. The actor is a yoga instructor and has appeared in everything from Scandal and Bones to Fear the Walking Dead.
Nicollette Sheridan
Edie Britt
Although not a core cast member, Nicollette’s character Edie Britt was a series regular and sure shook things up. Her specialty was having steamy relationships with her fellow housewives’ exes. Producers killed Edie off after season five. Nicollette later claimed she was fired after getting into a heated altercation with the show’s creator, Marc Cherry.