Eva Longoria works in front, behind camera on 'Grand Hotel'

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - Eva Longoria was so busy behind the scenes of the upcoming series "Grand Hotel," it took a bit for the actress to realize there was no part for her.

As an executive producer on the ABC drama, Longoria was in position to do something about it. She asked writer Brian Tanen to create something for her. She will play a mother in four episodes of the show that takes place at the last family-owned hotel in Miami.

Longoria began filming about five months after giving birth to her first child, Santiago Baston, whom she toted with her at a TV critics' meeting Tuesday.

"I was directing the show while I was breastfeeding. I was crazy," she said. "The first time you see me I'm about 20 pounds (9 kilograms) heavier than the last time you see me because five months had passed."

Longoria is one of seven women who direct on the show that debuts June 17.

She's proud that half of the writers are women and people of color, nine of the 11 actors are people of color, and women work in the roles of director of photographer, assistant directors and stunt coordinator.

"It's still not common enough to have women behind the camera," Longoria said.

The show stars Demian Bichir, Roselyn Sanchez and Wendy Raquel Robinson. It's based on the Spanish series "Gran Hotel."