New York, Mar 9 (IANS/EFE): Eva Longoria, who will return to the big screen with her new film "Frontera", believes women must train themselves professionally in order to shed the role society has traditionally imposed on them.

"It's always been harder for women," Longoria said in an interview with EFE.

"We have to make ourselves into successful women and challenge the role society has assigned us," she said, immediately expressing her satisfaction that every day there are more female executives in the film industry and other professions.

The former star of the hit TV series "Desperate Housewives" said specifically that the foundation which bears her name promotes the education and business success of Hispanic women in the US.

The foundation provides Latinas with the necessary tools and capital to start a business, while working to keep young girls in school so they will be able to attend college.

"My work is focused on helping Hispanic women get a better education and become businesswomen," she said.

Longoria returns to the big screen this year in "Frontera", in which she will co-star with Mexico-born actor Michael Pena and Oscar nominee Ed Harris. According to the actress, the movie "humanizes" what goes on along the border between Mexico and Arizona.

The film tells the story of a sheriff whose wife is killed in a robbery by a Mexican who had crossed the border into the US.