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GOLDEN GLOBE-NOMINATED ACTRESS EVA LONGORIA TO GUEST-STAR ON "EMPIRE" THIS SPRING ON FOX

EMPIRE Returns Wednesday, March 22, on FOX

Golden Globe nominee Eva Longoria ("Desperate Housewives," "Devious Maids") will guest-star on broadcast's No. 1 drama, EMPIRE, this spring on FOX. Longoria will play "Charlotte Frost," the formidable director of the all-powerful state gaming commission. Charlotte has the power to make-or-break Lucious' (Terrence Howard) dreams of expanding Empire's reach to Las Vegas and beneath her alluring facade, lies a force of darkness and corruption.

The battle between Lucious and Cookie explodes into their biggest war yet, when EMPIRE returns Wednesday, March 22 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. After launching a deadly missile at Angelo, Lucious announces his new music project, Inferno, and puts everyone on notice - especially Cookie, who then vows to knock him off his throne for good. The two engage in an epic clash - fueled by a history of love, loyalty and betrayal.

Longoria joins previously announced actors and musicians who appear on EMPIRE this spring, including Taye Diggs, Phylicia Rashad, Rumer Willis and Nia Long.

Eva Longoria is a Golden Globe-nominated, Screen Actors Guild- and ALMA Award-winning actress, producer, director, entrepreneur, philanthropist and "Desperate Housewives" alumnus. She stars opposite Academy Award nominee Demian Bichir in the upcoming feature film "Low Riders," slated for release on May 12. She also is featured in the British miniseries "Decline and Fall," opposite U.K. comedy star Jack Whitehall, which premieres this spring. Additionally, she directed an episode of the Golden Globe-nominated series "Jane the Virgin," and is set to direct the Emmy Award-winning series "Black-ish." Longoria recently celebrated 10 years as a Global Brand Ambassador for L'Oreal Paris. She owns BESO Restaurant in Hollywood, the production company UnbeliEVAble Entertainment and fragrances "EVA" and "EVAmour." She also has a New York Times best-selling cookbook, "Eva's Kitchen," and a home collection line with JC Penney. Her greatest work is as a champion of women, the Latino community and youth with special needs. She is founder of The Eva Longoria Foundation, to help Latinas build better futures for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship; co-founder of Eva's Heroes, which enriches the lives of those with intellectual special needs by providing an inclusive setting built on the four tenets of interact, grow, learn and love; and is the National Spokesperson for "Padres Contra el Cancer," a non-profit organization that is committed to improving the quality of life for Latino children with cancer and their families.

From Imagine Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television, EMPIRE was created by Academy Award nominee Lee Daniels and Emmy Award winner Danny Strong, and is executive-produced by Daniels, Strong, Academy Award- and Emmy Award-winning producer Brian Grazer, Ilene Chaiken, Francie Calfo and Sanaa Hamri. "Like" EMPIRE on Facebook at facebook.com/EmpireFOX. Follow the series on Twitter @EmpireFOX and join the discussion using #Empire. See photos and videos on Instagram by following @EmpireFOX.