The actress has been practicing for her character, Gabrielle Solis’, sexy scenes in the forthcoming eighth series of the show at the S Factor gym in Los Angeles.

A friend told HollywoodLife.com: “Eva has been taking one-on-one sessions at S Factor.

“She’s getting busy because her character has some pole dancing, striptease scenes on ‘Desperate Housewives’ this season.”

The gym, run by Sheila Kelly, specialises in pole dancing workout classes and has long been a favourite of Eva’s co-star Teri Hatcher.

Eva, 36, is no stranger to stripper poles however, and said in 2009 she had been gifted one by her former ‘Baywatch’ star friend Carmen Electra, although she admitted she was out of practice.

She explained: “Carmen Electra has these stripper poles that she sells.

"She sent me one for Valentine's Day and told me to have fun.

"So I set it up myself and it is supposed to fit any ceiling.

"I got on it to swing and, 'Whack!' I fell on the floor so I never really got good at it.”

‘Desperate Housewives’ returns to screens on September 25 in the US.