Marcia Cross certainly looked far from desperate as she enjoyed an afternoon out with her twin daughters Eden and Savannah, 19 months.

Effortlessly carrying her twin daughters - one in each arm - she hoisted the children into the park's sandpit to play.

And clearly she intended to have some fun herself as she had also removed her own shoes, as well as the twins.

All aboard: Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross takes the strain and carried her twin daughters Eden and Savannah into the sandpit

The actress took the twins to Brentwood Park near her Los Angeles home, and seemed to manage the girls just fine without the aid of that celebrity staple - the nanny.

Proudly pushing them along in their double buggy, the 46-year-old star of TV's Desperate Housewives looked suitably dressed down for a day at the park.
 
Her casual look was a far cry from the super-starched glossy look worn by her character Bree Hodges.

But refreshingly for the Hollywood star, there were no ridiculous six inch heels being worn for a day out with the children.

Marcia Cross takes her twin daughters Eden and Savannah to play in Brentwood Park

The 46-year-old who is married to stockbroker Tom Mahoney, is currently appearing in the fifth series of the hit show.

Marcia and her Desperate Housewives' co-stars, Dana Delaney, Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Eva Longoria Parker and Nicollette Sheridan will be presenters at the Emmy Awards on Sunday.

In sync: Marcia and the children's attention is swayed by a passerby