Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes
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Eva Mendes photo 1 Eva Mendes photo 2 Eva Mendes photo 3 Eva Mendes photo 4
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Name:
Eva Mendes
Who is:
Birth date:
(51 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Miami
Height:
5'6 ft ()
Weight:
126 lb (57 kg)
Relationship:
married on Ryan Gosling
Namesakes:
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Photos: Eva Mendes

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Biography of Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes is a Cuban-American actress who made her mark in action films and crime dramas. She's best known for starring in "2 Fast 2 Furious" and "Once Upon a Time in Mexico." She's married to Ryan Gosling and they have two daughters together.
Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes

Childhood

Eva was born on March 5, 1974, in Miami to Cuban immigrant parents. Her mother worked as a costume designer at the Mann Theater, while her father managed meat deliveries.
Eva Mendes in her childhood
Eva Mendes in her childhood
When Eva was young, her parents divorced. She moved with her mother and older brother Carlos from Florida to California, where she grew up. There, Mendes attended a Catholic elementary school. The future movie star initially dreamed of becoming a nun but later changed her mind.

In 1992, Eva enrolled at the University of California to study marketing. Two years later, she switched to interior design. While studying, Mendes discovered her passion for fashion and film.
Young Eva Mendes with sisters
Young Eva Mendes with sisters
She began posing for a photographer friend who lived in her dorm. One day, he took his portfolio of Eva's photos to a modeling agency. The agents were immediately interested in the striking young woman.

Acting Career

Eva Mendes' film career started with music videos. She appeared in Aerosmith's "Hole In My Soul" music video and Will Smith's "Miami." Realizing she needed to develop her acting skills, Eva enrolled in theater school courses.
Eva Mendes in Will Smith's music video
Mendes started with small roles in TV series and low-budget films. In 1998, she landed a role on "ER" (season 4, episode 15). She then played Shiro's ex-girlfriend in the Mortal Kombat TV series.
Eva Mendes in ER series
Mendes found her breakthrough in 2001 with the drama "Training Day" starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. Eva played the girlfriend of Washington's corrupt cop character.
Eva Mendes in Training Day
Eva Mendes in Training Day
Her role in "2 Fast 2 Furious" (2003) became a major commercial success, immediately followed by a notable part in Robert Rodriguez's "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" alongside Antonio Banderas and Johnny Depp.
Eva Mendes in 2 Fast 2 Furious
Eva Mendes in 2 Fast 2 Furious
Mendes' subsequent roles grew increasingly successful, though she was often cast as the leading man's love interest – like in "The Pursuit of Happyness" (2005) with Will Smith or "Ghost Rider" (2007) with Nicolas Cage. Critics weren't always impressed with Eva's performances – she even earned a Golden Raspberry nomination in 2009 for her role in "The Women" (2008).
A snapshot from Ghost Rider
A snapshot from Ghost Rider
Mendes was the ambassador of the Revlon brand. In 2005, she appeared in their social campaign and took a stand against fur. A year later, Maxim magazine ranked Eva 27th in its Hot 100 rating.
Eva mendes in Revlon ad
In 2017, Eva signed a contract with Avon and became the face of one of the brand's cosmetics lineups.

Audiences embraced the romantic drama "Last Night" starring Eva, Keira Knightley, Guillaume Canet and Sam Worthington. In the drama "The Place Beyond the Pines" (2012), Mendes starred opposite her future husband Ryan Gosling. Eva's most recent film role was in Gosling's experimental directorial debut "Lost River" in 2014.
On A Place under the Pines set
On A Place under the Pines set
Eva Mendes participates in charity. She financially supports a foundation that helps women with breast cancer.

Personal Life of Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes was against marriage for years. In interviews, she repeatedly said she didn't believe in the institution of marriage. In September 2011, she began dating actor Ryan Gosling, who changed her mind.
Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling
Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling
At the age of 40, Mendes gave birth to Esmeralda Gosling (September 12, 2014). Her second daughter Amanda was born on April 29, 2016. Both girls were named after Eva's grandmother.

Shortly after the birth of their second baby, in June 2016, Ryan and Eva got married. They kept it intimate, inviting only their closest friends – just 30 people.
Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes's cutest moments
Eva's older brother died of cancer 12 days before Amanda Lee was born. "It was such an emotionally intense time – my heart was breaking, but the birth of my daughter was this wonderful moment," the actress recalled.
Eva Mendes with husband and kids
Eva Mendes with husband and kids
The movie star tries to protect her children from the cameras of the paparazzi. She refuses family advertising photo shoots, tries not to appear in public with her daughters. She's teaching the girls to love their roots, speaking with them in both English and Spanish. They constantly listen to Cuban music, Cuban dishes are regularly on the table in the Mendes household.
Eva's big on healthy eating and staying active – she's a regular at the gym.

Eva Mendes Now

After having her long-awaited children, Eva stepped back from acting. In interviews, she's said she wants to focus entirely on raising her daughters. For the same reason, she began to appear less often at social events. Mendes is also back to studying interior design and working with her charitable foundation. The film actress has released a series of tableware and bed linen under the "Macy's" brand.
Eva Mendes now
Eva Mendes now
In March 2020, the actress presented her clothing line under the New York brand & The company with which she collaborates. Notably, Mendes became the face of the collection herself. Eva said she doesn't edit the photos at all because she wants to show customers how the outfits really look.
Eva Mendes On Becoming A Mom, If She'll Return To Acting
At the end of 2020, Mendes, in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald magazine, noted that she plans to return to cinema in the near future, and her ambitions are "coming back":
I've been so happy to be able to incubate with my babies, but now they are four and six, I'm starting to feel like my ambition is coming back.
In 2022, the 48-year-old actress named the conditions for her returning to the set: for the sake of the welfare of her young daughters, she will no longer act in scenes with sex and violence.