Admires the film Network (1976), which inspired her to take up the film Live! (2007).
Eva Mendes is an American actress, model and businesswoman. She began acting in the late 1990s, and after a series of roles in B movies such as Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror (1998) and Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000), she made a career change to mainstream Hollywood films, appearing in Training Day (2001), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), Hitch (2005), We Own the Night (2007), The Other Guys (2010) and Ghost Rider (2007). She has also appeared in several music videos, including for Will Smith’s “Wild Wild West” (1999), Snoop Dogg’s “Holidae In” (2003) and Ryan Cabrera’s “True” (2004).
Mendes was born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban parents Eva Pérez Suárez and Juan Carlos Mendes. She was raised Catholic and attended a Catholic school, where she began modeling and acting in school plays. Mendes has two sisters, Janet and Rebecca. She attended Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale, and then studied marketing at California State University Northridge. Mendes began her acting career after a talent manager saw her photo in a friend’s portfolio. Her first film role was in the direct-to-video Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror (1998). She subsequently appeared in the independent films A Night at the Roxbury (1998) and My Brother the Pig (1999).
Mendes’ breakthrough role came when she appeared in the film Training Day (2001) opposite Denzel Washington. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Mendes’ performance earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress. She then appeared in the commercially successful films 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and Hitch (2005). In 2006, Mendes starred opposite Joaquin Phoenix in the crime drama We Own the Night, directed by James Gray. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Mendes’ performance earned her another NAACP Image Award nomination.
Mendes’ next film role was in the 2007 horror film Ghost Rider, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. The film was a critical and commercial failure, but Mendes’ performance was praised by critics. In 2008, Mendes starred opposite Will Smith in the action comedy Hancock. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Mendes’ performance earned her a third NAACP Image Award nomination.
In 2010, Mendes starred opposite Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson in the action comedy The Other Guys. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Mendes’ performance earned her a fourth NAACP Image Award nomination. In 2012, Mendes starred opposite Ryan Gosling in the romantic drama The Place Beyond the Pines. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Mendes’ performance earned her a fifth NAACP Image Award nomination.
Mendes has also appeared in several music videos, including for Will Smith’s “Wild Wild West” (1999), Snoop Dogg’s “Holidae In” (2003) and Ryan Cabrera’s “True” (2004).
Mendes has been in a relationship with actor Ryan Gosling since 2011. They have two daughters together: Esmeralda Amada (born 2014) and Amada Lee (born 2016).
Mendes is 5 feet 6 inches tall and has a curvaceous figure. She is of Cuban descent and has dark brown hair and brown eyes.
Herbert Hoover High School, California State University, Northridge
Nationality
American
Family
Children
Esmeralda Amada Gosling, Amada Lee Gosling
Parents
Juan Carlos Mendez, Eva Perez Suarez
Siblings
Carlo Mendez, Janet Mendes, Carlos Mendez
Partner
Ryan Gosling, Ryan Gosling
Accomplishments
Awards
Capri Global Award, Giffoni Award
Nominations
Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Comedy, ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film, Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Love Scene, ALMA Award for Favorite Movie Actress - Supporting Role, Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Breakout Star - Female, Premio Juventud for She Stea...
Movies
The Place Beyond the Pines, Hitch, We Own the Night, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Training Day, Ghost Rider, The Other Guys, Out of Time, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, Stuck on You, Girl in Progress, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, The Spirit, The Women, Lost River, Holy Motors, Urban Legends: Final Cu...
It's fun to be a woman. It's fun to flirt and wear makeup and have boobs.
2
I feel I'll take on the responsibility of showing the world a whole different kind of Latin woman.
3
I don't believe in the institution of marriage, for me. If you love somebody and have a commitment that is strong and spiritual, then I just don't think a piece of paper makes any difference. I'm part of that whole school of thought that says when homosexuals can get married, maybe I'll start opening my mind to it.
4
I know I walk a fine line between being a respected actor and being what they call a sex symbol. It's a hard one to walk if you want to be known as a real, credible actor. But I've never felt objectified. Nothing you see me do is an accident. I might act like it's an accident, but the opposite is true. I'm incredibly calculated when it comes to my career.
5
I'm obsessed with Keira Knightley. I think that she's just got it down. She takes chances, she's edgy, but she's always a lady. She is so unconventionally beautiful.
6
I have the hugest... overbite. It's so big, my older brothers and sisters used to call me "Bugs". I looked like a bottle opener. But I've never fixed my bite because it's one of the things that makes me me. I used to get teased about the mole on my left cheek. In junior high, the other kids would say, "You've got some chocolate on your face", and I fell for it every time. I said, "The minute I turn 18 I'm going to get that mole removed!". But I'm happy I didn't. My best feature is my big hips. I've got some nice childbearing hips, and I feel very proud of them. When I was younger, I thought they were too big. I wanted to be slimmer. But now I totally embrace them.
7
I don't go to premieres. I attend film openings I'm in, and that's about it. Fame and celebrity doesn't matter to me. The longevity of my career does.
8
The celebrity world can be so ugly. Everyone seems to have slept with everyone else and it's some sort of strange weird cycle. I don't want to get into that.
9
I wanted to be a nun when I was very little. Well, that was until my sister told me that they don't get paid. Then I went off with that idea quickly.
10
I wanted to go into art history. Acting fell into my lap when a neighbor took pictures of me and showed them to an agent.
Facts
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Fact
1
Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 42, a daughter named Amada Lee Gosling on April 29, 2016 in Santa Monica, California at 8:03 a.m. Amada was Eva's grandmother's name. It means 'beloved' in Spanish. Child's father is her boyfriend, Ryan Gosling.
2
Gave birth to her 1st child at age 40, a daughter named Esmeralda Amada Gosling on September 12, 2014 in Los Angeles via Caesarean section. Her daughter Esmeralda's middle name Amada is taken from a character Mendes played in the movie We Own the Night (2007). Mendes has stated that she believes this to be her best performance on screen. Amada also was Eva's grandmother's name. It means 'beloved' in Spanish. Child's father is her boyfriend, Ryan Gosling.
3
In a relationship with Ryan Gosling since September 2011. They have 2 daughters.
4
Was in a relationship with filmmaker George Augusto from 2002-2011.
5
Owns a Belgian Malinois dog and gives commands to it in French, because it was trained in this language. Belgian Malinois are similar to Alsatians but considered more intelligent. They are used by United States SEAL teams.
6
Ranked #11 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women of 2010 list.
7
Frequently appears in Calvin Klein Underwear advertising campaigns with Irish male model Jamie Dornan (2009- ).
8
Is the youngest of four children; she has two sisters and one brother. Is the only member of her family to be born in the United States.
9
Admires the film Network (1976), which inspired her to take up the film Live! (2007).
10
Ranked #7 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women of 2008 list (She was ranked #7 on the previous year's list, as well.).
11
On February 7, 2008, she has entered the Cinque Lodge rehab facility in Utah to battle substance abuse issues.
12
Was originally cast as Susan Ortega in Bruce Almighty (2003) but had to be replaced due to scheduling conflicts.
13
Speaks Spanish fluently. English is her second language.
14
Ranked #7 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women of 2007 list.
15
Was the speaking voice ("Bienvenido a Miami") in Will Smith's song "Miami", and appeared in the music video with him. In 2005, when she was cast opposite Smith in Hitch (2005), she mentioned this to him during rehearsals. But Smith sheepishly admitted that he did not remember her.
16
Ranked #44 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement.
17
Ranked #80 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2004" supplement.
18
Was featured as #54 on Maxim magazine's "Hot 100 Women of 2002" supplement.
19
Ranked #53 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" supplement.
20
Was among the guests at Jessica Simpson's 25th birthday party.
21
Ranked #12 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women of 2005 list.
22
Her favourite films are the mystery drama Blow-Up (1966) and the horror film The Shining (1980).
Has one sister, Janet Mendes, living in Los Angeles, California.
25
Graduated from Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale, California. John Cho, Joseph Hahn and Alex Kalognomos were also students there.
26
Her hobbies are music, sports (hiking, biking, skiing and mountain climbing) and interior design.
27
Loves interior designing and would undertake this profession if not acting.
28
Is writing a book titled "Crazy Leggs Beshee", inspired by her nieces and nephews, that introduces vocabulary, art, history and values through a medium kids understand.
29
Was a marketing major at the California State University, Northridge before she dropped out to pursue acting.
