Eva Mendes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eva Mendes
Mendes in 2022
Born	Eva de la Caridad Méndez (1974-03-05) March 5, 1974 (age 51) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1996–2014, 2021
Spouse(s)	Ryan Gosling ​ (m. 2022)​
Children	2

Eva Mendes (born March 5, 1974) is an American actress who is now retired from acting. She started her acting journey in the late 1990s. Some of her early films include Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror (1998) and Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000).

A big moment in her career was her role in the movie Training Day (2001). This led to parts in popular films like 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and Hitch (2005). She also starred in comic book movies such as Ghost Rider (2007) and The Spirit (2008). Later, she took on more serious roles in movies like The Place Beyond the Pines (2012).

Besides acting, Eva Mendes has appeared in music videos for artists like Will Smith. She has also been a spokesperson for well-known brands such as Calvin Klein, Cartier, and Reebok. She even designed clothes for New York & Company and helped create a makeup line called CIRCA Beauty.

Early Life and Education

Eva Mendes was born on March 5, 1974, in Miami, Florida. Her parents, Eva Pérez Suárez and Juan Carlos Méndez, were from Cuba. After her parents divorced, Eva was raised by her mother in Silver Lake, a neighborhood in Los Angeles.

Her mother worked at a movie theater and later for an aerospace company. Her father had a business that sold meat. Eva had an older brother, Juan Carlos Méndez Jr., who passed away in 2016. She also has an older sister, Janet, and a younger half-brother, Carlos. Eva went to Hoover High School in Glendale. She later studied marketing at California State University, Northridge, but she left college to focus on her acting career.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting Out and First Big Roles (1998–2001)

Eva Mendes began acting after a talent manager saw her photo. Her very first movie was a horror film called Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror. Eva felt she needed to improve, so she hired an acting coach.

She then took on smaller roles in films like A Night at the Roxbury (1998) and Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000). In 2001, she appeared in the action movie Exit Wounds.

Her big break came later in 2001 with the crime thriller Training Day. In this movie, she played the girlfriend of a police officer. Eva said this role was very important for her career. Training Day was a success at the box office, earning over $104 million.

Becoming a Star in Hollywood (2002–2009)

Eva Mendes at the 66th Venice Film Festival

After Training Day, Eva Mendes started getting bigger roles in movies. In 2003, she starred in four major films. One of these was 2 Fast 2 Furious, which was a huge hit worldwide.

She also reunited with Denzel Washington in the thriller Out of Time. In this film, she played the ex-wife of a police chief. Her last movie in 2003 was the comedy Stuck on You.

In 2005, Eva Mendes starred as the love interest in the romantic comedy Hitch, alongside Will Smith. This movie was a massive success, making over $368 million globally. Critics praised her performance in the film.

She then appeared in the romantic comedy Trust the Man (2006). In 2007, she starred in Ghost Rider with Nicolas Cage. This movie, based on a Marvel Comics character, did very well at the box office. She also appeared in the thriller We Own the Night that same year.

In 2008, Eva Mendes was in the comedy The Women. She also played a character named Sand Saref in The Spirit, a movie based on a comic strip.

Later Roles and Retirement (2010–2014)

Eva Mendes at the 2012 TIFF premiere of The Place Beyond the Pines

In 2010, Eva Mendes worked again with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in the action comedy The Other Guys. This movie was a commercial success. She also starred in the romantic drama Last Night.

In 2011, she made a brief appearance in Fast Five, playing her character from 2 Fast 2 Furious again. In 2012, she starred in the drama Girl in Progress as a single mom. She also appeared in the unique fantasy drama Holy Motors, which she called "the coolest, most creative thing I've ever done."

One of her notable roles was in The Place Beyond the Pines (2012). In this drama, she played the former girlfriend of a motorcycle stuntman. This film was a moderate success. Eva Mendes also visited Sierra Leone for a PBS documentary called Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.

In 2013, she was in the HBO comedy film Clear History. Her last film role was in 2014, in Lost River, which was directed by her partner, Ryan Gosling. After this film, she decided to retire from the movie industry.

Other Work and Interests

Modeling and Endorsements

Eva Mendes has appeared in several music videos. These include "Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is)" by Pet Shop Boys in 1996 and "Miami" by Will Smith in 1998.

She has also worked as a model and spokesperson for many brands. In 2005, she became an international spokesperson for Revlon and helped raise money for breast cancer research. She has also promoted brands like Calvin Klein, Magnum ice cream, Reebok shoes, and Pantene shampoo.

Fashion and Beauty

Eva Mendes has her own line of home goods, including bed linens and dinnerware, sold at Macy's. In 2013, she teamed up with New York & Co. to launch her own clothing line, called Eva by Eva Mendes. She is also the creative director for CIRCA Beauty, a makeup brand that started selling at Walgreens stores in 2015.

Singing

Eva Mendes has also shown her singing talent. In 2011, she recorded her own version of the song "The Windmills of Your Mind". She also sang on Will Smith's 1998 single "Miami".

Personal Life

Eva Mendes dated music producer George Augusto from 2002 to 2011.

In September 2011, she started dating actor Ryan Gosling. They met while filming The Place Beyond the Pines together. They have two daughters, who were born in 2014 and 2016. Eva Mendes confirmed that she and Ryan Gosling got married in 2022.

Eva Mendes follows a pescetarian diet, which means she eats fish but not other meat. She does this for ethical and health reasons. She also practices Transcendental Meditation.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Music Videos

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Eva Mendes para niños