The actress reflects on her career, family life, and the magic of collaborating with her husband.
In a recent interview with the U.K.’s Sunday Times, Eva Mendes opened up about her journey as an actress and expressed a willingness to return to the silver screen, but only if it means reuniting with her husband, Ryan Gosling. The couple, who first crossed paths while filming The Place Beyond the Pines in 2011, have since built a life together, sharing two daughters and a deep bond both on and off-screen.
A Candid Reflection on Acting
Mendes, who stepped away from acting in 2014, candidly acknowledged her feelings about her career, stating, “I was never in love with acting. I don’t mean this in a self-deprecating way, but I wasn’t a great actress. I had my moments when I worked with really great people.” Among those greats, she counts Gosling, sharing that their collaborations have had a profound impact on her performance. “He gets something out of me that’s never been accessible before,” she noted, reminiscing about their shared work and the emotional depth it brought out in her.
While Mendes has no regrets about her decision to leave Hollywood, she indicated that the prospect of acting alongside Gosling again could reignite her passion. “That’s the one thing I would love to do,” she said, hinting at the possibility of returning to the industry under the right circumstances.
The Journey Together
After their initial meeting on set, Mendes and Gosling began dating during post-production of The Place Beyond the Pines, with Mendes later taking on a role in Gosling’s directorial debut, Lost River. Since then, they have maintained a relatively private life while embracing parenthood, raising daughters Esmeralda, 10, and Amada, 8.
Mendes has frequently spoken about the joys and challenges of motherhood, noting how her focus has shifted from acting to nurturing her family. “It was like a no-brainer,” she said earlier this year, emphasizing the importance of being present for her children. “I’m so lucky, and I was like, if I can have this time with my children — and I’ve still worked, I just didn’t act, because acting takes you on locations, it takes you away.”
Breaking Barriers in Hollywood
Reflecting on her time in Hollywood, Mendes acknowledged the industry’s challenges, particularly as a Latina actress. She recalled facing significant hurdles early in her career, stating, “There were some pretty s—-y roles… that was the constant note. Then, at some point, it switched to ‘Oh, ethnic is cool now’ or ‘Being Latina is cool.’ It gave me energy because it would make me so mad and then I’d get that fuel that I needed.”
Despite these struggles, Mendes has successfully carved out a multifaceted career beyond acting, working as a designer for New York & Company, modeling for Estée Lauder, and co-owning Skura Style, a sponge business. Recently, she authored a personal picture book titled Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries, further showcasing her creative talents.
The Future of Mendes and Gosling
As Mendes continues to navigate the worlds of entrepreneurship and motherhood, she remains open to the idea of reuniting with Gosling on screen. She expressed a sense of fulfillment from their past collaborations, calling their work together a high point in her career. “I just worked with Ryan Gosling, who’s, like, the best. And I had such a — I don’t know — it was such a high off my career to work with him and what we created together that I was like, ‘This is a good time to just Seinfeld it and just walk out.’”
With Mendes’s enthusiasm for a potential return to acting alongside Gosling, fans are left hopeful for another chance to witness their on-screen chemistry. For now, the couple continues to thrive in their family life, reminding us that love and collaboration can take many forms, whether on set or at home.
