Eva Mendes
| Eva Mendes | |
|---|---|
 Mendes at the 66th Venice International Film Festival, September 4, 2009 |
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| Born | March 5, 1974 Miami, Florida, United States |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1998–present |
Eva Mendes (born March 5, 1974) is an American actress, model and homeware designer.
She began acting in the late 1990s, and after a series of minor roles and performances in several smaller films such as Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror (1998) and Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000), she broke into the mainstream, appearing in leading roles in Hollywood releases, such as Training Day (2001); All About The Benjamins (2002); 2 Fast 2 Furious, Once Upon a Time in Mexico and Stuck on You (2003); Hitch (2005); Ghost Rider and We Own the Night (both 2007); The Spirit (2008); Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009); The Other Guys and Last Night (both 2010).
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Early life
Mendes was born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban parents, and was raised in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale by her mother after her parents' divorce;1 Mendes has said that her mother (who was a stay-at-home mom until she became an accountant when Eva went to school) "suffered so much to make my life OK" during her early years.1 Mendes was raised a Roman Catholic and aspired to be a nun.2 She is also fluent in Spanish.citation needed
Mendes never saw herself as an actress while she was young and pursued other interests.citation needed She attended Hoover High School in Glendale and later attended California State University, Northridge to study marketing, but dropped out after wanting to begin an acting career. She studied acting under Ivana Chubbuck.citation needed
Acting career
Mendes appeared in Will Smith's video "Miami" and the Pet Shop Boys' music video for "Se a vida é (That's the way life is)" in 1996 and Aerosmith's video "Hole in My Soul" in 1997. Her first film appearance was in the direct-to-video Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror. In this period of her career, she also starred in A Night at the Roxbury, Mortal Kombat: Conquest, My Brother the Pig, The Disciples, Urban Legends: Final Cut and Exit Wounds.
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Mendes' breakthrough role came when she appeared in Training Day as the wife of Denzel Washington's character. She had roles in All About the Benjamins, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Once Upon a Time in Mexico (which earned her a nomination at the Teen Choice Awards), Out of Time and Stuck on You.
She was the female lead in the 2005 comedy Hitch opposite Will Smith. She then starred in The Wendell Baker Story, Guilty Hearts, Trust the Man, Ghost Rider and Knocked Up.
In 2007, she starred alongside Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, and Robert Duvall in the film We Own the Night. She also starred in Live!, Cleaner, The Women, The Spirit, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, The Other Guys, Last Night and Fast Five.
In August 2010, Mendes appeared in a Funny or Die video spoof, selling her "S.E.X. tape".3 She also sang for the Funny or Die music video "Pimps Don't Cry," a song featured in The Other Guys, released on August 6, 2010.4
Modeling career
Along with acting, Mendes is employed by Revlon Cosmetics as an international spokeswoman. She joins such actresses and models as Julianne Moore, Halle Berry and Cindy Crawford, who appear in Revlon's television and print ads. She is also a supporter and active participant in Revlon's campaign to raise funds for breast cancer research.5 In March 2011, it was announced that Mendes will be a new spokeswoman for Thierry Mugler's Angel fragrance.6
Maxim ranked Mendes #7 in its 2007 Hot 100 issue.7 She also made her second Maxim cover in the November 2007 issue.8 Maxim ranked Mendes #11 in its 2010 Hot 100 issue.9
Mendes appeared nude in an ad for Calvin Klein's Secret Obsession perfume. Since there was exposure of her nipples in the ad, it was banned from airing in the United States.10
In December 2007, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) used a nude photo of Mendes for their anti-fur campaign alongside the tagline "Fur? I'd rather go naked."11 Mendes is also a spokesmodel for the 2008 Calendar of Campari, inspired in fairy tales, by photographer Marino Parisotto.12
Mendes was voted as No. 4 in the 2008 edition, and No. 113 in the 2009 edition, of AskMen.com's Top 99 Most Desirable Women.
Mendes was announced as the international face of Australia's 30 Days of Fashion & Beauty event in July 2008. She made guest appearances in that country at the month-long festival in September.14
In October 2008, she toured various stores in Europe including Harrods to promote Calvin Klein's Seductive Comfort line of lingerie.15
Designer
On September 4, 2008, Mendes announced she was launching a line of bed linens available in Macy's stores.16
Personal life
She was in a relationship with music producer George Augusto from 2002 to 2011.171819 She is currently dating Ryan Gosling.20
She does not want to have children and has described marriage as "a very archaic kinda thing. I don't think it fits in my world today."21
In early 2008, Mendes entered a rehabilitation facility in Utah for several weeks for substance abuse problems.22 She attends therapy sessions which have "enriched my life. I come from a family and a heritage where you don't really go to therapy unless you're crazy. I want people to know that that's so not the case."23
In 2011, Mendes visited Sierra Leone to speak to rape victims.24
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror | Kir | |
| 1998 | A Night at the Roxbury | Bridesmaid | |
| 1998 | Mortal Kombat: Conquest | Hannah | guest star, one episode |
| 1999 | My Brother the Pig | Matilda | |
| 2000 | The Disciples | Maria Serranco | |
| 2000 | Urban Legends: Final Cut | Vanessa Valdeon | |
| 2001 | Exit Wounds | Trish | |
| 2001 | Training Day | Sara Harris | |
| 2002 | All About the Benjamins | Gina | |
| 2003 | 2 Fast 2 Furious | Monica Fuentes | |
| 2003 | Once Upon a Time in Mexico | Ajedrez | |
| 2003 | Out of Time | Alex DÃaz Whitlock | |
| 2003 | Stuck on You | April | |
| 2005 | Hitch | Sara Melas | |
| 2005 | The Wendell Baker Story | Doreen | |
| 2005 | Guilty Hearts | Gabriella | |
| 2006 | Trust the Man | Faith | |
| 2007 | Ghost Rider | Roxanne Simpson | |
| 2007 | Knocked Up | Herself | (uncredited) |
| 2007 | We Own the Night | Amada Juarez | |
| 2007 | Live! | Katy | |
| 2007 | Cleaner | Ann Norcut | |
| 2008 | The Women | Crystal Allen | |
| 2008 | The Spirit | Sand Saref | |
| 2009 | Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans | Frankie Donnenfeld | |
| 2010 | The Other Guys | Sheila Gamble | |
| 2010 | Last Night | Laura | |
| 2011 | Fast Five | FBI Agent Monica Fuentes | (uncredited cameo) |
| 2012 | Girl in Progress | Grace | Completed |
| 2012 | The Place Beyond the Pines | Romina | Post-production |
| 2012 | Holly Motors | Post-production |
References
- ^ a b Morgan, Sal (2007-02-19). "Viva Eva – one gutsy, cool gal". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/viva-eva--one-gutsy-cool-chick/2007/02/18/1171733603175.html?page=2. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
- ^ "Eva Mendes: Catholic upbringing made sex scene tough". Fametastic. 2007-06-21. http://fametastic.co.uk/archive/20070621/6508/eva-mendes-catholic-upbringing-made-sex-scene-tough/. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
- ^ "Eva Mendes Sex Tape, Funny or Die Night Vision Promo". National Ledger. August 4, 2010. http://www.nationalledger.com/ledgerpop/article_272633738.shtml. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ "Watch Eva Mendes' Other Guys End Credits Song". Cinema Blend. 2010-08-06. http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Watch-Eva-Mendes-Other-Guys-End-Credits-Song-20020.html. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
- ^ "In Step With: Eva Mendes". Parade Magazine. January 30, 2005. http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2005/edition_01-30-2005/in_step_with_0.
- ^ "Eva Mendes Earns Her Wings as Face of Thierry Mugler"™s Angel Fragrance" Style Watch News, People Magazine
- ^ "Hot 100". Maxim. 2006. http://maxim.com/Girls/Evamendes/slideshow/1131/47.aspx?src=GM7070:MD. Retrieved 2007-01-11.
- ^ "November Issue Preview". Maxim Magazine Online. November 2007. http://www.maximonline.com/Evamendesnovember2007photo2/girls_of_maxim/7307/75.aspx?src=cl59:MKd. Retrieved 2006-10-13.dead link
- ^ "2010 Hot 100" (in German). Maxim.com. http://www.maxim.com/girls/articles/90539/2010-hot-100.html. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
- ^ "Eva Mendes Naked In Banned Calvin Klein Ad". Huffington Post. August 4, 2008. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/04/eva-mendes-naked-in-banne_n_116763.html.
- ^ "Sultry Eva Mendes Strips for PETA". The Daily Telegraph. December 7, 2007. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sultry-eva-strips-for-peta/story-e6frewyr-1111115054508.
- ^ "Calendar Pictures". Biosstars-mx.com. http://www.biosstars-mx.com/e/eva_mendes/calendario_eva_mendes.html. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
- ^ "Eva Mendes Top 99 Women 2009". AskMen.com. http://www.askmen.com/specials/2009_top_99/eva-mendes-1.html. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
- ^ "Eva Mendes 30 Days International Guest". ACP Magazines. 2008-08-19. Archived from the original on 2009-02-26. http://web.archive.org/web/20090226191445/http://www.30daysoffashionandbeauty.com.au/eva-mendes-30-days-international-guest.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
- ^ "Seductive Comfort". Calvin Klein. http://www.cku.com/seductivecomfort/.
- ^ "Eva Mendes to launch bedding line". http://whyfame.com/gossip/eva_mendes_to_launch_bedding_line_4907.
- ^ "Eva Mendes Biography : People.com". www.people.com. http://www.people.com/people/eva_mendes/biography. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ "Eva Mendes: I Want To Be More Than "˜Sexy"™". www.accesshollywood.com. http://www.accesshollywood.com/eva-mendes-i-want-to-be-more-than-sexy_article_34571. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ Celebrities: Film: Eva Mendes: Celebrities. Wmagazine.com (2011-08-01). Retrieved on 2012-01-02.
- ^ Mikelbank, Peter (2011-11-26). "Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes Visit Paris Together". People.com. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20548903,00.html. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
- ^ "Child-Free Celebrities". Marie Claire. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
- ^ Eva Mendes in Rehab People.com
- ^ Eva Mendes – Page. Interview Magazine (2011-11-27). Retrieved on 2012-01-02.
- ^ "Mendes visits Sierra Leone" October 24, 2011, Toronto Sun
External links
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