Trivia

Was the speaking voice in Will Smith's song "Miami", and appeared in the music video. In 2005, when she was cast opposite Smith in Hitch (2005), she mentioned this to him during rehearsals. Smith sheepishly admitted that he did not remember her.

Has 2 daughters: Esmeralda Amada Gosling (b. September 12, 2014) & Amada Lee Gosling (b. April 29, 2016) with boyfriend, Ryan Gosling.

Was a marketing major at the California State University, Northridge before she dropped out to pursue acting.

Has not acted in a starring role since The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) alongside longtime partner Ryan Gosling, and her last film appearance was a cameo in Gosling's directorial debut Lost River (2014). She has since focused on raising the couple's children and overseeing her successful clothing line with New York & Company.

Dating Ryan Gosling since September 2011.

Is the youngest of four children; she has two sisters (Janet and Becky) and one brother (Juan Carlos, d. 2016). She is the only member of her family to be born in the United States.

Has played Denzel Washington's wife/girlfriend twice: Training Day (2001) and Out of Time (2003).

On February 7, 2008, she has entered the Cinque Lodge rehab facility in Utah to battle substance abuse issues.

Loves interior designing and would undertake this profession if not acting.

Speaks Spanish fluently. English is her second language.

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.

Hobbies are music, hiking, biking, skiing, mountain climbing, and interior design.

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.

Frequently appeared in Calvin Klein underwear advertising campaigns with Jamie Dornan.

Is Cuban-American and was raised Roman Catholic.

Her favorite films are Blow-Up (1966) and The Shining (1980).

Like her partner Ryan Gosling, she has a fascination with the macabre, citing interest in cemeteries and contemporary gothic art.

In 2009 was announced to play legendary opera singer Maria Callas in a biopic written specifically for her by Gosford Park writer Julian Fellowes. Despite researching Callas for over five years, including obsessively studying her performances and even getting test photographs done to show her resemblance to Callas, the project eventually fell through.

Retired from acting in 2014, upon having children with Ryan Gosling.

Is close friends with Liv Tyler. One of Mendes' first jobs as an actor was in the 1997 music video for Aerosmith's "Hole in My Soul". Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler is Liv's father.

Admires the film Network (1976), which inspired her to star in Live! (2007).

Her birth name is Eva de la Caridad Méndez, with a z.

Among her favorite directors are David Lynch and Pedro Almodóvar.

Had an older brother named Juan Carlos Méndez, Jr. (1963-2016), who passed away from throat cancer.

At a young age, she dreamt of being a nun. However, she reconsidered when she found that it's not a paying job.

Graduated from Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale, California. John Cho, Joseph Hahn and Alex Kalognomos were also students there.

Is friends with Cameron Diaz and Will Smith.

Was originally cast as Susan Ortega in Bruce Almighty (2003) but had to be replaced due to scheduling conflicts.

Ranked #12 on Maxim magazine's "Hot 100 Women of 2005" list.

Before Kate del Castillo played Teresa Mendoza in the Telemundo novela La Reina del Sur, Eva was going to play Teresa in a film version of the book based on the novel by Spanish writer Arturo Pérez-Reverte. The iconic role of Teresa Mendoza has since been played by Alice Braga in a USA Network series.

Was in a relationship with filmmaker George Augusto from 2002 to 2010.

Inducted into the Hair Fan's Hall of Fame in 2012.

Ranked #7 on Maxim magazine's "Hot 100 Women of 2007" list.

Ranked #7 on Maxim magazine's "Hot 100 Women of 2008" list. She was also ranked #7 on Maxim's "Hot 100 Women of 2007" list.

Ranked #11 on Maxim magazine's "Hot 100 Women of 2010" list.

Ranked #80 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2004" supplement.

Ranked #54 on Maxim magazine's "Hot 100 Women of 2002" list.

Ranked #53 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" supplement.

Ranked #44 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement.

Was among the guests at Jessica Simpson's 25th birthday party.

Born on the same date as Matt Lucas and Kevin Connolly.