Eva Mendes has graced the silver screen for over two decades, appearing in successful films such as Hitch, The Place Beyond the Pines, and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. However, the actress hasn't been in a feature film since 2014, when she starred in Lost River, a movie directed and written by her husband, Ryan Gosling. So it's been almost ten years since we've seen Mendes in theaters, and her only credit since then was voice work in Bluey, the animated children's program following a Blue Heeler dog with her family in everyday situations.
Needless to say, fans have missed Mendes in more significant roles; however, the actress can't say she feels the same. The 48-year-old sat down for an interview with Variety promoting her new co-ownership of the kitchen cleaning company Skura Style. During her conversation, Mendes admits, "I don't really miss it" when it comes to acting.
"I got tired fighting for the good roles. There just was a point where I thought, 'I'm going to create my own opportunities and become a producer on things and create my own material,' but it just didn't feel worth it to me."
Unfortunately, Mendes decided against going down the producing route, as she only has one credit to her name as an executive producer. In 2007, she served as EP and starred in Live!, a film set as a mockumentary about an ambitious TV network executive trying to produce a controversial reality show where contestants play Russian Roulette. Since then, Mendes has yet to serve as a producer in any regard.
Eva Mendes Says She's Focused on Her Kids for Now
After her exit from Hollywood, Mendes and Ryan Gosling had two daughters, Esmeralda, 7, and Amanda, 6. Mendes admits after having her children, she believed all of her focus should be put on them, saying she knew that's what she was supposed to do.
"I thought, 'Oh, this is what I'm supposed to do right now. There are more opportunities for Latina actresses now, but when I bowed out 10 years ago I wasn't being offered things that weren't specifically Latina. It is exciting that things are different now, so who knows what I will do in the future. But right now, I'm keeping it in the home with my kids."
Fans will miss Mendes on the big screen; however, spending time with her family is something no one could argue with. She points out that films and television shows are becoming more diverse, which may lead to the return of the actress somewhere down the line. Fans shouldn't hold their breath, as Mendes is busy with Skura Style and her children, but you can still hold on to a glimmer of hope for an eventual comeback.