Eva Mendes Says ‘I Wasn’t a Great Actress’ and ‘I Was Never In Love With Acting’; Got Told ‘She’s Too Ethnic’ For Many Roles: ‘It Was So Crazy’

As a long-time cinema enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of Eva Mendes‘ career, I find her recent revelations about her ambivalence towards acting intriguing yet unsurprising. Her journey, marked by roles that often reduced her to mere eye candy or one-dimensional beauties, mirrors the struggles of many actresses who grapple with the stereotypes imposed by the industry.


Eva Mendes, in an interview with The Sunday Times, openly shared that acting wasn’t something she had ever deeply fallen for, explaining why she hasn’t returned to it after a decade-long hiatus. Despite not appearing in a main role in a movie since her minor part in Ryan Gosling’s 2014 directorial venture “Lost River,” Mendes has used her voice acting skills, as demonstrated by her contribution to an episode of “Bluey” on ABC Kids in 2021.

Mendes expressed that he didn’t find a deep passion for acting. He wasn’t suggesting this as a form of self-criticism, but acknowledging he may not have been an exceptional actress. However, he did have instances where he collaborated with incredibly talented individuals.

According to Mendez, her most outstanding acting performances were during the 2012 crime drama “The Place Beyond the Pines,” where she acted alongside Gosling, or when he directed her in “Lost River.” She stated: “He manages to bring out in me things that have never been accessible before.

2022 saw Mendes expressing a desire to return to acting in an interview with “The View”, noting that any project should hold a certain level of significance and not involve violence or explicit content. In her latest conversation with The Sunday Times, Mendes expressed that the prospect of acting alongside Ryan Gosling is something she finds particularly appealing, stating that it would make getting back on screen an effortless endeavor (“That’s the one thing I would love to do”).

It’s not unexpected that Mendes has no inclination towards sexually charged roles, given her 16-year acting journey often involved playing flat, aesthetically pleasing characters or eye candy. She candidly shared with The Sunday Times, “There were definitely some poor role choices.” At certain points in her career, she was either typecast due to her appearance or faced rejection because of her Cuban background.

Mendes shared that initially they were only told, “She’s too ethnic for this, too ethnic for that.” He found it astonishing and the criticism was persistent. However, over time, the feedback changed to, “Ethnic is trendy now” or “Being Latina is cool”. This shift invigorated Mendes because it would enrage him, providing the motivation he needed.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I’d like to share some highlights from my acting career over the past few years. In 2012, I took on the lead role in the drama “Girl in Progress,” helmed by Patricia Riggen. Despite being released by Lionsgate, this movie only managed to earn $3 million at the box office. However, that same year, I also had the privilege of playing supporting roles in two critically acclaimed films – “Place Beyond the Pines” and Leos Carax’s astonishing “Holy Motors,” which made waves at Cannes. More recently, I appeared in a supporting role in Larry David’s 2013 HBO original movie “Clear History.

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2024-10-21 21:16