For a stint that lasted a little over a decade, actress Eva Mendes was a firecracker presence on screen. And then, in 2014, she just…went away. Now, a distinction should be made here. Eva Mendes didn’t vanish altogether, just from acting on the big screen. She has since been proving herself as a loving mother.
In an interview this past week with Variety, Eva Mendes discussed her potential future in the movie business–or lack thereof. “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.”
Eva Mendes also stated that the lack of Latina roles for in the acting biz was another significant factor in leaving Hollywood. “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.”
Mendes is the mother of two kids with Ryan Gosling–hey, who knew Ken had genitalia?!–who she committed to a partnership with in 2011. Three years later, Eva Mendes’ apparent last appearance as an actress, Lost River, was released. However, Mendes did voice a one-off character on the much-praised animated series Bluey.
The actress was always a welcome and fetching presence on the big screen, with a notable early turn in Training Day, before entering the Fast and the Furious franchise and landing opposite Will Smith in Hitch. Eva Mendes’ acting career was commendable and steady from there, doing a pair of off-the-wall Nicolas Cage movies, the underrated We Own the Night and 2012’s The Place Beyond the Pines with Gosling.
But those days may be fully behind her, saying, “I have such a short list of what I will do, with four kids. I mean, if it was a fun project. But now I won’t do violence, I don’t want to do sexuality, the list is short.” That leaves, what, Bluey? Oh, wait…
What are your thoughts on her decision? Would you like to see Eva Mendes return to acting on the big screen again? Let us know in the comments below!