Eva Mendes is usually extremely private about her personal life, especially when it comes to her partner, Ryan Gosling, and their two kids. The actress has finally opened up to Women's Health about how much motherhood has transformed her life, and how she changed her mind about having kids when she fell in love with the actor in 2011.
More from MamásLatinas: 20 Celebrity moms who continued working during their pregnancies
She told the publication that getting pregnant was not in her plans, but she had a change of heart after getting to know the First Man actor. Now the pair are parents to adorable daughters Esmeralda and Amada, whom they welcomed in 2014 and in 2016. Eva's acting career has slowed down since she got the title of "Mom" but now that they finally have a grip on parenthood, she says she's finally starting to feel like herself again.
The actress said she didn't picture herself as a mother.
She had a career as a leading lady in Hollywood with various successful films under her belt, so she didn't see herself starting a family just yet. "It was the furthest thing from my mind," she told the publication, until one man changed her perception.
Even though motherhood wasn't on her to-do list, meeting Ryan changed everything.
Eva says everything changed the moment the pair met and began dating after starring in 2012's The Place Beyond the Pines. "Ryan Gosling happened," she said. "I mean, falling in love with him. Then it made sense for me to have … not kids, but his kids. It was very specific to him."
Eva hasn't taken on any movie roles since 2014's "Lost River," and has focused mostly on her daughters.
She has been hard at work on her Eva Mendes Collection for New York & Company and raising her two girls, so her personal and acting life has taken a bit of a back seat. "We’re just starting to get out of survival mode. I’m starting to feel like a person again," she told Women's Health, adding that she's officially back in the gym three times a week. "I’m envious of women who enjoy working out, because I have the worst attitude about it. My vanity gets me to the gym–and obviously health reasons–but I’m kicking and screaming the whole way through." She is also now sticking to a healthier diet, which consists of salmon, quinoa, scrambled eggs, and coffee with coconut oil in the morning, but also says she gives in to a soda craving once or twice a week. "I’m not squeaky-clean healthy," she says. "I have a sweet tooth, so I can’t keep anything in the house."
The "Hitch" actress revealed that their family has played a big role in helping them raise their children.
Ryan has been hard at work with his acting and his Hollywood career has continued to flourish since the pair started a family together. This meant a lot of parenting responsibility was left to Eva when he was away filming. The actress gave their extended families credit for their help in taking care of Amada and Esmeralda. "We have an amazing support group: Ryan’s mom, my mom, Ryan’s and my sisters. It’s a village that helped us," she told the magazine. "My heart goes out to women who do this alone. I basically come from a single-parent household; although I love my dad, my mom mostly raised four of us on her own."
Eva said she felt a "lack of ambition" in her career when she became a mom.
"I felt a lack of ambition, if I can be honest. I feel more ambitious in the home right now than I do in the workplace," she revealed, adding how motherhood can be just as fulfilling. "Every day is such a learning experience–they challenge you in so many ways. Like, I’m their mom. I have to rise up, and hopefully, most of the time I do, but sometimes it’s definitely maddening."
