Eva Mendes, who hasn’t appeared on screen in ten years, hasn’t closed the door on a potential return to acting. While promoting her debut children’s book, Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries, on Good Morning America, Mendes addressed the idea of reviving her acting career.
“I don’t know. If there are interesting roles. I left at a time, 10 years ago, where I kind of felt like I did it, ya know?” Mendes shared. “I just worked with Ryan Gosling. He’s like the best,” she added with a laugh.
Mendes referenced her decision to step back from Hollywood, likening it to the abrupt end of Seinfeld after nine successful seasons. “It was such a high in my career to work with him and what we created together that I was like, this is a good time to Seinfeld it and just walk out. So, who knows?”
Her film credits include 2 Fast 2 Furious, The Other Guys, and The Place Beyond the Pines (2012), where she met her now-husband, Ryan Gosling. Mendes took a step back from acting to focus on raising their two daughters, Esmeralda Amada, 9, and Amada Lee, 7, while also pursuing other ventures.
In a March interview with the Today Show, Mendes reflected on her decision, saying, “It was like a no-brainer. I’m so lucky, and I was like if I could have this time with my children—and I still work, I just didn’t act, because acting takes you on location. It takes you away. It was almost like a non-verbal agreement: ‘OK, he’s [Gosling] going to work and I’m going to work. I’m just going to work here.’”
Though the couple tends to keep their relationship private, they occasionally show public support for one another. Recently, Mendes posted a heartfelt tribute to Gosling on Instagram following his performance as Ken in Barbie, praising his musical number I’m Just Ken at the Oscars.
While Mendes has no immediate plans to return to acting, her openness to interesting roles hints at the possibility of seeing her back on the big screen. For now, she’s focused on her family and creative projects, including her new book.