Eva Mendes Biography

Name:Eva Mendes 

Date of Birth:  March 5, 1974

Place of Birth: Miami, Florida, U.S.

Eva Mendes is an American actress.

Eva Mendes  began acting in the late 1990s, and after a series of minor roles and performances in several smaller films such as Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror (1998) and Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000), she broke into the mainstream, appearing in leading roles in Hollywood releases, such as Training Day (2001); All About The Benjamins (2002); 2 Fast 2 Furious, Once Upon a Time in Mexico and Stuck on You (2003); Hitch (2005); Ghost Rider and We Own the Night (both 2007); The Spirit (2008); Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009); The Other Guys and Last Night (both 2010).

Early Life

Mendes was born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban parents, and was raised in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale by her mother after her parents' divorce;Mendes has said that her mother-(who was a stay-at-home mom, until she became an accountant when Eva went to school) "suffered so much to make my life OK" during her early years. Mendes was raised a Roman Catholic and aspired to be a nun. Eva Mendes  is also fluent in Spanish.

Mendes never saw herself as an actress while she was young and pursued other interests.Eva Mendes  attended Hoover High School in Glendale and later attended California State University, Northridge to study marketing, but dropped out after wanting to begin an acting career. Eva Mendes  studied acting under Ivana Chub buck. 

Career 

Mendes caught the eye of an agent who convinced her to pursue acting more steadily. Eva Mendes  appeared in Will Smith's video "Miami" and the Pet Shop Boys' music video for "Se a vida é (That's the way life is)" in 1996 and Aerosmith's video "Hole in My Soul" in 1997, to guest roles in soap operas and supporting film roles. Eva Mendes  first film appearance was in the direct-to-video Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror.

Mendes received her first big-screen break when she appeared in Training Day. That performance led to roles in Stuck on You, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and as the female lead in the comedy Hitch opposite Will Smith. Eva Mendes  role in Once Upon a Time in Mexico also earned her a nomination at the Teen Choice Awards. Mendes costarred in Ghost Rider with Nicolas Cage, who she was to work with again in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans in 2009, and also starred alongside Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, and Robert Duvall in the film We Own the Night, and Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson in The Spirit.

Along with acting, Mendes is employed by Revlon Cosmetics as an international spokeswoman. Eva Mendes  joins such actresses and models as Julianne Moore, Halle Berry and Cindy Crawford, who appear in Revlon's television and print ads. Eva Mendes  is also a supporter and active participant in Revlon's campaign to raise funds for breast cancer research. In March 2011, it was announced that Mendes will be a new spokeswoman for Thierry Mugler's Angel fragrance.

Mendes at the 2009 Venice Film FestivalMaxim ranked Mendes #7 in its 2007 Hot 100 issue. Eva Mendes  also made her second Maxim cover in the November 2007 issue. Maxim ranked Mendes #11 in its 2010 Hot 100 issue.

Mendes appeared nude in an ad for Calvin Klein's Secret Obsession perfume. The ad was banned from airing in the United States.

In December 2007, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) used a nude photo of Mendes for their anti-fur campaign alongside the tagline "Fur? I'd rather go naked." Mendes is also a spokesmodel for the 2008 Calendar of Campari, inspired in fairy tales, by photographer Marino Parisotto.

Mendes was voted as No. 4 in the 2008 edition, and No. 1 in the 2009 edition, of AskMen.com's Top 99 Most Desirable Women.

Mendes was announced as the international face of Australia's 30 Days of Fashion & Beauty event in July 2008. Eva Mendes  made guest appearances in that country at the month-long festival in September.

On September 4, 2008, Mendes announced she was launching a line of bed linens available in Macy's stores. In October, she toured various stores in Europe including Harrods to promote Calvin Klein's Seductive Comfort line of lingerie.

Mendes appeared in the music video "The End Has No End" by the Strokes.

In August 2010, Mendes appeared in a Funny or Die video spoof, selling her "S.E.X. tape". Eva Mendes  also sang for the Funny or Die music video "Pimps Don't Cry," a song featured in The Other Guys, released on August 6, 2010.

Eva Mendes appeared in the Fall/Winter 2010 issue of Vs. magazine in the "Crazy For Eva" fashion story and production, shot by Ellen Von Unwerth for Vs. Magazine.

Personal Life

In early 2008, Mendes entered a rehabilitation facility in Utah for several weeks for substance abuse problems.

Filmography 

1998 Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror Kir

A Night at the Roxbury Bridesmaid

Mortal Kombat: Conquest Hannah guest star, one episode

1999 My Brother the Pig Matilda

2000 The Disciples Maria Serranco

Urban Legends: Final Cut Vanessa Valdeon

2001 Exit Wounds Trish

Training Day Sara Harris

2002 All About the Benjamins Gina

2003 2 Fast 2 Furious Monica Fuentes

Once Upon a Time in Mexico Ajedrez

Out of Time Alex Díaz Whitlock

Stuck on You April

2005 Hitch Sara Melas

The Wendell Baker Story Doreen

Guilty Hearts Gabriella

2006 Trust the Man Faith

2007 Ghost Rider Roxanne Simpson

Knocked Up Herself (uncredited)

We Own the Night Amada Juarez

Live! Katy

Cleaner Ann Norcut

2008 The Women Crystal Allen

The Spirit Sand Saref

2009 Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans Frankie Donnenfeld

2010 The Other Guys Sheila Gamble

Last Night Laura

2011 Fast Five FBI Agent Monica Fuentes (uncredited cameo)

2012 See If I Care Grace Completed

The Place Beyond the Pines Romina Post-Production

Holly Motors  Post-Production