Eva Mendes

Infobox actor


imagesize = 256px
caption = Mendes in Rome, September 16, 2008
birthdate = birth date and age|1974|3|5
birthplace = Miami, Florida, United States
birthname = Eva Mendes
occupation = Actress
deathdate =
deathplace =
yearsactive = 1998-present
homepage =
academyawards =
spouse =

Eva Mendes (born March 5, 1974) is an American actress. She began acting in the late 1990s, and became known after a series of roles in several major Hollywood films, including "2 Fast 2 Furious", "Hitch", "Training Day", "Ghost Rider" and "We Own the Night".

Biography

Early life

Mendes was born in Miami,cite news |last=Morgan |first=Sal |title=Viva Eva - one gutsy, cool chick |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2007-02-19 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/viva-eva--one-gutsy-cool-chick/2007/02/18/1171733603175.html?page=2 |accessdate=2007-02-18] to Cuban-American parents and was raised in Los Angeles by her mother after her parents' divorce; Mendes has said that her mother "suffered so much to make my life OK" during her early years. Her father was a car salesman and her mother, also named Eva, is now an elementary school principal. She is the youngest of four children (she has two sisters and a brother). She was raised Roman Catholic and aspired to be a nun. [ [http://fametastic.co.uk/archive/20070621/6508/eva-mendes-catholic-upbringing-made-sex-scene-tough/ Eva Mendes: Catholic upbringing made sex scene tough » Fametastic] ] As a child, Mendes was teased about her "buck teeth".

As a child she lived in Miami, Florida, and Los Angeles, California. She never saw herself as an actress while she was young and decided to pursue other interests. She attended Hoover High School in Glendale and later attended California State University, Northridge to study marketing, but dropped out after meeting boyfriend Zedrick Threatt, who helped her to begin an acting career. She studied with Ivanka Chubbuck.

Career

One day she caught the eye of an agent who convinced her to pursue acting more steadily. Mendes worked her way up through commercials to music videos (including an appearance 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. Her first film appearance was in the direct-to-video .

She received her first big-screen break when she appeared in the award-winning and critically-acclaimed "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. Her role in "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" also gave her a nomination at the Teen Choice Awards. Mendes has also been in commercials for Gushers, Revlon, and Levi's. Mendes costarred in "Ghost Rider" with Nicolas Cage, and most recently starred alongside Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, and Robert Duvall in the film "We Own the Night".

Along with acting, Mendes is employed by Revlon Cosmetics as an international spokeswoman. She joins such elite actresses and models as Julianne Moore, Halle Berry and Cindy Crawford, who appear in Revlon's television and print ads. She is also a passionate supporter and active participant in Revlon's fight against breast cancer.

"Maxim" ranked her #7 in its 2007 Hot 100 issue. [cite news |url=http://maxim.com/Girls/Evamendes/slideshow/1131/47.aspx?src=GM7070:MD |title=Hot 100 |publisher=Maxim |year=2006 |accessdate=2007-01-11] Mendes also made her second "Maxim" cover in the November 2007 issue. [cite news |url=http://www.maximonline.com/Evamendesnovember2007photo2/girls_of_maxim/7307/75.aspx?src=cl59:MKd |title=November Issue Preview |publisher=Maxim Magazine Online |date=November 2007 |accessdate=2006-10-13]

Mendes, despite resisting offers from "Playboy", appeared naked in "Flaunt" Magazine. Although her breasts weren't exposed, readers did get to see her bare back and buttocks. Mendes said about the shoot, "I actually did a little nude shot. You won't see anything. I was covering myself... but I love 'Flaunt.' I think their artwork is some of the best artwork out there as far as photography is concerned, so I took it off. I felt really comfortable, it was fun. There's something really liberating about it."

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. [ [http://www.biosstars-mx.com/e/eva_mendes/calendario_eva_mendes.html Calendar Pictures] ]

In 2008, Mendes starred in "The Women", a comedy ensemble film featuring Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Debra Messing. The film, which was produced by Victoria Pearman and Mick Jagger of Jagged Films, Bill Johnson of Inferno Productions, and English, is being released by Picturehouse, a joint venture of HBO and New Line Cinema.

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

Eva Mendes posed topless with her breasts exposed for "Vogue Italy" in May, 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,354797,00.html |title=Eva Mendes Topless, Sucking Own Toe in Italian Vogue |accessdate=2008-05-10 |date=2008-05-09 |publisher=Fox News]

Mendes was announced as the international face of Australia's 30 Days of Fashion & Beauty event in July 2008. She will make guest appearances in that country at the month-long festival in September. [cite web |url=http://www.30daysoffashionandbeauty.com.au/eva-mendes-30-days-international-guest.htm |title=Eva Mendes 30 Days International Guest |accessdate=2008-08-19 |date=2008-08-19 |publisher=ACP Magazines]

On September 4th, 2008, Mendes announced she was launching a line of bed linens that will hit Macy's stores later in the month. [ [http://whyfame.com/gossip/eva_mendes_to_launch_bedding_line_4907] ] In October, she will also be touring various Harrod's stores across Europe to promote Calvin Klein's Seductive Comfort line of lingerie. [ [http://www.cku.com/seductivecomfort/] ]

Mendes is in negotiations to star in the American remake of acclaimed Mexican film Y Tu Mamá También.

Personal life

It was reported on January 31, 2008 Mendes had been in a rehab facility in Utah for several weeks. [ [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20175467,00.html Eva Mendes in rehab to battle a substance abuse] People.com] Her representative told TMZ that she has been "working hard for the past year and made a positive decision to take some much-needed time off to proactively attend to some personal issues that, while not critical, she felt deserved some outside professional support. Out of respect for Eva's privacy, we do not wish to discuss further details." [ [http://www.tmz.com/2008/02/01/eva-mendes-in-rehab/ Eva Mendes checks into rehab] TMZ.com. February 01, 2008.]

In August 2008, Mendes said she will not hesitate to get plastic surgery done when her figure starts to sag. [ [http://www.peoplestar.co.uk/index.html?news=208 « Eva Mendes will go under the knife for looks »] , "peoplestar.co.uk", Retrieved on 2008-08-21.]

Filmography

References

External links

*
* [http://www.stv.tv/content/out/film/displayHotnow.html?id=opencms:/out/hotnow/films/newArticle2099409 Eva Mendes video interview with stv.tv/movies] for "Ghost Rider"
* [http://www.celebritybrands.net/fragrances/fragrances-female/eva-mendes-is-happy-her-ck-secret-obession-ads-are-banned/ Eva Mendes' Commercials for Calvin Klein Fragrance are Banned by US TV Networks]

Persondata
NAME=Mendes, Eva
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actress
DATE OF BIRTH=5 March, 1974
PLACE OF BIRTH=Miami, Florida
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=