Eva Mendes: Beauty, Talent, and a Family-Centric Spirit

 Quinceañera.com spoke with Latin actress Eva Mendes, who shares the screen in “The Other Guys”  with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, waiting to get their own role.

She enters the room relaxed, with an elegant Fendi design that looks more like it was made for a gala awards ceremony rather as a chat with reporters. No need for both with a girl with pure and simple beauty, she exudes warmth and spontaneity.

Also, Eva Mendes is accompanied by her mother to the event, which gives more authenticity to the conversation. She says she owes much to her, she always said that this performance and the big screen would be hard, as much as any other profession in the world.

And her brother taught her to handle men, with whom she has struggled since she began performing in the 90s. Some have made her feel blessed just by being next to them on the marquee or great in the shadow of their huge box office pull, people like Denzel Washington, Johnny Depp or Will Smith, who have shared the billboard with the beauty born in Miami 36 years ago.

For now, she will be busy with the worldwide promotion of her latest film, an easy laugh comedy with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in another attempt to win points for a role with more weight rand where the main attraction are others but not her, Eva Mendes.

Do you know many dysfunctional couples, as they play in the movie you and Will Ferrell?

In the heart of the Cuban family I grew up? Nooo, never (says sarcastically). The funny thing is that they are dysfunctional but functional at the same time because they are perfect strangers to each other. The first day when we were recording, Will asked me if I really was going to be his wife in the movie, laughing, but then we realized we had good chemistry.

Do you think much of marriage in real life?

In a way. You never know, I do not know what to do next week because I do not like to plan, but I am open to marriage, children and all that, but not right now. Most importantly, my career right now. Also, my dog, Hugo.

What does this film mean to your career now?

I always tell my agents that I want to do more than play the pretty girl, the girl accessory. Although I worked with Johnny Depp, Matt Damon and Denzel Washington, and it's always men who have great roles. Not only do I want to be the pretty girl, but this movie is a bit of that.

Is it because there’s sexism in Hollywood?

Yes, there is, but it does not make me angry. It is something to you have to accept.

To what extent is difficult to get important papers? 

I think about it this way: I started acting at age 23, very late, while there are other people in this business who have many more years of experience. So I have a lot of patience to get where I want to be, I’m sure I’ll catch up. And so working with these actors, I’m always learning, and I’m still a student …

10 Questions with Eva Mendes

1. What do you see when you reach the desired peak in Hollywood? I see quality in the roles, which are there, but I still need to arrive, with actresses like Kate Winslet, Penélope Cruz and Angelina Jolie.

2. What link is now with the world of fashion?

I’ve always liked fashion, but acting is my passion.

3. How do you see yourself in terms of beauty?

Let’s say I’m not a conventional beauty. I think it’s good for women to accept themselves.

4. How do you handle the men in the shooting?

Oh, I assure you, I know how to handle men (she laughs). The trick is that if they tell you a dirty joke, tell them a worse one, and then they shut up. I grew up with a brother who taught me all those things.

5. Who has been the most intimidating person you have encountered?

I know, without thinking, Robert Duvall. I’ve never lost my composure as much as I did with him, because he said a phrase that was so perfect that I got a fit of uncontrollable laughter. It was fatal, but it was an experience I learned from.

I hate to be aggressive in my facet as a producer if I have to produce people. And I do not like waiting in a casting. You feel so bad because the actors try to do the best they can and I step wrong when I see them. Not my thing.

6. How do you feel waiting for roles?

It’s strange, but now is better because you go to a meeting and you have a conversation. With this, we had lunch with the director.

7. Are you good by selling yourself?

Absolutely. I built a career selling. There are mountains of beautiful girls out there, but I think that once you understand my involvement that I have with this profession; I still go to class and I love to prepare and rehearse. If you hire me, you know I’m going to do the job.

8. Do you ever feel the panic of not getting work?

The truth is no because it’s my way of thinking, and if you let it get in your head then you will have a problem.

9. How do you think the topic of Latinos in Hollywood has changed? A lot. Ten years ago, every time they asked me to audition, they wanted the Latin accent and more temperament. There was a stereotype that now, with women such as Penélope Cruz, Salma Hayek, America Ferrara, there is a great breath of fresh air. Now we can do anything, but I am still very proud to speak Spanglish.

10. Can you talk about the film production of Maria Callas? There is still no movie script but is not focused on her voice but on her relationship with Onassis and there are many things that connect me with it. When she met him, he wanted her to be his wife and forget about her career. There were conflicts all around. But my mother told me that any job is difficult, even working at McDonald’s.