Us Weekly Magazine - Celebrity News

Eva Mendes

Los Angeles-based Eva Mendes began to pursue her acting dreams during her college years at California State University Northridge, accepting smaller roles until her big break came along in 2001, when she was cast as the girlfriend of Denzel Washington’s character in Training Day. Later in her career, Mendes and Washington played lovers in another film, Out of Time in 2003.

The actress is in a long-term committed relationship with filmmaker George Gargurevich.

Starring in a handful of music videos, including “Miami” with future Hitch co-star Will Smith, Mendes also guested on daytime soap operas. Appearing in an episode of ER in 1998, Mendes continued to act in films like A Night at the Roxbury, 2 Fast 2 Furious and Stuck on You, before landing roles in major films like 2005’s Hitch and 2007’s Ghost Rider. Named a 2007 Us Hot Hollywood Player, Mendes will next star with Joaquin Phoenix in Oscar-worthy crime drama We Own the Night and with Annette Bening in the upcoming remake of The Women.