Eva Mendes Recalls Growing up with a Struggling Single Mom

Following her announcement to donate to Black Lives Matter, Eva Mendes has recalled her experience as the child of a struggling single mother.

Fans couldn’t stop praising Eva Mendes after she announced that she would be donating to the Black Lives Matter cause.

The retired actress got even more accolades after Closer Weekly highlighted a response she gave to a fan addressing her childhood with her mother, Eva Perez Suarez. While thanking the fan for the show of love, Eva stated:

“I think because I came from no money — was on food stamps for a while and saw my mami struggle so much — I always feel like it could’ve been us out there.”

Eva, who is also a businesswoman, came into the spotlight after her appearance in some ‘90s films, which according to her IMDB page, include “Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror” and “Urban Legends: Final Cut.”

Even though Eva seemed to have it all, it turned out that she had some challenges in her personal life as she checked into a rehab center in the same year.

Eva eventually made her big break when she appeared in the 2001 film, “Training Day.” Several co-star roles followed as she featured in movies such as “All About the Benjamins,” “2 Fast 2 Furious,” and “The Other Guys.”

The success of those movies couldn’t be compared to that of the 2005 film, “Hitch,” which opened at No. 1. According to Biography, the film also saw Eva and her co-star, Will Smith, become the first minority actors to play lead roles in a top-grossing comedy movie.

By 2007, Eva was named the “Fun Fearless Female of the Year” by Cosmopolitan, and in 2008, she became the face and body for Calvin Klein’s more sultry adverts.

Even though Eva seemed to have it all, it turned out that she had some challenges in her personal life as she checked into a rehab center in the same year.

While the reason for her rehab stint was never publicly disclosed, many fans have gathered that the Cuban-American actress had an issue with alcoholism. Eva’s life took another when she and filmmaker, George Augusto, ended their long term relationship in the late 2000s.

She later began a relationship with actor Ryan Gosling in September 2011, and by the summer of 2014, rumors surfaced that the duo was expecting their first child together.

The rumors turned out to be accurate, and the couple welcomed their daughter, Esmeralda Amada Gosling, that same month. Later in April 2016, they welcomed their second daughter, Amada Lee.