While some Hollywood couples go big and reveal all details about their lives to the public, Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes like to keep things low key.
The two actors are secretive about their relationship and their children and are adamant about protecting their family life from the prying eyes of the press. And that’s totally fair enough!
Still, they have shared a few details about the bond between them and their children in the past. We don’t know a whole lot about this private couple, but we do know that they’re very much in love, and also in love with the role of being parents.
Check out these little-known details about Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes’ relationship, and their two daughters, Esmeralda and Amada.
20Eva Mendes Was Never Into Marriage
Some women dream of getting married, but Eva Mendes was never one of them. The actress admitted to the press that she believed marriage was “more societal than anything else” and even though she wasn’t personally against it, she thought it seemed old-fashioned for her.
Though she and Ryan Gosling still haven’t officially tied the knot, her world changed dramatically when she met the actor.
19She’s More Comfortable At Home Than On The Red Carpet
Mendes seems right at home on the red carpet. But according to a 2016 interview, there’s another place she’d rather be. “Instead of hitting the red carpet, I’d rather be at home with our girls,” the actress told Shape.
She doesn’t appear at as many public events as she used to, but she does still attend the odd red-carpet function every now and then.
18They Believe In Soulmates
From the adorable way they talk about each other, it seems like Gosling and Mendes believe in soulmates. Or at the very least, in true love.
Screen Rant reported that, in one interview, Gosling confirmed that Mendes was the only one for him. “I know that I’m with the person I’m supposed to be with,” he said.
17A La La Land Line Came From Mendes
One of the most iconic lines in Gosling’s film La La Land came from Mendes herself. The actress and model casually said to Gosling one day, “LA worships everything and values nothing.”
He liked it so much that he asked if he could put it into the movie, where it became one of the most famous pieces of dialog.
16Nannies Aren’t Their Thing
Gosling and Mendes are the parents of two daughters, Esmeralda and Amada. Though they both have busy schedules, they decided not to rely on the use of a nanny once the girls were born.
Screen Rant reports that Mendes, in particular, was adamant about raising the kids on her own.
15But They Do Call On Their Family For Help
Even though Mendes doesn’t like to use nannies, she does call in her own family from time to time to help out with the girls. “Thank god, I have my entire family ten minutes away,” she said in an interview with the Today Show.
Every now and then, her close relatives will drop in to watch the girls and give Mendes and Gosling a break.
14They Kept Their Pregnancies Hidden
Some celebrities like to document their entire journey through pregnancy while others like to retreat from the limelight when they’re with child. Mendes and Gosling announced their first pregnancy only when they could no longer hide it.
Mendes was even photographed using handbags and laundry to cover her bump. Considering all the speculation, that’s totally understandable!
13Friendship Is The Basis Of Their Relationship
A lot of great relationships, if not all of them, start with friendship. That was the way for Gosling and Mendes, who were friends before they were anything else.
Though it’s thought that the two first became romantically involved on the set of The Place Beyond the Pines, Mendes admitted in an interview with The Film Stage that they were friends before that.
12Gosling Had His Eye On Mendes
During their friendship, Gosling was aware of Mendes’s immense talent and wanted her to be his co-star for The Place Beyond the Pines.
He recommended her to director Derek Cianfrance, who then called her in for an audition that ended up winning her the role. It’s funny how things work out!
11Having Children Has Changed Mendes’ View On Life
In the same way that Mendes never dreamed of marriage as a kid, she also never dreamed of being a mom. But that all changed when she met Gosling and wanted to have kids for the first time ever.
Today Mendes gushes about how much her daughters have changed her life, and how they’ve become like a moral compass for her.
10Their Professional Lives Mix
Gosling and Mendes’s romantic relationship began when they worked together on The Place Beyond the Pines. Since then, their professional lives have sometimes mixed.
In 2014, Gosling directed the feature film Lost River and revealed that Mendes was busy helping him behind the scenes, doing everything from taking notes to putting costumes together.
9They Starred Together In A Christmas Special
The couple also worked together on a Christmas sketch that appeared online on the site Funny or Die.
In the 2011 sketch, where Jim Carrey played Santa Claus and other A-listers appeared in brief cameos, Mendes and Gosling starred as a married couple, even though they had not gone public with their relationship at the time.
8Gosling Is Teaching His Daughters About Women’s Rights
Gosling has become much more involved in the quest for women’s equality since having daughters.
Though he’s respected women since his childhood, during which he was raised by a single mother, he has become much more vocal about women’s issues. In recent years he has begun teaching his daughters to recognize their own worth and potential as women.
7They Love Sneaking Away To Disneyland
One of the couple’s favorite getaways in Disneyland. In the past they’ve been spotted strolling around the park with their daughters, enjoying everything from rides to edible treats.
It’s pretty romantic that it’s still one of their go-to destinations since their first public date in 2011 was at the theme park.
6The Name Esmeralda Comes From A Disney Figure
Esmeralda is Mendes and Gosling’s first daughter, and there’s a cute story behind her name.
“Ryan and I both love the Esmeralda character from the Victor Hugo novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and just think it’s a beautiful name,” Mendes said (via Screen Rant). We’re also willing to bet that they like the Disney version of the story!
5Mendes Does Amazing Things With Her Daughters’ Artwork
Most parents hang up their children’s’ artwork somewhere in the house, but Mendes takes the role of supportive parent one step further and incorporates their designs into her clothing collection.
The St. Jude Chick Graphic-Print Tee and the St. Jude Graffiti Graphic-Print Tee from her collection with New York & Company feature artwork created by her daughters.
4Mendes Admires Her Husband As A Director
There are many things that Mendes admires about her husband, and one of them is his abilities as a director.
She was on set for his directorial debut in 2014, and, according to Screen Rant, later revealed that Gosling “really created the most beautiful, collaborative, creative atmosphere on set. I know I’m biased.”
3And He Admires Her As A Mother
In turn, there are many things that Gosling admires about Mendes. In an interview with GQ, he revealed that Mendes is a “dream mother” and couldn’t be prouder of her.
“… and they’re dream babies, and it’s like a dream that I’m having right now. I’m dreaming it all. So I feel so lucky.”
2Their Life Is Private But Lavish
Fans of the A-lister couple will know that they like to maintain their privacy. But the few details we do know about their life suggest that they also like to keep things lavish.
In the past, the couple has gone house shopping for properties that are priced in the millions.
1Gosling Describes Life With Children As “Beautiful Chaos”
There are many creative ways to describe life with children. Gosling finds being a dad to be “beautiful chaos.”
He said, “Maybe in my life I sort of put myself in situations that were chaotic… And now I have it at home, and I don’t have to go looking for it. It’s a beautiful chaos that’s… surreal and serene,” he said.
