Eva Mendes reflects on motherhood and identity now that her children are older, asks 'who am I?'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Eva Mendes has been left reflecting on her career and life as her children get older.
The 50-year-old former actress recently appeared on ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’, where she opened up about her identity crisis now that her children are not dependent on her all the time.
The ‘Hitch’ actress is a mother of two daughters - Esmerelda, ten, and Amada, eight - who she welcomed with her long-time partner Ryan Gosling, 43.
Eva Mendes questions her identity
The ‘Ghost Rider’ actress, who stepped down from acting after her last movie ‘Lost River’ in 2014 to care for her family, recently reflected on her identity now that her children are older.
Speaking to Barrymore, she opened up about her initial experience of becoming a mother, and said, "I actually didn't feel lost, I felt very clear," per Fox News.
"But then, I felt lost. Then it was the cliche of like, ‘Who am I now, after the kids can survive on their own?'" continued Mendes while elaborating on her struggles.
She noted that though her children have many years before becoming adults, they don't need her "every second" anymore.
The actress continued, "It's a little different, but I love talking to my girls about anything. So, I feel very fulfilled.”
Eva Mendes starts a new phase of her life
Though the ‘Training Day’ star has stepped away from acting, she has found a different interest, as she authored a children’s book, ‘Desi, Mami, and The Never-Ending Worries’.
Recently, she appeared on ‘Good Morning America’ to promote her book, and she opened up about the possibility of her ever returning to the big screen.
She said, "I don't know. If there's interesting roles . . . I kind of felt like I did it, you know? I was like, ‘I just worked with Ryan Gosling. He's like, the best'," referring to her 2012 movie with Gosling, ‘The Place Beyond the Pines'.
Mendes continued, "It was such a high [in] my career to work with him and what we created together, that I was like, 'This is a good time to like ’Seinfeld' it, and just walk out'. So, who knows?"
Appearing on 'Good Morning America', she further shared how her own experience with parenting has inspired her to create the book.
Referencing the book’s main character, Mendes said, "Desi has these never-ending worries — I have them as well," before adding, "And she tries to work with her brain to…make sure it's not being a bully to her, by sending all these negative thoughts her way, and that it's being like a BFF to her."
