Cuban-American femme fatale Eva Mendes may look coy, but she’s a very direct and articulate woman madly in love with her man Ryan Gosling, the father of their two daughters.

Mendes covers the April 30, 2025 issue of ELLE France [IG], wearing a Stella McCartney dress on the cover and thruout the fashion story styled by Carolina Orrico with images by Pamela Hanson [IG]./ Hair by Chris McMillan; makeup by Maria Vargas

Eva de la Caridad Méndez was born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban parents Eva Pérez Suárez and Juan Carlos Méndez, and was raised by her mother in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake after her parents' divorce.

Mendes grew up a Roman Catholic and at one time even considered becoming a Catholic nun. In October 2024, Mendes spoke with ‘The Sunday Times’ and obliquely referenced her nunnery thoughts and her view of herself.

“I feel really fucking sexy at times,” she said with a grin. “The way my man looks at me is just…at times I’m like, oh my God. That might not sit well with people, but so much of how I feel is a reflection of what he’s giving me.”

In that way, Gossling has very much helped to shape Eva’s view of herself — including her robust sensuality — in a positive and life-affirming way.